Dax Hill looks set up for another big night in the slot when the Bengals visit the Dolphins in Week 5.
Cincinnati would probably prefer to keep Hill on the boundary opposite DJ Turner, where he has been at his best. But injuries pushed him inside for Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and that shift worked.
With Jalen Davis out because of a hamstring injury that sent him to injured reserve, Hill is expected to handle the slot again, while D.J. Ivey stays on the perimeter with Tacario Davis rotating in behind him.
The Bengals have reason to feel good about that arrangement, especially after what Hill did against Jacksonville. Parker Washington, the Jaguars’ top wideout, finished with one catch for seven yards, and Hill was a major part of that outcome after Washington spent half his pass snaps in the slot.
Hill’s one real miss came on Brian Thomas Jr.’s wide-open touchdown, and that was more on safety PJ Jules than on Hill. Jules should have been providing help over the top on the 7-yard score.
Outside of that, Hill was barely tested, drawing only three targets and allowing little separation. He also brought more in run support than he tends to get credit for, which is the kind of thing the Bengals could use more of from the rest of that defense.
Miami’s offensive setup should give Hill plenty of chances to keep making plays. The Dolphins have leaned heavily on 21 personnel, using it at the third-highest rate in the league, per SumerSports.
Before De’Von Achane’s injury, that look featured more of a halfback-fullback setup. Now it’s more of a dual-tailback approach with Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright.
At tight end, Will Kacmarek is the blocker, while Greg Dulcich is the more dangerous pass-catcher. Kacmarek out-snapped Dulcich 24-20 in Week 4, and that split figures to matter again as Miami tries to lean on the run against Cincinnati’s vulnerable front. Dulcich could help the Dolphins’ passing game, which has averaged under 12 points per game so far, but the Bengals will be ready if he’s the one asked to do more.
Even when Miami gets into 11 personnel, Hill should still be in a strong spot. That’s where Malik Washington becomes the likely matchup, and while Washington has been improving, he still averages only 8.5 career yards per catch. He’s a smaller target who can be steered off his route, and Hill has the edge in lateral quickness.
There’s also the matter of Miami’s less-used slot rookies, Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas. Douglas might not even play, and Bell is still settling in after ACL recovery. Bell nearly had a long touchdown against the Vikings if he hadn’t stepped out of bounds.
All of it points to a favorable setup for Hill. If the Bengals build a lead and force Malik Willis into obvious passing situations, Cincinnati’s pass rush should start pinning its ears back. With that kind of pressure up front, Hill has a real chance to come away with a takeaway and help push the Bengals back to 3-2 heading into their Week 6 bye.
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