Kayvon Thibodeaux hopes Giants make statement of 'resiliency' to kick off season against Vikings

Kayvon Thibodeaux hopes his third season with the Giants is one of redemption.

As New York gears up for its 100th year following a 6-11 showing in 2023, many Giants, including Daniel Jones and head coach Brian Daboll, will feel the walls against their backs as they look to prove the postseason trip two years prior more closely resembles what Big Blue is capable of accomplishing.

Thibodeaux, having led the team with 11.5 sacks in the previous campaign, is aware that starting off strong would simplify achieving such a success.

“Resiliency. Physicality. Speed,” Thibodeaux told NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Friday’s The Insiders, in response to what statement he hopes the Giants make Week 1 against the Vikings. “We’re gonna play with all the things we played with back in the day. This is the 100th year anniversary of the Giants, so hopefully we can let those superpowers from our ancestors come and take over.”

A convincing victory over the Vikings would symbolically represent a potential return to better days for the Giants. This is because the last time New York faced Minnesota, they pulled off an upset during the Super Wild Card Weekend, extending their ’22 season.

That Vikings team will have a far different roster than it did then, namely a new quarterback after Kirk Cousins‘ departure, but New York is much changed, too — hopefully for the better.

In 2023, the Giants’ performance was subpar on both offense and defense, ranking 30th and 26th in scoring respectively, which they couldn’t overcome.

Jones, working his way back from an ACL tear with a potential out in his contract next year, will be most responsible for an offensive turnaround, especially after Saquon Barkley departed to the rival Eagles over the offseason. Thibodeaux noted that Jones has been a more vocal leader throughout the offseason program.

Defensively, much will be placed at the feet of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Thibodeaux and his newest pass-rushing partner, Brian Burns, who comes to New York from Carolina via blockbuster trade.

“Man, it’s thrilling,” Thibodeaux spoke about Burns’ arrival. “It’s really thrilling. Brian and I, we share a similar physique. Our style of play is quite alike. However, he’s slightly different. He’s faster, more agile. Undoubtedly, he’s more advanced in his career than I am, so he’s been sharing a lot of valuable insights with me. He’s also been instrumental in improving my game a bit, and we’ve been having some healthy competition. I’ve been able to share some things that I know with him, and so far, it’s been fantastic. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

While Thibodeaux and Burns have been sharing advice, they could also gain from absorbing any wisdom they can from Lawrence Taylor. This is true even though Taylor, a franchise legend, recently assured Thibodeaux that he already has everything necessary for success.

Thibodeaux shared a humorous incident from last week’s Giants icons event where he was speaking to Taylor. “Whenever I converse with these legends, I’m always inquisitive,” he said. “I often ask them about their recipe for success. I thought it was amusing when I asked L.T. about his ‘secret sauce’. He gave me a strange look and responded, ‘You should know better, there’s no such thing as a secret sauce’.”

It’s amusing to realize that the principles we were taught as children – hard work, integrity, and dedication – are the same ones that get us to this level. The only difference is that you need to be slightly more dedicated and work a bit harder. But as athletes, we already possess these tools. All we need to do is continue to utilize them and strive for our best.

After a spring of roster shuffling, Thibodeaux and the rest of the Giants could potentially have the necessary tools.

The countdown is still on to see if they will use their strategies in a way that takes them back to the playoffs.