Tag: Daxton Hill

Cincinnati Bengals rookie Dax Hill records his first INT

Dax Hill gets the INT in preseason action.

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Cincinnati Bengals first-round rookie Dax Hill made a big impression on Sunday night in Week 2 of the preseason against the New York Giants.

Hill was all over the field in the first half, showing off that rangy speed from the deep safety spot while playing in place of the franchise-tagged Jessie Bates.

The biggest highlight by a wide margin, though, was his making a diving interception on a second down attempt for the Giants. It was a little bit of right place, right time for Hill, but also his speed and recognition just putting him there in the first place.

The highlight:

Even if Hill had dropped this — he dropped a highlight-worthy pick in Week 1 — the night still would have been a resounding success for a future centerpiece of the defense.

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Bengals planning to show off Dax Hill’s versatility soon

The Bengals have big plans for the first-round rookie.

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Cincinnati Bengals coaches continue to have big plans for first-round safety Dax Hill.

Fans have seen some of that already with Jessie Bates still a holdout. Hill has received the first-team reps in camp and during preseason games, even taking snaps in the slot in things like three-safety looks.

That’s merely a preview of what coaches want to do once Bates returns.

“That’s really what we started doing early was just playing him at free safety and let him ease into life in the NFL just doing that in the spring time and early in training camp,” Taylor said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “He’s not as comfortable as he’s going to be with more experience but start to expand that role a little bit. That’s been exciting to see him utilize his skill set and learn different ways and different positions. I feel like he is going to be very valuable for us.” …

The idea of a rookie defender being able to “ease” into the NFL while trying to cover an offense that boasts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, among others, is pretty funny.

But it only reinforces the idea Hill will be plenty ready once the regular season rolls around and he’s playing all over the place while Bates commands that typical rangy safety role.

And as always, should Bates not re-up with the team, Hill will receive invaluable reps before he eventually takes over the role full time as a sophomore.

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Dax Hill impressed Bengals coaches during preseason debut

Dax Hill ‘jumped out at you’ during his big debut.

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Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Dax Hill was one of the most-hyped players on the team entering Week 1 of the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals.

Hill wasn’t just a first-round pick receiving the usual hype — he was also being asked to replace the franchise-tagged Jessie Bates in the starting defense.

Based on the reaction from coaches (and fans online), Hill did just fine in his pro debut.

“He jumped out at you,” Taylor said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com “He made two real good plays, one down there in the low red (zone) and one on the field there on third down. Those are big time plays, so that’s what stands out and then you’ll evaluate the rest of it and see how he was. But that was exciting to see from Dax.”

It wasn’t all perfect for Hill but he had two clutch third-down pass breakups in the first half and a leaping near-intercetion that would have made endless highlight reels the day after the game if he had been able to secure the ball.

The Bengals couldn’t ask for much more from Hill, who played all over the place, including the slot, in his debut. He’ll do much of the same despite not being an official starter once Week 1 arrives.

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Dax Hill and Jeff Gunter hype growing as Bengals preseason starts

Two rookies have the attention of teammates and coaches.

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One might not expect the combination of a first and seventh-round pick to be getting major hype as the Cincinnati Bengals start the preseason.

But that’s what appears to be unfolding in Cincinnati, where first-rounder Dax Hill has played with the ones in place of Jessie Bates and seventh-rounder Jeff Gunter has put on a show when given a chance.

The Athletic’s Jay Morrison and Paul Dehner Jr. polled players and coaches about who they are most excited to see play this preseason and Hill was an obvious choice.

Quarterback Brandon Allen — a guy who would know based on practicing against Bates, told them the following about Hill: “Dax will be fun to watch out there. He has shown some pretty incredible range there in the post-safety.”

There were as many people, if not more, clamoring to see Gunter, the new No. 93. Some, like Tee Higgins, didn’t even know the name, but wanted to see him play: “I want to see No. 93 on the D line. He’s been dominating every time I see him out there on the field.”

Offensive coordinator Brain Callahan shared a fun note too:

“The two young pass rushers have been really impressive, Gunter and Carter. I can’t wait to see what they look like in a real game. They’ve looked pretty damn good for young players. I want to see if they look as good Friday night as they’ve looked out here.”

The writeup also mentions that safety Vonn Bell gave his answer, then later returned to add No. 93 to the list — not a bad deal for a seventh-rounder so far.

In other words, if it weren’t already obvious before, Hill and Gunter are major names to watch in the preseason games.

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Dax Hill, Jackson Carman are notables seeing work in Bengals’ preseason opener

Two key Bengals will get some work during the preseason opener.

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The Cincinnati Bengals won’t roll out many starters in the team’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.

But they will ask first-round rookie Dax Hill to start in the free safety spot with Jessie Bates gone. They will also ask second-round sophomore Jackson Carman to take the reps at left guard.

“Jackson played a lot for us last year but I think it’s good for him to continue to get that work, and I know he’ll attack it the right way,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “It’ll be good to see him perform on Friday.”

That job at left guard remains wide open after Carman’s well-documented struggles last year. He’s in direct competition with fourth-round rookie Cordell Volson for the only spot on the new-look offensive line up for grabs. It will still take an upset for Carman to eventually lose the spot, but Friday is the first major landmark in the competition.

As for Hill, he’s received critical reps across the defense with the ones, something he wouldn’t have enjoyed with Bates at camp. That journey continues on Friday when he’ll get his first taste of live-NFL action.

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Watch: Bengals rookie Dax Hill covering Ja’Marr Chase in practice

The first-round pick had a tough assignment at Bengals training camp.

