Kayvon Thibodeaux is looking to produce more of an impact with the New York Giants during the 2023 season.
The Giants used the No. 5 pick to select the outside linebacker out of Oregon in the 2022 NFL draft. The Giants were probably expecting more than the four sacks he had during his rookie season.
Thibodeaux was expecting more as well. He missed the first two games of the season with a strained hamstring and didn’t register a sack until he pulled down Lamar Jackson during the Giants’ 24-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. Thibodeaux went sackless during the next five games before posting one against Washington in Week 13. He closed out the season with three sacks in his last five games.
Thibodeaux admitted that he didn’t come close to his pre-season goal for number of sacks and adjusted his outlook on how to make an impact on the field that went beyond sacks.
“What can I do to just make a play? Come the Baltimore game it was like ‘OK, I’ve got to make a play. I don’t really have time to think about the goals I had. I’ve got to go for something now,’ ‘’ Thibodeaux told reporters Thursday.
He did post 40 quarterback pressures, which was ranked among the top-10 for rookies in 2023. He also posted 13 quarterback hits and 49 combined tackles.
Thibodeaux spent a lot of time during the offseason watching himself on tape during the 2022 season. He didn’t watch the highlights. Instead, he focused on plays where he struggled in execution.
“I didn’t watch the good plays; the good plays are kind of dead and gone now,” Thibodeaux told reporters. “I was trying to find out how I can eliminate as many bad plays as possible. I don’t think there were that many bad plays, but even the rushes that I didn’t finish, just trying to figure out what I can do to finish.”
Finishing. That’s the area Thibodeaux is working to improve on during the offseason. Thibodeaux said he believes he will able to finish more plays and post more sacks this season.
“Getting sacks, finishing. “There were a lot of times when I had a good pass rush that I didn’t finish,” Thibodeaux told reporters Thursday. “You realize the guy on the other side of the line is paid a lot of money. They’re not going to let him get touched. Continuing to sharpen the end of my rush, that third phase and make sure I start to finish.’’