In a perfect world, the Cincinnati Bengals would just stick with Dax Hill as the boundary cornerback opposite DJ Turner, because that's where he's performed the best. Alas, despite Dax's protests in the past, injuries forced him to move to the slot for Week 4's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hill will be playing there primarily while Jalen Davis recovers from a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve. As long as D.J. Ivey can hold up on the perimeter, with Tacario Davis occasionally spelling him, all should be well.
I would rather keep Dax on the boundary and figure something else out but whatever. You can't argue with the results, nor with how well Hill and the Bengals secondary matches up with the Miami Dolphins in Week 5.
Dax's move back to the slot was fruitful vs. the Jaguars
Jacksonville's best wide receiver, Parker Washington, had only one catch for seven yards. Dax Hill was a big reason for that, as Washington played half his pass snaps in the slot.
The only coverage real breakdown from Hill came on Brian Thomas Jr.'s wide-open touchdown catch. That was more on inexperienced safety PJ Jules, who should've been giving Dax help over the top on that 7-yard scoring play.
Anyway, Hill was rarely targeted (thrice) and let very little get past him. He's a surer tackler than he's given credit for too, which some members of the Bengals defense (COUGH JORDAN BATTLE) could learn from.
Dolphins' personnel usage plays right into Hill's hands
Don't ask me why, but the Dolphins have insisted upon aligning in an excess amount of 21 personnel formations. They're in them at the third-highest rate in the NFL, per SumerSports.
Before De'Von Achane's injury, this was more of a halfback-fullback situation. Now, it's a dual-tailback thang with Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright.
Rookie tight end Will Kacmarek is an excellent blocker, but not a receiving threat. Greg Dulcich is the far more dangerous pass-catchers, and given that Miami has averaged under 12 points per game so far, maybe getting Dulcich involved could help!
Until the Dolphins make that adjustment, though, Dax Hill will make them pay. Kacmarek out-snapped Dulcich 24-20 in Week 4, and figures to again as Miami tries to attack Cincinnati's vulnerable run defense.
Even if Dulcich is on the field, Dax can hold his own in coverage against him. Whenever the Dolphins go to 11 personnel, Hill will have no issue locking down Malik Washington, an admittedly improving player who still only averages 8.5 career yards per catch. Washington is a diminutive target who can easily be rerouted, and Dax has him beat in lateral agility anyway.
The only other Miami weapons Hill has to worry about is their less-frequent slot rookies in Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas. That is, if Douglas even plays. And Bell should've had a long TD against the Vikings if he didn't step out of bounds. Still getting his sea legs under him post-ACL recovery.
There's really no world in which Dax doesn't have an exceptional performance in Miami. The Bengals will probably build a lead, and force Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis into obvious passing downs.
With Cincinnati's sick d-line teeing off, don't be surprised to see Dax come down with a takeaway to help boost the Bengals back over .500 at 3-2 entering their Week 6 bye.
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