Taysom Hill speaks with the media following Thursday's Saints training camp practice.
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00:00 [inaudible]
00:10 I did not buy a cool house today.
00:12 Yeah.
00:13 Yeah.
00:14 How has it gone?
00:15 So look, talking first day, first couple of days camp,
00:18 but getting more involved.
00:20 Yesterday you caught a ton of balls.
00:22 How has that progressed, that mission gone so far?
00:27 Yeah, I think it's been good.
00:29 I think, again, obviously going into year seven,
00:33 based on where we were a few years ago,
00:36 I think that everyone's a little more comfortable with where we're at
00:39 and has a clear vision of what my role is and what I'm capable of doing.
00:44 But I think in terms of the context of your question,
00:48 we're still feeling it out.
00:51 But I think so far, I think some of the things that I have done as a route runner
00:57 and I always go back to we're in the huddle
01:02 and it's like I know what the quarterback's thinking.
01:05 And I think that has shown up and has been advantageous for us.
01:10 So, look, this is just one of those things that continue to evolve
01:14 and we'll continue to see where it goes.
01:18 And I'm sure by week one, as we get to week 15, 14, 18, it'll look different.
01:26 What's stood out to you about Jake Haney?
01:30 I think the biggest thing for a young quarterback
01:34 is to come in and learn the offense.
01:37 This is a tough offense to pick up.
01:42 This is a system that's been around for a little while
01:44 and there's not a lot of rhyme or reason as to why we do some of the things that we do.
01:49 But I think specifically with Jake is I think that he's done a really nice job
01:53 of picking that up and his presence in the huddle shows that.
01:58 So the confidence that he has getting in the huddle, getting the play called,
02:04 has been impressive.
02:07 And I think that confidence trickles over into his execution.
02:14 It's really what you want to see from a young player.
02:18 Jason, yesterday when Gilligan said that you were the best personal protector in the NFL,
02:25 he said it feels so common when you make all the calls
02:28 and how you might change the signals and communications.
02:31 He's just buttering me up.
02:33 He's just buttering me up, that's all.
02:35 So how do you feel about more you can do, obviously,
02:38 in that role still as a personal protector?
02:40 Yeah, look, I think the personal protector thing,
02:43 I do think it creates a clear advantage for us.
02:48 Just having a quarterback and last year--I don't think we ran a fake last year,
02:55 but there's always that possibility.
02:58 And so as a team that has to prepare for that, you know that it's out there.
03:04 We have them in every week, and we've shown that throughout the years.
03:09 So I think that creates a clear advantage for us
03:14 and keeping a defense on their toes.
03:18 So I'm assuming that's what Blake is referencing.
03:24 We've seen you kind of work in for individual quarterback reps
03:27 over the last couple of weeks.
03:28 Is that kind of a simulating game like where you would be coming in for that one rep?
03:34 I think right now in camp, I kind of alluded to this earlier,
03:38 I think now going into year seven we have a clear vision of what my role is going to be,
03:43 what I'm going to be asked to do, and it's just trying to make sure
03:46 that I'm getting those reps when we get to practice.
03:50 So that's really what it boils down to.
03:54 You had mentioned last time we talked to you you might spend some time
03:56 in the running back room.
03:57 Is that anything you've done yet?
03:59 No, I haven't spent any time with them.
04:02 I've talked to a running back's coach, JT, and I have had a few conversations.
04:07 There's always a tricky thing about this combination of you don't want something
04:16 to be overcoached.
04:21 My personality, I like to know what it is, and I think we'll get into some of that,
04:28 but I think the other side of it is some of the stuff that I've done,
04:33 we just don't want to mess with it.
04:36 When he gets explained to us why a quarterback running the ball gives you
04:40 such a number, how many handoffs have you actually taken in your career?
04:46 A small handful maybe?
04:48 Yeah, a small handful.
04:51 Do you feel like you have a much better advantage when you're taking the snap
04:55 at running?
04:56 I mean my comfort level just from a pure snap count, yeah,
05:00 is way more comfortable.
05:01 I'd rather just catch the snap and go.
05:03 But we've done a handful of those things over my time here,
05:08 and I'm comfortable doing it.
05:11 So that hasn't been an issue.
05:15 But, yeah, I don't know.
05:17 I think I'll continue to explore that with JT and have--I think also just one thing
05:24 about taking handoffs, but it's what the running backs are looking at, right?
