Bengals safety Dax Hill's 'insane play' gets a shoutout from Packers' Christian Watson
Do-it-all safety Dax Hill was the only projected Week 1 starter to play any offensive or defensive snaps for the Cincinnati Bengals in the team's first preseason game Friday night. It only took him three plays to show why he's got a starting gig on lock.Playing as the centerfield safety on second-and-seven, Hill quickly broke […]
Do-it-all safety Dax Hill was the only projected Week 1 starter to play any offensive or defensive snaps for the Cincinnati Bengals in the team's first preseason game Friday night. It only took him three plays to show why he's got a starting gig on lock.
Playing as the centerfield safety on second-and-seven, Hill quickly broke on a deep ball from Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love targeting the speedy Christian Watson, who had a step on the equally speedy DJ Turner. Hill tracked the ball beautifully and made a leaping one-handed deflection in front of Watson.
It was one of just three incompletions for Love on the night, and Watson couldn't have possibly blamed his quarterback for the missed connection. Watson gave credit where credit was due.
"I think the safety just made an insane play," Watson told Packers reporter Ryan Wood after the game. "Even when I saw it in the air, and I saw the safety in my peripheral vision, I didn't think there was any way he was making it there. He got there insanely quick."
That play can only be made if the safety reads it quick enough, and is literally quick enough to scoot over in time. Hill's 4.38 timed speed was on display for everyone to see, and it should be really encouraging how fast he diagnosed the throw from the middle of the field.
2023 will be Hill's first year as a full-time starter, and while he'll be asked to man up against slot receivers occasionally, his ability to patrol deep will be heavily relied on. He's their best chance to adequately replace Jessie Bates III at the position of free safety.
So far, he very much looks the part.
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Featured image via © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
