A STEADY HAND
Engram all-in on 2nd-year goal: Don’t drop the ball
ELI MANNING scanned the defense and then fired the football deep down the field. Evan Engram had worked his way behind the secondary and was open for what looked like a sure touchdown.
But when the ball hit his hands, Engram couldn’t maintain control. The ball fell to the ground, looking more like a dropped pass than a breakup by the defense.
“The defense made a good play, but I should have come down with it,” Engram said after practice. “Give credit to the defense. They did a good job of disrupting us. They were all over the field making plays.”
Head coach Pat Shurmur wasn’t as forgiving. Though he didn’t personally call out Engram for the drop, he made it clear dropped passes will be unacceptable this season after the Giants were plagued by them last year.
“I’m fond of any player that can catch,” Shurmur said on Friday, speaking in general terms.
To emphasize his point, Shurmur has instituted pre- and postpractice drills for receivers to work on catching the ball. Whether it’s grabbing throws from Manning, an assistant coach or from the Juggs machine, receivers can been seen working on their craft before, during and after practice.
“It’s a focal point each and ev- ery day,” Engram said. “He said we had the most drops in the leagues as a team and if we clean up some of those drops we’d get some more wins. As skill players you know you have to catch the ball and how important it is.”
Engram, according to Pro Football Focus, had 11 dropped passes last season, the most of any rookie tight end since the 2012. Of course, he was targeted more than any normal rookie tight end might be, especially after the Giants lost both Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall to injuries in October.
With a year of experience, Engram hopes to be more consistent and productive in 2018.
“I have some individual goals, but I want to keep them to myself,” he said. “I just want to be the best tight end in the league and be the best tight end I can possibly be. That raises the stan-
dards for myself and for my teammates if I show up and do that every day.”
In his second season, the 2017 first-round pick out of Mississippi feels more comfortable in some respects, but like everyone else is learning a new offense and coaching staff. Engram is trying to be a quick study and build on a rookie season in which he had 64 catches, 722 yards and six touchdowns. He was the first rookie tight end to lead the Giants in receptions.
“It was hectic in the spring because everything was new,” Engram said. “But with the spring down and having a base knowledge of the offense, it’s about picking up new details. But it’s been pretty smooth.”
Engram likes the flexibility in Shurmur’s offense. The tight end isn’t locked to the hip of the offensive tackle. He’ll be moved around a lot of take advantage of Engram’s ability to get down the field.
“The offense is not hard to learn or remember,” Engram aid. “It’s just more information with a lot more responsibility and lot more versatility. That’s something that we as tight ends appreciate. You can be anywhere on the field.”
Engram is looking forward to the addition of running back Saquon Barkley as not just a runner, but a receiver. The last few practices, Barkley has lined up wide at times and caught passes with soft hands.
“He’s been making plays as a No. 1 receiver,” Engram said. “That’s the dynamic he brings. If he’s an option for Eli it definitely puts defenses in a bind.”
But it starts with catching the ball.