"They're getting better every day," Hill said. "They're working really hard, they understand what we're trying to convey to them. They understand the system and what I expect of them. They're doing well."

Hill brings high intensity, and high expectations, to the cornerback position.

"You can see me out there. Every play is important to me," Hill said. "I don't expect the offense to catch a ball. That's how I feel about it. They should be able to catch a ball for five yards and under. Anything more than five yards, we messed up somewhere. I'm very competitive. They'll be very competitive. They'll play like I coach. What we're looking for in our system are guys who are smart, who are able to adapt, who understand concepts and give great effort."

As of now, both cornerback spots are up for grabs. "Everything's open to me because I don't know what they did last year," Hill said. "It's irrelevant to me."

Overall, Mendenhall likes what he sees from the secondary.

"They're improving through their execution and the way they're being coached," he said. "Technically, each one is getting better. Within the scheme, they have a better grasp of that now. You can see them developing more confidence. As we continue to work in camp, I've seen a difference each day so far. They're certainly not ready yet, but I'm pleased with their progress."

---

E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com