05:29 So they have different reads in the run scheme,
05:32 and so that's kind of what I was alluding to about working with them.
05:35 And I have a lot of conversations with those guys.
05:38 I've got a great relationship with our staff,
05:40 and I try to make sure our RTs are crossed and I's are dotted and stuff.
05:47 It seems like every year if you want to add a little bit more to this game,
05:51 numbers get better every year, you're seeing that even, again,
05:55 repeat itself this year.
05:56 Like as a player you just keep kind of--
05:58 Yeah, yeah, I think that's a very fair thing to say about Juwan.
06:06 You look back at his time here as a receiver
06:10 and then this transformation to tight end,
06:13 and he is a guy that has continued to play on that trajectory.
06:19 And what he's doing in the run game right now has been huge,
06:24 and he's really done a nice job there.
06:26 And then the stuff he does in the pass game, he's always done that very well.
06:31 He's always been a very natural route runner and stuff.
06:36 I think with players that comfort level just continues to increase, increase,
06:41 the more that you do it, and then I think you just see a player
06:44 that's getting more and more confident.
06:46 What would be your impression of Jimmy Graham?
06:49 I love Jimmy.
06:50 Jimmy's been so fun to have around the locker room, in the tight end room,
06:54 meeting with him.
06:57 Again, you can't replicate experience.
07:01 So I go back to early in my career, the times that I had with Drew,
07:05 having the opportunity to learn from him.
07:08 He just has such a wealth of knowledge based on the experiences that he's had,
07:13 and Jimmy's another one of those guys that's played a ton of football.
07:16 So I'm still learning.
07:18 I'm doing things for the first time still,
07:20 and just to have the opportunity to have those conversations with him.
07:26 But it's the mindset, it's the mentality, all that stuff.
07:30 If you play in this league for that long, it takes a special person.
07:38 These conversations are just invaluable.
07:41 Do you have a clearer picture of how you're going to be used?
07:44 When you talked a couple of weeks ago, you said it evolves every year so much.
07:48 Do you have a better picture now of what this year is going to look like for you?
07:53 I don't know.
07:54 I think the short answer is yes.
07:58 But I will say I go out to practice, and frankly,
08:01 I still don't really know what I'm all going to do.
08:05 But I know I'll either be blocking, throwing, or running, or catching.
08:11 So I don't know.
08:13 Again, I think game plans change, and guys get injured.
08:19 I suspect that throughout the season there's going to be just some of this stuff
08:25 where maybe I have a few more carries, maybe there's a game plan
08:28 where I have a few more receptions, and maybe I throw it a couple more times
08:32 than what we've done in the past.
08:35 But I don't know.
08:37 I kind of expect that and just stay ready, stay on my toes.
08:43 I'm wondering if this evolution of the role you've been in,
08:47 do you have a greater appreciation for all the different positions now?
08:53 Because you try out all these new things like blocking as a tight end,
08:57 or running as a running back, or route running as a receiver.
09:00 I mean, each time you go through one of those--
09:02 For sure.
09:03 Yeah, for sure, I do.
09:06 You know, obviously there's a big mental load as a quarterback, you know,
09:13 in knowing what we're doing.
09:15 But I would say one thing just off the top of my head,
09:18 I didn't appreciate the mental load that goes into playing tight end
09:22 from a blocking standpoint, you know, what the O-liner happened to do.
09:26 Because we have different schemes, but each play is blocked differently
09:32 versus different schemes, you know.
09:34 And we pay attention to that as a quarterback, but it's different
09:37 when you're in there and having to communicate all that stuff.
09:42 So, yeah, I do have a greater appreciation for what guys are doing at every level.
09:51 And that's been fun, and I think I've been able to connect with guys
09:55 on the team in a different way, too,
09:57 having better experience with what they're going through.
10:01 How's your blocking going?
10:04 I don't know.
10:06 Now, look, again, a lot of these things--
10:08 and as I say, I'm doing things for the first time, you know.
10:11 So much of that has come in the run game or from a blocking standpoint.
10:16 But like I tell the coaches, I'll try hard.
10:22 Do you have any predictions on the new breeze and John McEnroe?
10:27 I didn't know that they were playing.
10:30 I don't know.
10:31 It's hard to bet against Drew, you know, so they're competitive.