NFL Note - Kansas City Chiefs Hill, Tyreek

Dec 7, 2017 - 8:34 AM WR Tyreek Hill delivered the best performance of his young career Sunday against the Jets, hauling in six catches for 185 yards along with long touchdowns of 79 and 40 yards. Head coach Andy Reid said Hill's improvement in intermediate routes marks a stark difference in his development as a pass-catcher.

"Playing in space, I think he's done a nice job there," Reid said. "Knowing how to use his body against different leverages -- what he can get away with there."

Hill now has 60 catches for 911 yards this season. Only DeSean Jackson (1,156 yards in 2009) and Jeremy Maclin (964 yards in 2010) posted more yards receiving during the first two seasons of their careers in Reid's complicated West Coast offense in Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Quarterback Alex Smith pointed toward Hill's 79-yard touchdown catch as an example of his growth as a receiver in his second year in Reid's passing game.

"There are so many little different releases and leverages and things that he is just getting such a good feel for," Smith said. "Every week, you don't know how they are going to stop you and you have to be able to combat it again in the middle of a game and I think he does a great job with that."

Hill averages 15.2 yards per catch this season, up sharply from the 9.7 he averaged as a rookie last season. Reid says Hill's elite speed helps, but he points to refinements in his technique as the explanation for his improved efficiency.

"It's his ability to track the ball, set things up when the ball is in the air, to maintain your speed," Reid said. "Other guys when the ball is in the air that inside arm drops, it cuts their speed down three quarters and defensive backs can catch back up and roll."

That's where Hill's speed enters the equation in finishing routes.

"He's able to maintain his speed through these routes and it's not always on the ultimate angle that we're asking him to do it on so he's really got to drive the chin to the shoulder, keep the arm at the square and run