Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill has been steadily earning praise over the course of his first six games as a full-time starter in coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense.
Hill has been used all over the place, filling that Jessie Bates role but also serving as a specialist against specific players such as opposing tight ends.
That has Anarumo signing his praises before a showdown with San Francisco’s George Kittle.
“Confidence. I think just understanding his job and feeling good about letting it fly a little bit,” Anarumo said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Going to make some plays and that just comes with feeling more confident in what his, what his jobs are. So he’s done well. It’s been steady, which is good.”
Kittle, who Anarumo puts with the likes of Travis Kelce, is a nice measuring stick for Hill’s progress: “I think he’s held his own. It’s a tough job for any of those cover guys. They’re going to win some and lose some and as long as we’re winning more than we lose. He’s competitive. He’s fast, he’s got some length to him. He’s held his own, but (Kittle is) tough. This guy’s a tough match for anybody. ”
Considering the secondary was one of the biggest questions about the team entering the season, the fact Hill has been a steady presence already is a great sign for both the rest of the season and the future.
