Bengals' Mike Hilton reveals how Vonn Bell's return will make him a better player this season
Don't let Vonn Bell's contract with the Cincinnati Bengals fool you into thinking he's not going to play a lot this season. Cincinnati may be paying Bell relative pennies compared to other starters on the team, but there's a clear reason why he'll be on the field more often than he'll be on the sidelines. His teammates […]
Don't let Vonn Bell's contract with the Cincinnati Bengals fool you into thinking he's not going to play a lot this season.
Cincinnati may be paying Bell relative pennies compared to other starters on the team, but there's a clear reason why he'll be on the field more often than he'll be on the sidelines.
His teammates trust him, and that makes everyone around him better. Mike Hilton will be the first to tell you that.
Vonn Bell's impact on Mike Hilton
Trust is what the Bengals' defense did not have in its safety play in 2023 while Bell was playing for the Carolina Panthers. It's what led to opposing offenses teeing off against bland coverages mixed with hesitant play in the back-half of the unit.
It also forced Hilton to step into a larger role that negatively impacted his game. Bell's return has already put Hilton at ease.
"With Vonn back, for me personally, having that extra voice at my rear, it takes a lot off my shoulders and lets me settle down and play my game," Hilton told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. "Another voice who knows the system and knows how to win."
Communication was crucial during the Bengals' back-to-back deep postseason runs prior to Bell's departure. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could rely on Bell getting his teammates lined up before the snap and conduct post-snap shifts to confuse the best quarterbacks in the game.
Hilton was relied on for some of those duties last year, and the results just weren't the same. It's not a knock towards Hilton, who remains a top notch slot defender, but it's clear that the responsibility is better suited for Bell at the safety position.
Hilton and his teammates playing faster and looser has a direct result that's already visible in practice.
"The energy was there," Hilton said. "Once the football gets thrown around, it gets you going. But you could just tell from our first snap our communication is where it needs to be."
That's music to everyone's ears in Cincinnati.
Bengals recreate the same finesse they pulled off a decade ago by signing safety Vonn Bell back
Cincinnati is getting more than just Bell back at safety.
