Taysom Hill’s stat line from last week’s game against the Dolphins tells a quiet story - just two touches and 12 offensive snaps. But if you ask Saints head coach Kellen Moore, that wasn’t the plan going in. And it’s something he’s ready to fix.
“That’s on me,” Moore said Wednesday, taking full accountability for Hill’s limited role in the game. And to his credit, he didn’t dance around it.
The Saints came in with a package built around Hill in heavy sets - think multiple tight ends and a physical run-first look. But when Miami countered with a defensive alignment that neutralized that approach, Moore pivoted toward more three-wide receiver formations and a different kind of ground game.
In that shift, Hill got lost in the shuffle.
It’s a tough break for a player who’s long been one of the NFL’s most unique offensive chess pieces. Hill isn’t just a gadget guy - he’s a tone-setter when used right.
And Moore knows it. “The two previous weeks, he had a nice impact on both those games playing close to 25 snaps,” Moore noted.
“That’s probably where it should be more often than not.”
The numbers back that up. While Hill hasn’t had a breakout performance this season, he’s had moments - most notably in the win over Carolina, where he closed the game with a series of clutch runs that bled the clock and sealed the deal. That’s the version of Hill the Saints need more of down the stretch.
But here’s the wrinkle: Hill’s not quite the same player physically - at least not yet. He’s just about a year removed from a major knee injury that required a lengthy rehab process this past offseason.
And while he’s back on the field, the explosiveness that once defined his game hasn’t fully returned. He’s averaging just 2.2 yards per carry this season, a steep drop from his career mark of 5.3.
That dip isn’t just a stat - it’s a reflection of how the Saints are still figuring out how to best deploy him post-injury. The talent and versatility are still there. The question is how to tap into it consistently, especially in a Saints offense that’s still searching for rhythm and identity.
Moore’s admission is a good sign. It means Hill’s role isn’t shrinking by design - it’s a situational misfire that the coaching staff plans to correct. And with the season entering its most critical stretch, getting Hill back to that 20-25 snap range could be a key to unlocking a more dynamic, unpredictable Saints attack.
Bottom line: When Hill is on the field and involved, the Saints are harder to defend. It’s not about gimmicks - it’s about giving defenses one more thing to think about. And if Moore follows through, we should see a lot more of No. 7 in the weeks to come.