ALBANY — Derek Hagan spent parts of three seasons with the Dolphins before the Giants signed him late last season. The 24-year-old has definitely made a positive impression in camp and has increased his chances in a crowded receiver group.
“Very pleased with where he’s at and he’s definitely in the mix of things from a competition standpoint,” receivers coach Mike Sullivan said.
Hagan arrived with the reputation for dropping too many passes, but his hands this summer have been like a vise grip. He had a drop in yesterday’s afternoon practice when rookie cornerback DeAndre Wright obscured his vision for a moment, but he quickly followed that up by hauling in an Eli Manning pass in traffic. He made several other catches, including a reception for a first down in the waning seconds of the two-minute drill.
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Rookie linebacker Clint Sintim took some snaps with the first-team defense, which was not merely a case of the coaching staff moving bodies around. “He’s shown the power, the pass rush,” Tom Coughlin said.
Right tackle Kareem McKenzie‘s back tightened up and he sat out practice. . . . Coughlin said the return of defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (hamstring), who is on the Physically Unable to Perform list since camp began, “might be relatively soon.”
Another day, another session dominated by the defense. “Normally camps go back and forth,” Coughlin said. “This one hasn’t gone forth.” One glimmer was that the starting offense was able to get in field goal range in the two-minute drill, with Hagan and rookie Ramses Barden making big catches on passes from Manning.
For the first time in camp, the starting defensive line (Osi Umenyiora, Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins and Justin Tuck) took snaps together. Robbins is making a strong return from knee surgery. “I’m very pleased with what he’s been able to do,” Coughlin said. “He looked real quick, real active.”
Manning on if fullback Madison Hedgecock is a bit unusual: “Maybe a little bit. He’s not your average cat.” . . . K Lawrence Tynes (groin) said he plans on resuming his kicking duties today and figures he will be fine to kick in Monday night’s preseason opener. . . . Former general manager Ernie Accorsi visited camp.
