Transcript: TE Evan Engram

TE Evan Engram

June 9, 2017

Q: How does it feel to get your first OTAs under your belt?

A: It's pretty cool. It's been a great two weeks, three weeks. A lot of learning, some mistakes, a lot of capitalizing on those mistakes. Just taking advantage of being out here with all these great guys and great new teammates.

Q: What is it like to have a group of tight ends with a lot of experience to help you out?

A: I'm really lucky. Those guys are really helpful in the meeting room; they're really hands on out here. Sometimes I have a blank stare on my face if I don't know what's going on, and they're right there to help me out and pick me up. Those guys are great and I can't wait to play a season with them and learn from them as much as possible.

Q: How often are those blank faces?

A: There getting less and less each and every day. Those first couple of days, there was a good amount, but as the practices went on, as the corrections were made, they’re starting to disappear.

Q: Is it too early to know if you have developed a chemistry with your quarterback?

A: I really don't like to think about it like that, we have a lot of weapons on our team that are going to click with Eli [Manning]. As many plays as I can make, that's my mindset. Just to be there, be where I need to be and make the play when it comes to me, that’s pretty much my mindset with that.

Q: Where do you feel you really made a leap from rookie camp to now?

A: Definitely with confidence. Those first couple of days, the installs and everything, I was learning but I wasn't really confident. I was thinking a lot, I was second guessing myself. But really digging in in the film room, correcting my mistakes and not letting those same mistakes happen again. That really boosts my confidence. So, when I know what I'm doing and I could play fast, that's the biggest leap I've taken during these OTAs.

Q: With the limitations that are in place right now, is this is a different type of learning for you from college?

A: Not really. It's a lot faster. We're expected to know a lot more. It's really a lot of accountability, more accountability outside, off the field. In the meeting rooms, in the classrooms, with the coaches, and even the hotel at night. The tempo and the expectations through practice is football, that's how it is, but the accountability is different with knowing our stuff.

Q: Do you believe you could contribute on special teams?

A: Definitely. That's something that I have to and I want to take pride in at this level. Whatever I could do to help the team, in all aspects, on every side of the ball. I'm willing to put my best foot forward with that.

Q: Have you gravitated to any particular veteran? What veteran really helped you out?

A: Really all of them. Those guys are really close, they really brought me in and I'm really trying to learn from all of them. We all get a lot of reps, and a lot of mental reps when we're not in. So really, I try to pick all their brains, I ask them all for help, I ask them all for expectations, what they expect on certain things. Those guys are great, I learn from all of them.

Q: You appear to be a willing blocker. Are you excited to put the pads on?

A: Yes, I'm really excited. I don't pay a lot of mind to it, but that's one of, I guess what people would call one of the downfalls of my game. But I'm willing to show my worth in that aspect and I think if I really become great in that aspect of the game, and be a force with that, I'll just be a better all-around player.

Q: Would you say you have a chip on your shoulder?

A: Yes sir.

Q: How much do you take offense to it, being that is the criticism against you?

A: I don't pay any mind to it. I don't take it personally, but I put it in my tank when I go to work.

Q: Is blocking a mental thing for you as much as a physical thing?

A: Yes. When there is a guy probably 30-40 pounds bigger than me on the other side, definitely mentality wise, but mentally with schemes and reading stuff, it wasn't as complex in college. It was kind of, ‘go block that man’, on that level. But here the defense moves around so much, there is different fronts you have to read. Just a lot more mental toughness and mental sharpness that goes into the run game here. Definitely a little more complex at this level.

Q: Do you understand those concepts?

A: I'm getting there, yes sir, I'm really getting there. It's starting to get a lot easier for me.

Q: Is it an advantage to go against Landon Collins so much?

A: Definitely. Everybody says iron sharpens iron. Landon was messing with me a little bit. He was man coverage, and I got pretty excited about it; I love competing and those guys, he's one of the best in the league, and there's a lot of guys best in the league on that defense so I take advantage of every opportunity that I get to compete with those guys.