Giants news, 11/20: Evan Engram, Lorenzo Carter, subtle changes

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

Subtle changes on way for Giants in final six games - New York Giants Blog- ESPN

One of those could involve the way the Giants use Saquon Barkley as a receiver, a change that really has already begun:

The Giants seem intent on involving their star running back in that aspect. He has seen 19 targets the past three games. Barkley ran four routes against the Jets from out wide, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That is more than he did in any other game this season. He ran 12 in the previous seven games combined.

With two of the Giants’ next three opponents (Chicago and Philadelphia) among the top 10 in run defense, getting the most from Barkley’s pass-catching ability and athleticism against inferior safeties and linebackers seems to fit the kind of changes Shurmur expects.

Silence greets Giants as players tasked with ‘creating own energy’ at practice: Here’s why Pat Shurmur made the change - nj.com

There is no more music at Giants’ practices, and the players understand why.

“I think it’s more of an emphasis on focusing on the details and being present in everything we’re doing,” center Spencer Pulley said.

“We’re not executing on Sunday the way we want to and need to. We all know that we can do it, have done it and have done it with most of the guys in this room. We have to figure it out and get back to what worked to help us start winning games.”

Giants’ Evan Engram is stuck in injury limbo

He probably will not make it back to face the Bears, as feet take a pounding and cannot be protected. Unfortunately for Engram, it feels as if this will-he, won’t-he scenario is as much a part of his Giants career as his receptions and highlights. He has missed eight games since his arrival in 2017 with injuries to his ribs, knees, hamstring and foot. He leads the team this season with 44 receptions, but it looks as if he will again fall short of his rookie totals of 64 catches for 722 yards and six touchdowns.

“Personally, I feel like I did some good things,’’ Engram said, assessing his 2019 season. “I think the biggest thing is staying sharp on my routes and trying to stay on blocks is something I’m going to try to continue to improve on that I got to reflect on.’’

So much of Engram’s time with the Giants is spent coming back from one injury or another and that eats into practice work and leads to a lack of sharpness. His contract expires after the 2020 season. His ability, or lack thereof, to stay on the field will determine his future in blue.

Giants need Lorenzo Carter to finally make Year 2 jump

Carter coming off the bus looks like one of the handful of guys you select for the game that day. Carter on the field at times plays up to that appearance, but not often enough and there are passages of play when he is too quiet to be considered a difference-maker. He is a stable and sensible young man with a pleasant smile and easygoing Georgia way about him, a devotee of classical music able to play the cello, baritone horn and tuba.

And he wants to get right this Giants defense.

“I want to be the solution,’’ Carter told The Post. “I want to be one of the reasons the Giants come back to the Giants, being a storied program, storied franchise that we are. I want to be one of the guys to help bring it back. That is gonna take some fire, take a little bit of spark, take a little bit of dirty ruggedness. If that’s what it’s gonna come down to that’s what we got to do.’’

This has always been the conundrum with Carter. The production has never matched the physical tools and the player he looks like he should be.

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