Cory's Corner: Brett Favre Compares Taysom Hill To Jordan Love
Brett Favre is at it again.
The former Packers legend was asked about first round pick Jordan Love and how the Packers would use him.
"I think there's ways to incorporate it much like Taysom Hill with the Saints," said Favre in an interview TMZ.com. "Use him as a halfback, a halfback pass, but occasionally let him run it just to show that you'll do that. Something like that."
Sorry Brett, but isn't that obvious?
The Packers didn't trade up in the first round to grab Love and only to let him sit. They are going to want to play him in limited action just to see what they have. If the Packers don't play him, they are doing themselves a disservice for not gauging his talent. Not just for the present but the future.
And that's not just Love's Packers future. As I've said, I think it would make sense to play Love to figure out his potential trade value. If Aaron Rodgers is playing like a top three quarterback, which is not a stretch in any way shape or form, Green Bay can get some value for Love.
It's just ironic that Favre brought up Hill because Hill was cut from the Packers in right before the 2017season. The hope was that the Brigham Young University quarterback would clear waivers and the Packers would've been able to slide him on to the practice squad. However, that didn't happen. The Saints submited a waiver claim and Hill has been in New Orleans ever since. You could make an argument that Hill should've been the backup to Rodgers that season.
And if that happened, I doubt Love gets drafted.
The Hill-Love comparisons are simple. Both are running quarterbacks with solid arms. However, Hill was undrafted even though he had an impressive combine. Love was a surprise pick in the first round. Those are completely different expectations. Hill can continue to play with a chip on his shoulder, but Love is going to come to Green Bay in a shroud of mystery. What did the Packers see to trade up in the first round?
Either way, Favre is right. Love has to play to justify the first round pick.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (24)
Roadrunner23
June 30, 2020 at 07:32 am
I have watched most of Love’s games from 2018/19 and there is no comparison. Love has incredible arm talent and moves around in the pocket well, but a dynamic running threat he is not. Love is terrific throwing on the run but when he decides to tuck it and run he shows no wiggle and is too often caught trying to juke defenders and loses those extra yards he could have gotten just running straight. He’s best suited working the pocket.
Hill on the other hand is a dynamic and reckless runner (not good for a QB, but good for his role) also His arm talent is below average. Sean Payton keeps touting hill as a starting quarterback in the league, poppycock! I say Payton is just trying to drive up the trade value of Hill.
Brett Favre, come on man, Packers fans still love you but stirring the pot on Love/Rodgers is beneath you man! Brett, have a beer, grab a fishing pole and enjoy your retirement.
Since'61
June 30, 2020 at 10:19 am
Excellent post Nostradamus. If Hill is such a good QB why did he start Bridgewater instead of Hill when Brees was injured?
Hill is a gimmick player. Thanks, Since ‘61
marpag1
June 30, 2020 at 10:34 am
Ah, yes. How can I say this nicely? Cory is a lazy “writer” who doesn’t investigate anything and just spews out clickbait rubbish he read from other clickbait writers, in this case TMZ.
Here’s what Favre actually said. You guys can tell me if you think Brett Favre is saying that Jordan Love needs to be on the field in his first year, or if Favre is saying that Love and Hill are similar players.
FAVRE: If I were in Jordan Love’s position, I would want to play. I would want to play right away. The reality is you’re not going to play – unless Aaron gets hurt. God forbid he gets hurt. So use that. Watch first hand in meetings, in practice and obviously in games how he works, how he plays, how he calls plays, how he encourages. Soak it all in, and your time will come. The good news is you’re not getting hit, you’re getting paid, your stock is not going down at all unless you just tank it in practice, you know… or are a totally different person than they thought they drafted. And I don’t think that’s the case. So this is an opportunity for you to mature with the pro game. Soak it all in and get better, so when your time comes – and that’s what happened with Aaron, you know. I know he wanted to play right away, but when he got there he got to sit. We got along great in spite of what most people think, and we sat in meetings just the two of us and he asked questions and I gave him whatever answer I felt was the right answer and I’d like to think that I have some stock in how he’s played. You know, I think he can do that [mumble mumble..) But that’s the same scenario that Jordan’s in.
TMZ: If that was your situation and Aaron was there and Aaron was taking you off the field would that rub you the wrong way and could that rub Aaron the wrong way?
