By Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

One of the best parts of Giants training camp from a reporter's perspective is that we're able to watch practices in their entirety and film most of the sessions. That access allows an opportunity to provide deeper analysis. But, obviously, a reporter's insight is nowhere as deep as that of a player or coach.

With that in mind, I filmed rookie tight end Evan Engram during Monday's practice and then reviewed a handful of clips with the first-round pick. Engram couldn't go into too much detail due to concerns about revealing information to opponents, but he still provided an interesting glimpse into his development.

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William Hauser | USA TODAY Sports

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LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Coach Ben McAdoo has said that tight end is one of the toughest positions to play in his offense because of how many different things are required at the position. The Giants have high expectations for Engram in his rookie season, so training camp has been an accelerated course in NFL education.

"It’s learning stuff every day," Engram said. "Learning from mistakes every day, that’s the biggest thing. I feel like everything is coming along. I’ll have mistakes here and there, but I’m really just taking advantage and capitalizing on those mistakes, learning from them and making sure they don’t happen again."

Here's a look at five plays from Monday's practice that illustrate Engram's development:

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RUN BLOCKING

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Blocking is the biggest question mark for the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Engram. He wasn't asked to block much as an in-line tight end in Ole Miss' spread offense, but it will be a big responsibility in the Giants' offense.

Engram has had his hands full against the Giants' talented defensive ends in practice. Backup defensive end Kerry Wynn got the better of Engram on the run play above.

“It’s definitely a challenge," Engram said. "Those guys are huge, they’re fast, they’re strong. We have objectives that we have to get done for our run-game in different runs and different schemes. It’s definitely pretty difficult with certain techniques and trying to get good leverage, but I’m just getting reps. I’m going against them and we’ve got some really good, really big defensive ends, so it’s going to get us ready for the season and all the great talent we’re going to face.”

Engram faced NFL-caliber defensive ends in the SEC, but the level of competition wasn't as consistently high as what he faces daily now.

'It’s definitely a different speed on this level and they’re a lot smarter and a lot more mechanical with their technique, so it’s definitely a lot more difficult," Engram said.

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OPTION ROUTE

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Engram's straight-line speed turned heads when he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. While Engram will be a weapon on seam routes, tight ends do the majority of their work underneath.

Engram has the necessary short-area quickness to get open against linebackers, as Calvin Munson discovered on this option route during a 7-on-7 drill on Monday.

"If it opens up, I’m going to sit," Engram said. "If that ‘backer comes and kind of walls me and mans me up, I’m going to give him a move and get him going a different way and then go the other way. I just kind of put a little sauce on the route to get that 'backer going.”

Engram has been refining his route-running during camp, but the "sauce" comes naturally.

“It’s a lot of technique in these routes," Engram said. "You’ve got to be really savvy to get guys on their heels or to bite on certain moves. These defenders are really good so you’ve definitely got to put some sauce at the top of the route.”

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1-ON-1 VS. COLLINS

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Training camp was free to attend, but the Giants could have charged admission for matchups like this: Engram vs. All-Pro safety Landon Collins 1-on-1 in the red zone.

“It’s really a blessing because it’s getting me so much better," Engram said. "Me and Landon have been competing all camp. I love competing with him. We both go at each other and we both make each other better. It’s really exciting, especially when he mans-up out there, I get really excited to see him out there and compete with him.”

Engram's ability to line up wide should create major mismatches against linebackers and safeties. Engram has been at his best in the red zone during camp and it's easy to see why on this play, as he beat Collins with quickness off the line and then made a strong catch on a beautiful fade from Eli Manning.

“Just getting out wide and being in the red zone, we’ve got to get points," Engram said. "Coach talks about how home-run hitters hit home runs, knock-out fighters get knockouts, so just try to be a big-play guy that makes big plays. One-on-one, Eli likes what he sees, we’ve got to win on the route and just go get the ball.”

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Tuesday practice report

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THE DROP

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Engram has been exceptionally sure-handed during camp, but he had the misfortune of making a rare drop on the day that I was filming him. Engram knew what play was coming as I cued up this video to show him.

"Aww, shoot," he muttered before I even hit play.

In Engram's defense, the pass from Manning on this seam route was low. But Engram wasn't making any excuses.

"I’ve got to get my hands down lower," Engram said as he shook his head. "I kind of focused on running. I’ve just got to be more sharp. I was kind of thinking about after the catch before I made the catch. There’s no excuses for that. I’ve just got to make the play.”

Engram joked that he sat a little lower in his seat in the film room when this play was shown after Monday's practice. But the good news for the Giants is that drops by Engram have been a rarity in camp.

“It happens," Engram said. "(The coaches) don’t blow it up. But you get called out for it.”

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SPECIAL TEAMS

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Engram didn't play much on special teams in college because he was too valuable to Ole Miss' offense. But with 46-man game-day rosters in the NFL, Engram will be required to contribute in the kicking game. He's on the first-team punt return and kickoff return units.

The Giants spend a lot of time on special teams in practice, such as this kickoff drill where Engram retreated and then tried to prevent his man from getting to a spot.

“I’m just really trying to take pride in it," Engram said. "Special teams is such a huge part of this level and it’s a big part of the team. Everybody has their role. I’m definitely coming in and trying to learn as much as I can. I’m not used to doing that much, so there’s definitely a lot of stuff that I’m learning and all the schemes that (special teams coach Tom) Quinn is putting in. I’m just taking pride in being great in it. Special teams can determine a game, whether we get a good punt return or the defense pins an offense back and they have to punt on the 1 or 2, it could be a turning point in the game. So definitely trying to take pride in it and being as good as I can at it.”

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Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.