Giants second-year tight end Evan Engram says the team chemistry has been terrific so far this spring. Photo by Al Thompson

EAST RUTHERFORD: According NFL rules, a team will get a few extra organized practice sessions before the draft when there is a new head coach.

The Giants Pat Shurmur is the team’s new guy, taking the place of Ben McAdoo who lasted just two seasons after recording just three wins in 2017.

Obviously Shurmer want to bring a positive chemistry back to Big Blue’s locker room, a place that was clearly now swimming with good karma last year.

After Thursday’s workout, Shurmur was asked if he was happy with what he’s seen so far.

“I think it has been terrific,” Shurmur said. “You come into a new building, you hear stories about the players and situations, things going on. I see a group of guys out here that are very competitive and very prideful. Their attention to detail is great. We gave them really a lot of information and they were able to come out here and execute at a high level, which is tremendous. It does not really matter what you know in the classroom, it is that you come and put it together out here on the field. They did that great. You can tell that these guys care about one another. Now we just have to keep trying to create an environment where these guys keep getting better and better everyday.”

Shurmur was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to 2012, and has also been the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.

Earlier in the week, veteran quarterback Eli Manning said he noticed how much Shurmur was on the field with a hands on approach with players, he was asked, is that just for this camp?

“I’m a career coach and, quite frankly, that is stuff we do inside, it is necessary,” said Shurmur, who last year helped Vikings backup quarterback Case Keenum register the best season of his career after taking over the starting job After week 2. “My real joy is when I am out here with the players. If there is information or something I can help them with, I like talking about it. We are very fortunate that we have an outstanding staff. I do like to watch them do their work. They are excellent teachers. If there is something I can add with any position or any player, I will try and do it.”

There was a spring in the players’ step for sure during Thursday’s final practice. Second year tight end Evan Engram, one of the few bright spots for the Giants last year, was asked if he and his teammates were being given a clean slate.

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Engram, who registered 64 catches for 722 yards and 6 TDs his rookie year. “It’s just a new year, new opportunity. We got to start workouts a little early and get a minicamp in and just kind of get the new offense going. It’s just another opportunity for us to attack the offseason, so it’s been real smooth, but it’s just a good opportunity to get better and correct some things.”

Engram was told that Shurmur said he was happy about the chemistry that you guys developed early. Does he see that?

“Oh, definitely. It’s definitely a process,” Shurmur said. “We’re just diving into this playbook and just getting things going, but we came out here and we competed together, we had fun together, we kept guys injury free, so it was definitely a good three days of working together and starting to put this thing together.”

This press conference took place about eight hours before the draft.

Engram was asked if he could envision this offense with a guy like former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

“I mean, we’ll see,” Engram said. “Definitely, Saquon is a great player and he’s going to help whatever team he goes to, he’s going to be a tremendous player. So, definitely wherever he goes, he’s going to be a great asset for an offense, but we’ll just have to wait and see where he lands.”

He landed in East Rutherford, New Jersey and is now Engram’s teammate. Barkley is another weapon for Manning and certainly a boost for Shurmer’s new offense.

Shurmur acknowledged Barkley was a complete player, he was asked what can he still learn and work on when he gets here and starts to work with the coaches.

“There is a lot to learn,” the coach said shortly after the Giants grabbed the Penn State All-American with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. “Even though he is extremely talented, he’s still a rookie. He’s got to get in here and learn our culture. Our offense is much more diverse than the one that he was just playing in. We’re going to ask him to do more things and colleges just run a whole bunch of plays sometimes. We don’t run quite that many and you have to be really good on the ones that you’re involved in.”

Shurmur said Barkley will start with the very basics of being a Giant.

“It’s everything from here is your locker to here is your helmet, here is where the field is and let’s play ball,” he said. “He’s going to get indoctrinated like any rookie and we’re going to treat him like any rookie coming to our organization. Now with that being said, if he’s the best Saquon he can be, then he will find his way into the lineup if he does what he’s supposed to be doing and he will find a way to help lead this team and I think that’s the challenge for him. But, first and foremost, we’re going to treat him like a rookie when he comes in here.”

That sounds like a coach who knows how to build chemistry. *

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii