Cincinnati Bengals first-round rookie Dax Hill has seen just a handful of snaps over the first two games of his career.
That’s a mild surprise at best given Hill’s versatility coming out of college in which he floated around multiple safety spots and even cornerback spots. Bengals coaches had been open that’s how he’ll be used as a pro, too.
But for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, communication in the secondary is far too important and complex to throw at a rookie defensive back in Week 1.
Anarumo went so far as explaining that while he coached up superstar defender Xavien Howard in Miami, the future star had tremendous struggles until Week 14 or 15.
Some of Anarumo’s thoughts on the matter, courtesy of Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic:
“D-linemen rotate as everyone knows. Linebackers can rotate. I have been doing this for 30 years and I have never rotated a corner and a safety in my life. And I never will. The starters are the starters for a reason. There’s usually good reason. That kid will get in when I feel it is the right time, the right place, in the right role, in the right game…The communication, high-level pass-offs during a play when these guys are communicating, these younger guys have no idea what that is all about until they can slowly and surely get into it.”
Perhaps this approach would change if the Bengals were desperate for help, but so far the injury bug has been relatively friendly. The Bengals have two 99-percent-snaps safeties and solid starters at all three corner spots for now.
Realistically, Hill was a luxury pick on the chance Bates doesn’t come back after this season. Anarumo stresses how important it is to avoid confidence-shattering mistakes for a young guy like Hill, which they’re currently enjoying doing.
Until something changes, don’t expect to see much of Hill, as mostly expected.
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