Is there enough plays for Engram to thrive
Craig Santucci @NYGiantsRush
Every NFL team and their fans want the next Travis Kelce, Greg Olsen, Eric Ebron, Zach Ertz or George Kittle. For the New York Giants, they have a major weapon ready to exploit defensives.
In 2019 NFL QB’s are expected to throw for 4000 yards and 25+ touchdowns and these are super conservative numbers. Brees, Ben, Brady and Rodgers have been doing it for years. Wilson, Ryan, Luck, Goff and now Mahomes are the new gunslingers.
Which brings me to…is there enough balls to go around? Kelce, Kittle, and Etrz are the No.1 & No.2 hot routes on almost every play. They run great patterns, find the soft spot and make plays when the ball is in their hands. So why hasn’t Evan Engram had a break out year?
The Giants spread the ball around when Eli Manning is standing upright. The Offensive line has been a problem for years and does affect the number of plays and the number of opportunities Manning gets. Engram, the Giants first-round pick in the 2017 draft doesn’t seem to fit the offensive scheme. His production is also affected by what seems to be a lack of concentration resulting in dropped passes. However, everyone agrees Evan Engram is a playmaker.
As a 1st round pick, and with the evolution of the game, one would think McAdoo and Shurmur would use him more. But hold on, this team has one of the best wide receivers in the game, one of the best running backs in the game and damn good slot receiver. The bigger question is would he be better off on a team that utilizes the Tight End as a playmaker?
Player Receiving Yards:
- Beckham averages 92 receptions a year | 1300 yards a year.
- Saquon Barkley – 91 receptions | 721 yards a year
- Sterling Shepard averages – 64 receptions | average | 765 a year
- No. 3 receiver – 91 receptions | 920 yards *
Shepard has improved every year (683, 781, 872 yards), Ellison surprises every time he catches the ball, Barkley almost duplicated Jarvis Landry’s (Browns) receiving output for the year. Where do you find an additional 1000 yards and 7 touchdowns? It doesn’t matter who throws the rock, the Giants have a ton of playmakers that command the ball and Engram seems to get shortchanged. Maybe the Giants can convert him to the 3rd wide receiver. Maybe the Giants could package him up and trade him.
Kittle, Ertz, and Kelce all had over 1100 to 1300 yards and five to ten Touchdowns.
- Fowler, Sheppard, * Ellison, * Coleman *