At 2-6, the Giants season is currently in a tailspin. They haven’t found a way to inject life into a team that made the playoffs a year ago. Last Sunday, they spiraled out of control, losing to the Jets in overtime 13-10. The offense struggled mightily, but the defense showed up in a big way. One of the main contributors on Sunday for the Giants was defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. When he came into the league, there was a lot of hype surrounding the former Oregon Duck. As Week 9 rolls around, one can safely say the hype is turning into reality.
Thibodeaux Was Primed for the Spotlight
Before Thibodeaux was drafted by the Giants, he made his name in college. He stared at the University of Oregon, showcasing his talents as early as his freshman year. Following his final year of college in 2021, he finished his three-year Duck career with 19 sacks, 126 total tackles, and 35.5 tackles for loss. He was one of the highest-ranked players coming out of high school and the same was being said when he entered his name for the 2022 NFL Draft. The Giants selected Thibodeaux with the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, solidifying him as a key player for the future and the first draft pick of the Schoen/Daboll era.
During his rookie season, Thibodeaux flashed his potential but was also very inconsistent. He didn’t play the first two weeks due to an injury he suffered in the preseason. He then didn’t record a sack until week 6, which was a game-clinching strip sack against the Ravens. After that, he didn’t record a sack until week 13 when the Giants hosted the Commanders. However, Thibodeaux came to life a couple of weeks later, when the Giants went to Washington DC on Sunday Night Football. He recorded 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack that resulted in a fumble which he returned for a touchdown. Before the game, Thibodeaux was asked if he liked primetime games. He said, “Primetime likes me.” It certainly did that night, when he showcased his tools and potential as a dominant player in this league.
Thibodeaux’s Time Has Arrived
As the Giants entered the 2023 season, they had a lot of expectations for Kayvon Thibodeaux. They didn’t want to see a sophomore slump, they wanted to see him produce and show his special talents. Through the first eight games of the season, he has certainly done just that. Prior to last week, Thibodeaux had recorded 5.5 sacks, 16 tackles, and five tackles for loss. That is more sacks than he had all of last year. He’s been showcasing different moves from last year and you can tell he’s being coached up the right way.
Things were already looking up for Thiboeaux, but last week proved that his time has come. He recorded three sacks, nine tackles, and three tackles for loss against the Jets. The first sack resulted in a fumble that the Giants picked up. Then later in the game, Thibodeaux chased down Jets quarterback Zach Wilson for a sack on fourth down that should’ve sealed the win for the Giants. However, things went totally downhill after that play and the Giants lost to the Jets in overtime. It was a tough loss for the Giants, but they can look back and see that they have a game-changer on their hands. A player that can truly finish games on his own and handle the pressure that comes with that.
Looking Ahead for Thibodeaux
For the next couple of weeks, Kayvon Thibodeaux and the Giants have a pretty favorable stretch ahead of them. They travel this week to play the struggling Raiders in Las Vegas, then stay on the road to play the Cowboys and Commanders. The Giants then return home to play back-to-back games against the Patriots and then the Packers after their bye week. For a team that has a losing record as bad as the Giants, a stretch like this is much needed and gives them a chance to get some nice performances on tape.
It also allows Thibodeaux to bolster his already strong season. The only offensive line that proves to be dominant consistently on their upcoming schedule is the Cowboys. The rest are all vulnerable in some areas, something that has to be exciting for a player like Thibodeaux. It also doesn’t hurt to have someone like defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on the same defensive line, to help alleviate some of that pressure. Thibodeaux is already tied for the third-most sacks in the NFL through eight weeks. He has the opportunity to improve that and become one of the top defensive ends in the NFL.
Main Photo: [Vincent Carchietta] – USA Today Sports