FAVRE: I think if you – if it were me – or in this case Aaron, and you feel like they’re taking the ball out of your hands to just please that draft pick, in this case Jordan, yes I think it would rub me the wrong way. But I think there's ways to incorporate it much like Taysom Hill with the Saints. Use him as a halfback, a halfback pass, but occasionally let him run it just to show that you'll do that. Something like that. But I don’t know if you take him out – take Aaron out on the goal line, put Jordan in and run an option, and then you get crushed and everyone just says, “Why didn’t you just use Aaron like you always do, like use his legs, whatever, by the time you make a play and we win the game. So you gotta be careful. It could cost you your job, in other words, doing foolish stuff . But I think there is a way to do it that can please everyone. "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiCMCQAIVQE
The_Justicar
June 30, 2020 at 07:59 pm
Geez....so the article took things totally out of context to stir things up. Thanks for this find.
gkarl
June 30, 2020 at 07:39 am
I don't think anyone was real surprised Love was drafted in the first round, Packers yes, first round no.. Agree he need to play on a limited basis, hopefully in games that we have well in hand and not by injury, but experience is good thing. He is not anything at all like Hill, Brett is wrong on that comparison. I hope no one at 1265 gets any ideas to use him like that.
Coldworld
June 30, 2020 at 08:43 am
Love is a player I want focused on being the best QB he can be not out running gadget plays as Hill has.
I wish we had had the gumption to use Hill’s talents but he was not and is not ever going to be a credible top flight QB. Totally different beasts in terms of how one should develop and employ them even if you assume (highly dubiously) approximately similar athletic traits.
dobber
June 30, 2020 at 08:58 am
Hill is just built very differently. Love looks very long and lean. Hill looks much more compact...and it's reflected in how each guy plays the game.
murf7777
June 30, 2020 at 08:04 am
ND...agreed, I’ve watched All of Love’s film and think he is a pocket passer first. He certainly isn’t a dynamic runner. That’s not to be confused with escape ability. Can he escape from the pocket absolutely, but to think he is like Hill, Vick, RG III, Newton or Jackson just isn’t accurate. That’s ok with me because those type of QB’s have limited time in the NFL due to injuries. So far Wilson has broken the odds, but that’s because he is smart and runs away from contact and gets onto the ground before he gets hit. Over the past 30 years, pocket passers have been the best, I’m happy Love is a pocket passer first with the ability to successfully throw on the run or rollout.
Whether they put a few plays in for Love is somewhat irrelevant as I don’t think it will make much of a difference either way and not worth the risk of taking out of Rodgers hands. I highly doubt MLF, in year one, would trust Love on a weekly or even monthly basis to run plays. Love will get his time in practice and pre season football to show case his talent. Hopefully, we will have a blow out or two where he could get some PT as well.
Roadrunner23
June 30, 2020 at 08:09 am
Agree Murf, the Packers will use the Favre/Rodgers model not the Brees/Hill model as a guideline.
PeteK
June 30, 2020 at 08:07 am
I fully agree with everything you guys said. I love Favre, but he's starting to get on my nerves. Go get a hobby, Lego building or bird watching.
dobber
June 30, 2020 at 08:51 am
With our twitter/facebook/social media society, there are a lot more kooky wahoos out there who have a platform than Favre. A celebrity can't say anything without it ending up in the public eye...and likely out of context.
fastmoving
June 30, 2020 at 08:13 am
Love was a first rounder in all mock drafts I saw. Strong arm.
I doubt Hill will be a starting QB in the NFL. He is a passing runner and not a running passer. Weak arm.
Sorry, they are complete opposites..... dont know how you can compare them and find something else. Nothing obvious for me there.....
dobber
June 30, 2020 at 08:42 am
I think Taysom Hill is a phenomenal athlete who plays with the attitude of an LB--he took a beating in college and couldn't say healthy. He's fun to watch, but he won't make it as a QB in the NFL. His passing stats in college were average. Never really had a standout passing year. It could be that the catch-and-run offense the Saints have moved to in support of Brees' declining arm strength will help prop him up...but I'm not buying.
Coldworld
June 30, 2020 at 08:52 am
When it comes down to it, the Saints have assiduously found an alternative to Hill. As you say, phenomenal athlete who is a nominal QB only at the nfl level but perhaps could have been a starter at another position had he taken a different path.
