What's the use of having a nice car if the tires don't work?
That's the fundamentals-first approach Kynan Forney took as a longtime starter in the NFL, and that's the approach he has taken to coaching young offensive linemen, including Giants first-round pick Andrew Thomas.
Forney, who spent the vast majority of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons from 2001-07, started training the Georgia product leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft. He recently joined Paul Dottino and John Schmeelk on “Big Blue Kickoff Live” on Giants.com to discuss the continued development of the fourth overall pick.
"I see tremendous improvement in him," Forney said on the show. "Let's be clear about this, Andrew is a very smart football player. One thing that I've noticed with him is that when I show him something on film … I correct it right there on the field and he'll see it and he'll make the correction right then. There's been some times when he's blown me away when I say, 'Hey, look here maybe you not want to flare your elbows back as much because it's taking too much time, let's keep them nice and tight.' Whatever the situation is, as soon as we do the next rep, he corrects it and fixes it. He's very smart and will correct it. He's a coach's dream. He's a coach's pleasure. I know the Giants will be very happy with him when they get him coming up this fall. I'm trying to get him ready for Sunday, and he's very coachable, very smart, and he's trying to work it."
At the Dash Performance Center in Georgia, Forney has been working with Thomas on his technique, including hand placement and footwork.
"I believe it will be effective for him because you can't come out and show guys the same thing," Forney said. "You've got to give them some different looks. … Sort of like when you watch and see prize fighters get in the ring. They'll come out one way, and then the next round, they're showing something else just to keep you off balance. You've got to give those guys different looks like hands high or inside hand up a little bit higher or setting a guy and punching his outside shoulder and coming back with that inside hand, kind of a one-two combo."
Forney has been an asset to Thomas as players around the NFL participated virtually in their offseason programs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I think it's good and bad," Forney said of the format. "The good part is that that was what he was going to do anyway. They were going to be in a meeting room watching tape on the dry-erase board anyway. He'd have to go home and study on his own at night before he goes to sleep. And I think the other good part about it is that if he was at the facility, then they'd be out on the field trying to work it. So at least he can kind of save his body a little bit.
"Going into the season, he'll be fresher but also too he's coming to Dash and working on the field and we're looking at his [tablet] and we're going through some of the drills that [Giants offensive line coach Marc] Colombo and [assistant offensive line coach Ben] Wilkerson want them to work on and we're doing those. And also too I'm adding some things in because there's a lot of stuff that I watch and can see up close that I'll be like, 'Hey, you know what, we need to work this a little bit more' because he might be sliding back into this old habit or, 'Hey, let's do this drill' just because he's gotten better and we can add something to it. He's far past that point of where I have to do a whole lot of fundamentals, but I still want to stay on his fundamentals."
Music to Joe Judge's ears.
Meanwhile, Forney is cross-training Thomas at both left and right tackle. He believes Thomas can excel wherever the Giants put him – perhaps both if the situation arises during the course of the season.
"Honestly, in my honest opinion from working with him, he can go left to right easy," Forney said. "He can be playing left tackle Week 1, injury happens, 'Hey, Andrew, we need you to play right tackle this week.' He can make that transition real easy because I have him working both sides. I have him cross-training both sides. … He's just as good at both of them. He knows how to hold his hands on either side. He can from either side. I don't see him not playing either side."
So what makes Thomas different from other offensive linemen he has come across?
"I'll give you a quick story when I first met the kid," Forney said. "We had a couple sessions where we were working together, and anytime I'm talking with someone, I like to ask them what are their goals, what are they trying to get out of this. Some guys will get drafted high and go to their teams and they shut it down. They made their money, and they're good. They hit that button – 'Hey, I've got my money, I'm good.' Well, Drew is laid back, quiet, says only enough, he's not overly talkative, but I asked him, 'Hey, what are your goals? What are you trying to get out of this career? What do you want?' First thing he told me was he would love to get a Super Bowl, play 15-some-odd years, and get him a gold jacket. To me, that says a lot because it wasn't about, 'Man, I want to make a whole lot of money' or nothing like that. He named he wants a Super Bowl, to play a long time, and a gold jacket. For those three to be your goals, there's got to be some detail in your process to achieve all that. First off, that told me he's very interested in being the best player he can be."
View photos of every offensive linemen on the Giants roster.
G Kevin Zeitler (Perry Knotts via AP)
OT Nate Solder (Evan Pinkus via AP)
G Will Hernandez
OT Andrew Thomas (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
G Nick Gates (Al Tielemans via AP)
C Spencer Pulley (Evan Pinkus via AP)
OT Cam Fleming
(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
OT Matt Peart (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
OT Eric Smith (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
G Shane Lemieux (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
G Chad Slade (Evan Pinkus via AP)
OT Nate Wozniak (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
OL Kyle Murphy (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
OT Tyler Haycraft (60)
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New York Giants offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (70) blocks during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants guard Kevin Zeitler (70) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (70) reacts during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (70) gets set at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (70) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steven Ryan)
New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder (76) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday October 6, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder (76) lines up on the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder (76) blocks during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder (76) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder lines up for a play against his former team the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New York Giants offensive guard Will Hernandez looks to block against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New York Giants offensive guard Will Hernandez plays against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
New York Giants offensive guard Will Hernandez (71) defends during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
G Will Hernandez
New York Giants offensive guard Will Hernandez (71) gets set before a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Andrew Thomas blocks during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Andrew Thomas is shown in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Murray State Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Andrew Thomas pursues against the Vanderbilt Commodores during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
Andrew Thomas is shown in action against South Carolina in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Athensw. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Andrew Thomas plays against Missouri during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday December 29th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants offensive guard Nick Gates (65) blocks on a field goal attempt during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Chicago. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates (65) waits for the snap during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday Sept. 8, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Greg Trott via AP)
New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates (65) blocks during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday December 15th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants center Spencer Pulley (77) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants center Spencer Pulley (77) blocks during an NFL game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, Landover, MD. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants center Spencer Pulley (77) blocks during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants center Spencer Pulley (77) blocks during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants center Spencer Pulley (77) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Cameron Fleming (75) lines up during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Detroit. (James D. Smith via AP)
Cameron Fleming (75) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Cameron Fleming (75) against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
Cameron Fleming (75) during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)
Cameron Fleming (75) defends against a rush by Houston Texans linebacker Davin Bellamy (48) in the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Matt Peart (65) runs on to the field during senior day festivities before the start of an NCAA college football game against East Carolina Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Stephen Dunn)
Matt Peart (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage in front of Central Florida defensive lineman Landon Woodson (93) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Matt Peart runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Giants offensive tackle Eric Smith (79) blocks during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Eric Smith (79) blocks during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants offensive lineman Eric Smith (79) celebrates a touchdown during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Shane Lemieux (68) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Shane Lemieux (68) blocks against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
Shane Lemieux runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Giants offensive guard Chad Slade (62) pass blocks during a NFL football game Thursday August 8, 2019 against the New York Jets, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants guard Chad Slade (62) during an NFL football preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, August 22, 2019 in Cincinnati. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants offensive guard Chad Slade (62) is shown during a break in play during a NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday August 8, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Nate Wozniak, right, and Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Steven Richardson pose for a picture after an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Nate Wozniak catches a ball as he warms up before an NCAA college football game against Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Nate Wozniak (80) controls the ball against Buffalo's running back Emmanuel Reed (29) during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Kyle Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kyle Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Kyle Murphy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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