CHICAGO — Judged strictly by his body of work in training camp in Albany, Derek Hagan is deserving of a spot on the Giants’ roster.
That sampling, though, is not enough, and for his own future employment, it is advisable for Hagan to make something happen tonight when the Giants face the Bears in a preseason game at Soldier Field.
The preseason opener against the Panthers did not provide much evidence that the new-look receiving corps is ready for prime time. Mario Manningham had more assignment errors than catches (zero). Rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden were thrown to five times, and came away with one reception apiece. Hagan had one catch for six yards. Sinorice Moss caught one pass for nine yards.
Assessing the play of the receivers in camp, coach Tom Coughlin said, “It’s been a little bit up and down. It’s obviously an objective this week.”
The starters, Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon, are set but far from sure things as far as deserving No. 1 receiver status. The Giants could use a surprise from someone. Could Hagan be that someone?
It is not as if Hagan is some flash-in-the-pan youngster. At one point he was a hot prospect, a star at Arizona State — he finished his career first in Pac-10 history in catches and second in receiving yards — and was a 2006 third-round draft pick of the Dolphins. He had 50 receptions and three touchdowns in his first two years in Miami, but did not develop enough to suit the Dolphins and they released him last November. The Giants signed him in mid-December and played him on special teams in the 23-11 playoff loss to the Eagles.
At first glance, there’s nothing not to like. He’s got size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), runs well enough and competes for the ball in the air. What he has shown this summer is that he looks like a reliable pass-catcher. That completely flies in the face of the reputation Hagan carted in with him from South Florida that he will drop the ball just as often as he will catch it.
“I don’t know what his reputation was or how he did or anything other than when he showed up at the end of last year and how he’s done so far,” receivers coach Mike Sullivan said. “We’re definitely pleased with his stamina, his toughness. He hasn’t missed a day, a great effort player and made some pretty good catches and really shown a versatility, which will bode well for him.”
Hagan said he believes the “drops” label is unfair.
“I definitely think so,” he said. “Those things are going to happen at times, but you’ve just got to come back and try to make the next play.”
What helps Hagan is he can play all three-receiver spots. What will really help him is if he flashes something on special teams. In Miami, Hagan was not considered a strong special teams player, but the Giants believe he has something to offer. That could make him a younger version of David Tyree, who rose to such prominence covering kickoffs that he was named to the 2005 Pro Bowl.
Hagan isn’t close to that level and remains a long shot to stick. Hixon, Smith, Manningham, Moss and rookies Nicks and Barden are ahead of Hagan and the only one of those six who could conceivably be cut is Moss. What should never be dismissed is that Moss is a former second-round draft pick. Teams do not jettison such high picks until every other option is exhausted.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Hagan said. “I think I’m in the right spot, and I have the perfect opportunity to show everybody what I can do.”
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QB Andre Woodson is coming off a shaky preseason showing and might be run ning out of chances to show he can make things happen in a game, considering the starters will play the bulk of next Saturday’s game against the Jets. . . . CB Corey Webster (hip flexor) finally made it back to practice after missing most of the first two weeks of camp. He might play tonight, but the other starting corner, Aaron Ross (hamstring), will not.
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DT Rocky Bernard returned to practice and is anxious to get in some games after missing the first three weeks of camp with a strained hamstring.
“You definitely want to get out there and get some live action, because once the season starts it picks up a lot,” Bernard said. “The intensity is 10 times greater than it is in the preseason.”