THANK EVAN!
If OBJ is out, Giant rookie can fill void
THERE IS A reason the Giants shouldn’t feel despondent if Odell Beckham Jr. misses their regular-season opener in Dallas, and that reason’s name is Evan Engram.
Jerry Reese’s first-round draft pick is making some of the predictable mistakes that rookies make in the preseason. And Ben McAdoo won’t pressure a first-year tight end to be the Giants’ savior if OBJ sits out.
But Engram’s big-play ability as a receiver has been increasingly on display this preseason, and the combination of his size, speed and versatility clearly are adding the type of weapon that Eli Manning hasn’t had down the middle of the field in a long time – or maybe ever.
“I think I’m kind of a chess piece,” Engram, 22, told the Daily News after Monday’s practice. “I can get matched up with a linebacker and really use my speed to my advantage. (Or if I’m) getting on a DB (defensive back), I’m just being more of a receiver and being savvy and physical … And then when the big play comes, it’s going up and making it.”
Engram, who led the nation with 17.4 yards per catch as an Ole Miss sophomore in 2014, already has receptions from Manning of 21, 19 and 13 yards. He has six catches for 75 yards in 72 snaps – or the equivalent of one full regular season game – through three games (12.5 yard average).
Ben McAdoo said Monday that Beckham’s sprained left ankle is “improving” and that the Giants coach is “hopeful” Beckham will play “tomorrow,” let alone in Week 1 at Dallas. Brandon Marshall (left shoulder) also returned to practice in a limited capacity after sitting out last week.
But the truth is, the Giants need to be as careful as possible with Beckham’s injury to make sure they don’t lose him for an extended period of time. So if they need to rest him for one regular season game in order to keep him healthy for the rest of them, they should.
That would be easier to do, though, if they knew they could maintain a vertical downfield threat without Beckham. Enter Engram, who notices Manning has been looking for him early on.
“That’s something I’ve got to get used to,” Engram said. “(Eli and I), we’ve definitely been building chemistry. He’s been real helpful with my transition … But you’re right: Sometimes he’s looking for me, sometimes our O-line’s gonna get protection, and I’ve got to trust the route and trust my way of getting open.
“Sometimes I speed it up too fast, I’m in a rush, and I’m not as efficient in my route as I can be because I’m trying to rush to get, open thinking he doesn’t have time,” Engram said. “But he’s really back there being patient, letting me get open. It’s all timing, but we’re definitely getting (on the same page) and he’s been a big part of it.”
Engram’s versatility also has been as useful to McAdoo’s play-calling as his receiving ability. He caught a 21yard play-action pass on 1st-and-10 a week ago in Cleveland after lining up in the backfield and duping a linebacker. And he caught a five-yard pass on first down lined up on the right side of the line.
Saturday against the Jets, Engram then broke linebacker Darron Lee’s ankles on an out-and-up route for a 19-yard gain on 3rd-and-8, lined up on the left side of the line. He caught a 13-yard pass out of the right slot facing Jets safety Jamal Adams on 2nd-and-8. And McAdoo even tried a third-down fade to Engram in the red zone that Adams knocked down. Engram is a weapon in the truest sense. Fantasy football owners, in other words, are going to love him. But more importantly, he looks as if he’ll factor big-time into McAdoo’s offensive attack.
The missing piece, the unanswered question coming out of college was Engram’s blocking ability. And he struggled in that area in Cleveland. But on Saturday he sealed a block on Orleans Darkwa’s touchdown run and played a cleaner game.
“There were a couple blocks in the Cleveland game, they were small things, even pre-snap, kind of a certain depth on the block or certain steps to get everything meshed together with the ‘O’ line,” Engram said. “Especially being in the backfield, sometimes you’re in that second (wave), I got tripped up. It’s all detail. So I cleaned up a lot of that stuff, honed in on what my depth is on certain run plays, and spent a lot this past week focused on what to expect from the defense as well – being professional scouting the opponent and having an idea of what looks they give. But cleaning up a lot of details helped.”
If Engram can be a reliable blocker, that will enable McAdoo to keep him on the field more and call a less predictable offense with one of his better passing options on the field.
“(McAdoo) is big on being a complete player and being successful whether it’s running a route or sealing a block,” Engram said. “So it’s something I take pride in, being able to stay out there on first and second down and being a big threat on third down if need be.”
Engram then was asked if he’d ever put a defender on skates the way he did to Lee on Saturday.
“I’ mean, I’ve had a couple backers that I’ve …” Engram began with a smile, and then the conversation shifted.
No need to say it. At this rate, everyone will see it.