Troy Hill has steadily improved after slow start in new role

After struggling in the slot early on, Troy Hill has bounced back and improved in recent weeks.

The stars of the Rams secondary this season have undoubtedly been Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams. They’ve become one of the best duos in the NFL, with Williams allowing the lowest passer rating in coverage and earning the third-best PFF grade of any cornerback through Week 10.

But next to Ramsey and Williams is Troy Hill, who has bounced back after getting off to a slow start in his new role as the slot corner. Hill has had an up-and-down season in 2020, but he’s steadily improved as the year has progressed.

According to Pro Football Reference, he’s allowed a 76.5% completion rate, which isn’t great, but he’s only allowing 9.6 yards per completion and teams are targeting him close to the line of scrimmage; his average depth of target is only 6.3 yards, which is eighth-fewest of any cornerback.

Covering the slot is extremely difficult and Hill’s 85.9 passer rating allowed from the slot is the ninth-lowest in the NFL.

He still hasn’t been perfect, and teams tend to target him before Ramsey and Williams, but Hill has definitely improved since the start of the season. His deflection-turned-interception against the Bears was one of his best plays of the year, mirroring the receiver perfectly in the end zone for the pass breakup.

Taylor Rapp was in perfect position to pick it off, too, making a good play even better.

If Hill can continue to play at a high level the rest of the way, quarterbacks will have few choices when attacking the Rams secondary.