On Tuesday, a six-person committee of both USA Football and NFL Players Association members selected Ryan Clady to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team. The second-year lineman was recognized as one of the league’s most fundamentally-sound players and a community service activist.

Clady and Head Coach Josh McDaniels reflected on that prestigious honor during a press conference at Dove Valley before the team’s Thursday practice session.

McDaniels called Clady “one of the most athletic left tackles” in the game today, praising the 6-foot-6, 325-pound left tackle’s ability to play with constant effort for 60 minutes.

“In order to be as successful and productive as he’s been at left tackle, you have to be good fundamentally,” McDaniels said. “You can’t guess. You have to use your hands and your feet equally effectively, and he does that. (He’s a) very smart player. He knows what he needs to do, not only in the pass-protection game but also in run blocking. He does a nice job working with the other interior linemen. (This is) a very well-deserved award for him.”