Taysom Hill Was Called A ‘Bigger Lamar Jackson’ By Jay Glazer, Here’s A Fact Check

Jay Glazer says Taysom Hill is a “bigger Lamar Jackson.” pic.twitter.com/L7LdZJsZIq

— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) May 20, 2020

Before the roasts commence over Jay Glazer’s comparison of Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill to NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, let’s fact check the basics. Jay Glazer said “bigger.” The stats say:

That’s about as close as you can get in measurables but fine, it’s allowed. Though I’d say Lamar’s middle name being “Demeatrice” compared to Taysom’s “Shawn” gives him the edge.

The rest of the stats seem hard to trust. Hill had nine dropbacks last season compared to 466 for Lamar. According to PFF, Hill had an 80% adjusted completion rate compared to 76.1% for Lamar. But it’s a little tough to compare SIX pass attempts to Lamar’s 401. There’s a larger sample size for Hill and Lamar’s run games with 25 rushes for Hill compared to Lamar’s 135. PFF credits Lamar with a 133 elusiveness rating with 4.3 yards after contact compared to Hill’s 61.8 elusiveness rating on 3.5 yards after contact.

There are more small-sample stats to dig into but most optimistically the jury is out on Hill’s starting QB prospects. It’d be hard for him to maintain those levels of efficiency at Lamar’s larger body of work and the numbers don’t even look that outrageously impressive in the small sample for Hill. So let’s get to the Twitter roasts:

https://twitter.com/iam_johnw/status/1263258353746280449

‘Taysom Hill is the next Lamar Jackson’ pic.twitter.com/1oU6QVVA1N

— Chad (@chizzy_getsbusy) May 21, 2020

If Taysom Hill is a bigger Lamar Jackson, than I’m a shorter Brock Lesnar. https://t.co/Ux7fKbp4dj

— Kip Smithers (@Chughes612) May 21, 2020

https://twitter.com/SayyyGoDJ/status/1263289026443952130

Jay Glazer:

“Taysom Hill is a bigger Lamar Jackson…”

Everyone else with a Pulse and Eyes: pic.twitter.com/vrTa8VjxTP

— Danny Armstrong (@DArmstrong44) May 21, 2020

But perhaps this is Jay Glazer’s way of fighting back against classic white skill position player stereotypes. White guys aren’t “fast” they’re “good route runners”. They’re not “supremely athletic” they’re “hard workers”. Every white guy running the ball or catching a pass has to hear the barbs about how “Bill Belichick would love them”. Glazer is defending those that cannot defend themselves: mediocre white dudes.

Maybe teams should start giving better draft picks for teams that start mobile white quarterbacks in some sort of bizarro Rooney Rule? I’m sure Marvin Lewis would love it.