I checked out his stats the other day and if I remember correctly they're on par in terms of yardage and superior in terms of TDs to Shockey's rookie season. Now mind you 15 years later it's a different league with different passing stats and way more pass catching TEs. But EE had a 3-13 team to Shockey's 10-6 team so we'll call it even. Thoughts on Engram's play last season and potential going forward?
I didn't give you any grief on Engram. I have been consistent from start that I really liked him (and still really do). But to me he was a guy that could have been had in the beginning of Rd 2 and maybe mid Rd 2.
Didn't a few teams who picked after the Giants (I believe the Falcons were one?) say they were hoping to get him in Round 1? So no, he couldn't have been gotten in the 2nd round.
You say you wanted to pick him in the second round??? Well, I'm even smarter---I would want to pick him in the 4th or 5th round.... but I'd be over-joyed to find a guy like this at 23 every year, forever and ever!
He's an absolute Mismatch/Field Tilter.... he doesn't need to improve to be a heckuva #23---and my bet is that he'll get a helluva lot better!
David Njoku (The U) was drafted six spots after Engram. He appeared in 16 games for Cleveland, making 4 starts, and racked up 32 receptions for 386 yards with 4 TDs.
Evan Engram appeared in 15 games, making 11 starts, and racked up 64 receptions for 722 yards with 6 TDs.
No surprise, Engram made the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and as I said earlier, he should've made the Pro Bowl, too.
We'll never know if Engram would have been available 30 picks later. There wasn't another TE drafted until late in the 3rd round (Jonnu Smith, TN, 18, 157, 2). But for the kind of production we got from Engram in a year when everyone else seemingly crashed and burned, I don't see how anyone can label his pick a "reach."
But that has really nothing to do with what I said.
The kid is going into only his second year....jeepers, it's like nobody has the capacity for growth.
Yes, but that's not the point. Shockey was the 14th pick of the draft (the first TE chosen), Engram the 23rd (the second TE chosen). But just for a comparison, Shockey's rookie season he had 74 receptions for 894 yards with 2 TDs...on a team that was much more talented and went 10-6.
Also, Engram's production was fairly consistent from his first game to his last. It's not like he began putting up huge numbers by default.
I mean Hilliard got hurt Shockey's rookie year so there were catches to go around than there would have been. And being the only option is a double edged sword, you can easily say it makes it easier to shut him down. Shockey for all his greatness also had only 2 TDs in that regular season.
They are different players and their rookie seasons also couldn't have been any different in terms of scheme, surrounding talent, coaching and chemistry.
Engram is a good player. We wanted a Jordan Reed type of player for this offense and thats what we got (he's actually a lot better than Reed.) No one should be comparing Engram to Shockey. Thats just unfair.
Half the TE's in the league cannot block.
Engram should be a receiver. Shockey was a classic "bad ass" - gave no quarter, expected none ....
Shockey was the reincarnation of Babe Ruth - ill mannered, loud, the kind of guy that would try to tear your testicles off at the bottom of the pile.