New York Giants guard Will Hernandez, who is a known workout warrior, had a little company this offseason. He was joined by everyman Nick Gates, who could start at tackle or possibly even center this year.
Wherever Gates ends up, Hernandez is certain he will excel.
“Nick Gates and I spent a heavy amount of time training together in the offseason. We’re both from Las Vegas, Nevada, we’re really good friends,” Hernandez told reporters on Monday. “We got after it in the offseason. I’ve always thought he was a great player. I’ve always thought he has what it takes to play. As far as where he goes, whether he lines up next to me or any of the other spots, I honestly think Nick Gates could play any spot on the line. He’s good enough to play anywhere on that offensive line.”
Hernandez has an equally high opinion of Giants first-round pick Andrew Thomas, who is likely to take over at left tackle following Nate Solder’s decision to opt out of the season due to COVID-19.
“He’s a really smart guy. He gets things right away. He picks up on a lot of the stuff that coach talks to him about. He’s able to absorb it and pick it up right away, which I think is very good. He just has that demeanor,” Hernandez said of Thomas. “You can see it through his note-taking, through his playing, through his practices, that he wants to get better. He wants to do good. That’s just some of the things I’ve seen from observing him lately. I think he’s going to be just fine. He’s doing great right now.”
Depending on how things shake out in training camp, Hernandez could very well end up with Thomas to his left and Gates to his right. And although that would be a significant adjustment, Hernandez feels confident in this group and believes they will carry the load in 2020.
“We proudly carry the workload. We’ll proudly get to work and get things done. We know it starts with us and we’re definitely going to do everything it takes to get after it and make it happen,” Hernandez said emphatically.
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