He is about to turn 30, so I doubt he will transition more fully as much as that he would ever be a preferred starter at QB.
So yes Brett, they both have 2 legs and have played QB and in principle any active player can have a gadget role and that’s about as perceptive as this gets.
dobber
June 30, 2020 at 09:02 am
...and for a guy with not much film or NFL experience the Saints have given Hill premium money, too, just in case. But it's very short-term and they can cut bait (or transition him full time to another role) if he doesn't look up to being an NFL QB. You bring up a very good point with his age: QBs might play well well into their 30s, but other offensive skill position guys--not so much.
Handsback
June 30, 2020 at 08:50 am
Ditto on the Love and Hill comparisons. I hope there are a few games that he can come in and mop up, but don't see any real action for him this year. Heck for that matter...not sure we see any action at all this year.
dobber
June 30, 2020 at 09:05 am
Brees has gotten dinged up the last couple years. Played through it in 2018, but missed significant time in 2019.
I suspect we could see that pattern continue...and if the Saints decide to put Winston on the field rather than Hill, that could tell us a lot...but it's unlikely Hill gets a huge number of practice snaps at QB once the games start whereas Winston is going to get all his snaps at QB and has played a lot of games.
13TimeChamps
June 30, 2020 at 03:50 pm
This isn't complicated.
There's a reason Bridgewater came in to play when Brees went down for those 4 or 5 games, and not Hill, even though Hill was in the system longer.
There's a reason the Saints signed Winston as a backup this year, and I doubt it's for him to be 3rd string behind Hill.
Enough said.
DraftHobbyist
June 30, 2020 at 10:08 am
I don't think it makes any sense to trade Love under any scenario where Love is showing promise. Rodgers would be the one to be traded, because he's the older one. Why would we trade away our future and keep the guy who is going to retire in a few years max? That's how you ruin a franchise.
Also, Jordan Love is not a running QB. He has running ability, but he has always been a pocket passer in college.
DraftHobbyist
June 30, 2020 at 10:08 am
I don't think it makes any sense to trade Love under any scenario where Love is showing promise. Rodgers would be the one to be traded, because he's the older one. Why would we trade away our future and keep the guy who is going to retire in a few years max? That's how you ruin a franchise.
Also, Jordan Love is not a running QB. He has running ability, but he has always been a pocket passer in college.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
July 01, 2020 at 12:08 pm
There is zero chance Love is going to be traded unless he is a bust and I have good feeling he is anything but. Furthermore, Gutey has a lot invested in Love and if he screwed up, or LF has Love get seriously injured in some gimmick role heads likely will swivel. I would never expose a talented QB in a Taysom Hill role either. One bad injury to a knee or throwing shoulder and he is done. That or too many concussions and shortened career.
By the way used to watch Bridgewater play in person and high percentage passer on short soft passes. Doesnt have strong arm. Glad NO has him! Always upset TT exposed Hill to waivers. Everyone could see he had a big upside. This happened when Ted was slipping.
May have to make the trek to Lambeau this summer to watch those three QB'S practice. All 3 have strong arms!
Duneslick
June 30, 2020 at 11:54 am
Brett Farve is just trying to stay relevant
taarons420
June 30, 2020 at 12:43 pm
No.
Dumb.
Love isn't a "running quarterback".
Yeah - let's get our first round quarterback hurt running some spread option crap.
This is ridiculous.
Hill is built like a truck... and was undrafted... with a bottom of the barrel salary (until this past offseason).
There is zero comparison between the two players.
Love is a pure thrower.
Hill is a gadget player.
Hill ran like a 4.3... Love was at like 4.7.
Where do people come up with this stuff?
Not to mention this...
"If Aaron Rodgers is playing like a top three quarterback, which is not a stretch in any way shape or form...".
Good grief.
Has this writer ever watched Love play?
Has he watched Rodgers play for the last 5 years?
Ryan3468
July 05, 2020 at 03:33 pm
If the Packers only keep two quarterbacks no way Love sees the field unless Rogers is hurt. How ever if we go three, then I'd believe he sees some special plays designed for him, that could on game day, get him on the field. If they have some interesting looks from that, or success, it would for sure continue. The actual worth or a player, and the upside is all you can go on. After they are drafted, the spot in which they were taken is simply the team's expectations. It won't change the true value to the team, or the current evaluated upside.