The New Orleans Saints capped off an exciting second-half comeback to win their Week 1 game against the Houston Texans, and the effort was filled with big-time plays. One of those game-changing moments was a touchdown pass to reserve quarterback Taysom Hill, who teamed up with starting passer Drew Brees to cut Houston’s lead.
And it featured a fascinating play design, which caught the eye of NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger. Baldinger featured the Hill touchdown catch in his “Baldy’s Breakdowns” series on Twitter, in which he breaks down standout performances from NFL games each week.
Describing the route run by Hill as “an old basketball play,” likening it to the pick and roll, Baldinger demonstrated how the end result — a touchdown pass — was the result of teamwork between Hill, Brees, and wide receiver Michael Thomas, each of whom worked together to fool the Houston defense.
“There’s the pick to get Michael Thomas free, now (the Texans defenders are) playing over the top of him, they’re anticipating the play. But here’s the pick and roll. So Taysom Hill does what he does, now he rolls to the basket, and he’s open, and Drew Brees sees it.”
“I mean this is an old basketball play, pick and roll,” Baldinger emphasized. “Out there on the football field. And Houston didn’t see the roll coming. They overplayed Michael Thomas, and Taysom Hill’s the benefactor.”
Hill caught his first career touchdown pass in the playoffs last year, so he’s now added another to an increasingly-crowded resume. It’s unclear whether his future is at quarterback in the NFL, but so long as his athleticism and versatility endures he’ll have a spot in New Orleans.