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The Cincinnati Bengals were adamant after drafting safety Dax Hill in the first round that he’d get to play all over the secondary.

Not only has that been the case at Bengals training camp so far, Hill’s getting a trial by fire of sorts — both by filling in for the absent Jessie Bates during the franchise tag standoff and being asked to line up against the likes of Ja’Marr Chase all over the field.

Hill had some of those reps against Chase on Thursday at camp, including an interesting one-on-one captured by ESPN’s Ben Baby and Mike Petraglia of CLNS media:

Hill played all over the secondary in college and will do so again in the pros. He’s expected to see snaps in the slot and at boundary corner spots when necessary. Should the team not re-sign Bates long-term, he’ll likely move into the free safety spot full time as a sophomore.

As for right now, it’s telling that Hill is already being asked to cover Chase (and seemingly holding up well enough) while Chase works from the slot, something else the team wants to see more of next season.

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Jessie Bates has reached out, offered to help Bengals rookie Dax Hill

The Bengals star is excited to link up with the rookie.

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Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates might not be at training camp during his holdout to help first-round rookie Dax Hill along, yet his presence is still being felt.

According to Hill, Bates reached out and offered whatever help the rookie needs. He also told his current replacement that he can’t wait to get back in town and help him with film work.

“He said it’s a blessing to be out there the first day of camp when everything’s exciting, and if there’s anything you need, just reach out to me,” Hill said, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. and Jay Morrison. “It could be awkward if we never talked and he walks in and it’s like, ‘Oh, nice to finally meet you. But he’s been reaching out and making sure I’m good.”

While Bates has been out, Hill has repped and already made calls on the first-team defense, working with defensive backs and even linebackers. That’s how the Bengals plan to deploy Hill — all over the field, especially when Bates gets back.

No word on when Bates will get back, but barring something absolutely stunning, he’ll suit up during the regular season and be there soon enough to assist Hill.

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Dax Hill already making calls with 1st team Bengals defense with Jessie Bates out

Dax Hill is already taking on a huge role at Bengals training camp.

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Cincinnati Bengals fans were eager to see how first-round safety Dax Hill might handle the challenge of stepping up in training camp while Jessie Bates was out.

Turns out he made an impact from Day 1.

Hill, tasked with essentially getting thrown to the wolves while replacing a near All-Pro player in practice, worked with defensive captains in the secondary and even linebackers while learning how to call the defense and get people where they need to go.

Coaches say Hill, while being the only major piece of a Super Bowl defense that’s changed, has already stepped up and looked good.

“As a young player and being the only different piece — take Logan (Wilson’s) injury for what it is — to go out there and communicate and make calls and to not freeze,” safeties coach Robert Livingston said, according to The Athletic’s Jay Morrison. “On Day 1 if you don’t do that, you can grow from there. He did a good job. But in training camp, some days he’ll be the best in the world and some days he’ll suck. It’s just what it is. But good first day, and we’ll just keep it moving.”

As noted, this won’t always be the case. But we already knew Hill had wicked athleticism and range that lets him play many roles, including all cornerback spots. The fact he’s working the mental side of the game as soon as camp starts while repping with the first team is a good development.

Call this a fun silver lining of the Bates holdout — Hill wouldn’t get these reps otherwise. Now they’ll likely be on the field together next season.

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Dax Hill is first Bengals player born after Paul Brown Stadium opened

How’s that for a Bengals fun fact?

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Want to feel old? Cincinnati Bengals players have started to help in this regard upon arrival.

Dax Hill, Cincinnati’s first-round pick this year expected to rotate in all over the secondary right away, won’t turn 22 years old until after this season’s third game.

That makes him younger than Paul Brown Stadium itself, a first, as detailed by Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

“The birth of Ja’Marr Chase, last year’s first-rounder, came on March 1, 2000, when the building was getting a final paint job. Same with last year’s third-rounder, Joseph Ossai, born April 12, 2000.

Hill was born Sept. 29, 2000, three games into the season and two days before Dick LeBeau made his debut as Bengals head coach against Miami at PBS.”

Paul Brown Stadium opened on August 19, 2000. This fun fact comes at an interesting time as well considering the stadium’s lease expires after the 2026 season, which means negotiations with Hamilton country on upgrades/enhancements and lease extensions will unfold soon.

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Bengals already impressed with Dax Hill in practice

The Bengals are happy with how the first-rounder plays and preps.

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It hasn’t taken long for Cincinnati Bengals first round pick Dax Hill to leave a big impression on those around him.

Hill, famous notably for his elite athleticism and versatility, has been able to get some noteworthy work in at multiple spots with the starters while Jessie Bates remains away from the team momentarily.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says those moments have been impressive, but that the way he seeks out leaders for help is just as impressive, too.

“I’ve been really impressed with him. I think the part that’s maybe the most impressive is I always see him having these sidebar conversations with some of those veterans whether it be Vonn or Mike or Chido or some of those guys,” Taylor said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

Of course, Taylor also says that a big part of this is that the veteran leaders in the locker room make it so easy and welcoming:

“It’s after a rep, it’s after a drill. Whether it’s him asking questions or whether them helping him get up to speed, that’s what you want to see from the rookies is not feel like there’s that wall between them and the vets communication-wise. Not to be intimidated. That just speaks to the character of the veterans that we have on the team and that defense specifically.”

Hill still projects to fill a rotational role in the backfield that will help right away, though there was that fun moment where coaches had to shoot down the idea he couldn’t play boundary corner, too.

Either way, Hill’s saying and doing the right things to the point coaches feel the need to point it out. Given what we know about the locker room culture, this isn’t necessarily just standard good offseason vibes before training camp starts too.

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