Kayvon Thibodeau thought:
A year ago, you and Azeez Ojulari were planning to be peanut butter and jelly rushing passers together. Azeez could not stay on the field. How are you and Brian Burns now?
“Right now it’s like…what, Spider-Man and Black Panther or something?” Thibodeau told the Post at the SBH Health System Youth Football Camp at Lehman College.
It was sold!
“Yes, I’m Black Panther and he’s Spider-Man.”
Thibodeau recorded 11.5 sacks in his second season and is aiming to break the single-season sack record (22.5 sacks) set by Michael Strahan and TJ Watt.
Asked what he could do for the encore, Thibodeau said, “I mean, I’m always going to shoot for the stars, so all I can do from here is shoot for the record.”
How realistic is that?
“As long as you believe in it, it’s as real as you want it to be. So if you ask me, it’s very real,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau and Barnes, acquired by the Giants in a trade and signed to a five-year, $141 million contract, immediately bonded.
“If you saw the two of us standing next to each other, you would think we were created in the same lab,” Thibodeau said.
Iron that sharpens iron.
“He challenges me,” Thibodeau said. “When you talk about having someone with a similar body type, similar mindset, and a higher level of greatness than me, that’s nothing but motivation. Even when we’re watching film together, , even when we’re together, it’s a constant effort.” Whether you’re talking about the ball or the pass rush coming in on the field and how he does things and how I There are some things I would do that look at how he could implement it into his game, and different ways he could implement it into his game. ”
Barnes hosted Thibodeau’s Florida State University before Thibodeau decided on Oregon State.
“He was a great host,” Thibodeau said. “It was a great time. Even though I didn’t end up going to Florida State, he was someone I modeled my game after and gave me some tips. It’s just a full circle moment to see you get through the rush.”
Asked if he had anything fun during his visit, Thibodeau replied, “Honestly, I don’t remember, but college is such a vague thing, so I guess there were some fun things.”
As much as he liked Wink Martindale, Thibodeau is excited to work with the Giants’ new defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen.
“He’s a guy who has a great defensive mind and emphasizes fundamentals and technique. He knows it’s a players’ game,” Thibodeau said. “Just seeing his defense and what he stands for, it reminds me of what he had in college.”
Thibodeau said he was impressed with what he saw on tape of Giants first-round draft pick Malik Nabors.
“He’s explosive, he’s a playmaker. As long as his mind is in the right place and he’s focused on the game and his values are aligned, I think he’ll do very well in the NFL,” he said.
Nabors will be Daniel Jones’ first No. 1 receiver. Asked how much he could help Jones, Thibodeau said: I think everyone is helping everyone. We’re all giving each other money, so if the front office plays their best, if the running backs play their best, if the wide receivers play their best, if Daniel Jones plays their best. , the team is going to be great. ”
Jones will need to make last-chance rebounds behind an upgraded offensive line, and it’s hard to imagine a worse situation than this, with Devin Singletary replacing Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles. Appointed.
“It hurts to see guys go, but it’s going to make the game a little more exciting,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau doesn’t accept the premise that the burden of leading the team early on falls on the defense.
“No, I think it’s New Years,” he said. “Even the teams that won the Super Bowl and made the playoffs are revamping the whole situation. I’m just excited, dude. I think the GM and the front office have put together a great team, a great coaching staff, and we… I think he’s ready to play great.”
Packers safety Xavier McKinney won’t play great behind him. General manager Joe Schoen is counting on second-round pick Tyler Nubin to fill that void.
“It’s always difficult to say goodbye to players, but his legacy will continue to grow and he was able to get paid so I’m happy for him and he’s great. I think he’s going to have a great season and a great career,” Thibodeau said.
Hope springs eternal in May. Now is the time for Thibodeau to express his belief that the NFC East is wide open. He’s been asked what he would say to all the doubters who are trying to fire the Giants, myself included.
“We love underdog stories,” he said. “Stay where you are until we steer the ship to starboard and continue on course.”
What message do you have for Giants fans?
“Please continue to run with us,” Thibodeau said. “It’s going to be a long road, but look at the Knicks. It’s been a long road, but they’re still fighting. I think they’re a great team, they play tenacious, they play hard. They have a chance. And as long as the fans continue to stick with them and keep going through the ups and downs, I think we’ll get to the promised land eventually.”
Like the rest of New York, he marvels at Jalen Brunson.
“It’s phenomenal. It’s phenomenal. If he keeps playing like this, he might be in the Hall of Fame,” Thibodeau said.
And now I send my happy mother’s day wishes to my mom.
“She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m writing a song for her for Mother’s Day,” he said. “Hopefully it will be great.”
There are no songs about the rival quarterbacks in Spider-Man and Black Panther.
