Rams rookie showing room for improvement

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams first-year coach Scott Linehan said he is pleased so far with top draft pick Tye Hill, though he said Hill is making normal rookie mistakes.

Hill, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound cornerback debuted for the Rams on Thursday in the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Playing with the second team, Hill made some errors but also showed why the Rams used their No. 1 pick on him.

“He got himself out of position a few times, but he did show his recovery ability,” Linehan said.

“There was one time where he got turned around on a slant route and whipped around so fast that he actually beat the guy to the ball. That’s an encouraging thing. Not many people can do that.”

Hill admitted to some nerves before his professional debut.

“I most definitely had them,” Hill said. “I just had to calm myself down. It was my first game, but I just kept telling myself, ‘It’s football. I’ve been playing this all my life.’”

In the Rams’ 19-17 victory Thursday at home over the Colts, Hill recorded four tackles and he had a fifth one on special teams play. He broke up two passes, but he dropped two possible interceptions.

“I had those in my hands,” Hill said. “Beside missing those interceptions, I think I did all right for my first game. They’re going to say it seemed like (a lot), but I only had two in my hands. I should have had one.”

Hill vowed to work on his hands and focus to hold onto the ball in the future.

“I’ve got to get on the (ball shooting) machine and concentrate on making those plays so I can make it happen in a game,” Hill said.

As the Rams returned to training camp Saturday, Linehan said he believed Hill would make the adjustments.

“He’s still got to shore things up technically,” Linehan said. “I think that’s the biggest area we need to improve as a team from now through the remainder of the preseason leading up to the regular season. We need to clean up the technique.”

Hill agreed.

“I’m still going through the adjustment of becoming an NFL player,: he said.

I’m taking it one step at a time and I’ve got a long way to go. I just have to keep thinking that it’s football and not let it overwhelm me.”