Each time Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill gets a chance to step on the field, the former St. Bonaventure High standout knows it’s another chance to prove he belongs in the NFL.

Since being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals in the spring of 2015, Hill has faced an uphill battle for acceptance. Now in his third season in the league, Hill has made slow but steady progress.

Last season Hill played in a career-high 12 games, including making his first four National Football League starts.

But when former Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and his staff were fired and replaced by Sean McVay and a new group of coaches, Hill understood he needed to step up his game to impress his new coaches.

He’s done that.

It started with upping his game in the film room this offseason. Hill spent countless hours studying film to get more familiar with offenses around the league and what they are trying to do.

He also worked hard to understand the new scheme defensive coordinator Wade Phillips brought to the team.

“There are lot more opportunities to make plays in this system so I like it a lot,” Hill said. “I am still learning the ins and outs of this system but I think it’s a good fit for me.

“It’s a lot more press (cornerbacks playing up close to the receivers on the line of scrimmage). We want to try and play sticky coverage so we can let our pressure get home.”

Through organized team activities, mini camp and now training camp, Hill has continued to make strides, evidenced by his increased amount of playing time. In last week’s preseason game at Oakland, Hill opened the game with the starting unit. The previous week against the Cowboys, Hill wasn’t with the starters, but he got extensive playing time.

As he’s done his entire career, Hill has shown his new coaches he’s a strong tackler, having recorded five tackles in the two games, tying him for fourth most on the team through two preseason games.

More importantly, he’s done a nice job in coverage, something McVay has noticed.

“You see his speed, you see his short-space quicks,” McVay said of Hill.

Since being hired, McVay and his staff have put a heavy emphasis on teaching. From the first day of OTAs, position coaches, including secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant, have worked hard to give each player under their tutelage a strong fundamental base of skills to work from.

The increased emphasis on coaching is something Hill has appreciated.

“Over these last four months I feel like I have learned the most about football as I have in my whole career,” Hill said. “I’ve learned new and different techniques. I like it a lot.”

While he’s pleased with his progress, Hill knows he needs to continue to open the eyes of his coaches to earn one of those precious spots on the team’s 53-man roster.

If Hill does earn a roster spot, he won’t be able to start playing until Week 3 because of a two-game suspension he was given by the league for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse after being arrested for DUI last November.

Hill said he’s dealt with the issue and is moving forward. He can’t do anything about the two-game suspension, so he’s focusing on playing as well as he can right now, starting with this Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“I’m just trying to take advantage of my opportunities and better myself every day,” Hill said. “My job is to come out focused and take it one day at a time.”