by Sports Xchange

Former first-round pick Tye Hill returned an interception 62 yards for a score in the first quarter Sunday against the Redskins. It was his second start since being acquired from the Rams for a seventh-round draft choice before the season began.

The touchdown put the Falcons ahead 14-0 and helped them to cruise to a 31-17 victory that ended a two-game losing streak.

Dropping back into zone coverage, Hill snagged a Jason Campbell pass that skidded of the hands of tight end Fred Davis. Hill, noted for his blinding speed that won him two Atlantic Coast Conference sprint titles at Clemson, was off to the races.

"I was trying to show my running back skills," said Hill, who played running back in his freshman season at Clemson before switching positions.

Hill's big play was a highlight for a pass defense that entered the game ranked 31st in the league and had given up three consecutive 300-yard games.

The Falcons were worried about their secondary in the preseason after San Diego's Philip Rivers and Baltimore's John Beck had fun picking on cornerbacks Chris Houston and Brent Grimes. So the Falcons signed cornerback Brian Williams, who was released by Jacksonville.

He was starting at left cornerback, but he suffered a season-ending injury in October.

Aided by a fierce pass rush, the Falcons held Washington to 176 passing yards and one touchdown pass. Hill appears to have earned the job at left cornerback opposite Chris Houston.

A year after the Falcons struck gold with a preseason trade for cornerback Domonique Foxworth, Hill appears to be proving general manager Thomas Dimitroff's acumen again.

While with the Rams, who took Hill with the 15th pick of the 2006 draft, Hill played just 12 games in 2007 and 2008 in injury-shortened seasons. St. Louis was willing to part with him in the preseason.

"My attitude was, I wanted to come in and work hard and prove that I'm still what I thought I was coming up," Hill said. "I just wanted to work hard, basically, and earn a spot on the team."

To get caught up on the defense, Hill said he met individually with defensive backs coach Alvin Reynolds and has been able to present his questions.

"I'm blessed to be here," Hill said. "I couldn't ask to be traded to a better place."