As the Giants have bungled their way to an 0-4 start, their special teams have let them down. They’ve allowed two long punt returns for touchdowns — 81 yards to Trindon Holliday of the Broncos in Week 2 and 89 yards to the Chiefs’ Dexter McCluster last week.
Will Hill, watching from home in New Jersey, believes those long returns wouldn’t have happened if he was on the field.
“No, I don’t think so,’’ Hill said on Wednesday after practice. “I see myself out there and I would have did this, I would have did that.’’
The time has come for Hill to stop watching and start contributing. He missed the first four games sitting out a suspension for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse — he previously said he failed two drug tests last season for marijuana use — and though he was around the team the past month, he was not really a part of anything. Hill was at the team facility every Monday through Friday, arriving early to lift and run. He attended all the team meetings. But on the weekends, he stayed behind as the Giants played their games.
“Feels good to be back on the field with the team after missing these four weeks, just being in meetings and lifting, but it’s hard to sit back and watch your brothers go out and fight and you can’t do nothing about it,’’ Hill said.
The Giants had just three safeties on the active roster — starters Antrel Rolle and Ryan Mundy, plus rookie Cooper Taylor. Hill makes four. His immediate contribution figures to be on special teams, where the second-year player excelled as a rookie last season.
“Certainly his contributions a year ago were major on special teams, so I’m looking for that to be a plus,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “We’ll work him right back in.’’
Hill said he thinks he can make a difference right away and is eying Sunday’s game against the Eagles as his 2013 debut.
“I’m very confident in myself and what I’ve been doing off the field and in the weight room, my speed. I’m in condition,’’ Hill said. “There’s not a doubt in my mind. Tackling is one of my specialties, and my speed just being disruptive, I can help being disruptive, maybe be that spark that the special teams needs to get things back going.
“Definitely, there’s not a doubt in my mind, I haven’t missed a step. The only thing I haven’t done is play yet.’’