Big Blue View mailbag: Super Bowl, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal, more

John Armbruster asks: Everyone seems to be touting Kayvon Thibodeaux 11.5 sacks as evidence of his “breakout” season. I’m still a skeptic of his talents. What I’ve seen is a “one trick pony” who attempts only an outside speed rush on his opposing tackle. More times than not, he gets stonewalled and has no folllow-up response. I never see him doing stunts and twists that alway confuse the Giants line. Was this the result of Martindale’s coaching? Will he be used in a more creative fashion under Shane Bowen? (By the way…this has been my view of KT since the end of the season, I am NOT jumping on the recent PFF view of his 11.5 sacks.)

Ed says: John, I don’t think “everyone” is touting Thibodeaux’s 2023 as a breakout season. I have seen him on 2024 breakout candidate lists. I actually put him on my own list of Giants’ 2024 breakout candidates.

Thibodeaux himself has said he knows there are steps he still needs to take.

“You think when you’re a rookie you have this long career, right? You look at a guy like I take Aaron Donald, he just retired, went to 10 Pro Bowls. I’m already two years down, not been to one,” Thibodeaux said this spring. “Not saying that Pro Bowl is my end all, be all. Just talking about understanding that every day is the last day, right? You talk about trying to maximize all the time that I have and all of the ability that I have today.

“Last year I was able to get 11 and a half sacks. Those are the accolades. Now it’s about getting that respect throughout the league, having teams fear coming to play against us. Just taking everything I do to the next level as far as that extra. Greatness is optional. I just got to kind of take that next step.”

As far as specifics, please remember that players don’t do twists and stunts on their own. Those are called by the defensive coordinator. Thibodeaux has, at times, struggled to string moves together. That’s a common theme of anyone I have talked to who understands pass rush.

I think Thibodeaux will be used in a less creative way by Shane Bowen. He was used in pass coverage more than he probably should have been by Wink Martindale, and he was also as what Martindale called a “can-opener” to free up other players.

Bowen, a believer in four-man pass rush, is far more likely to turn Thibodeaux loose and let him attack.

“I think it’s great that I don’t have to think,” Thibodeaux said of Bowen’s defense. “I’m a smart guy, I always do lean to my wits. When you talk about being able to play, defense is about players, offense is about plays. When you look at that in the sense of having guys who are talented and able to put them in a position to hone in on their technique and things like that, it will be good for the whole defense.”

Nikki Kreitz asks: There’s been some hope that Evan Neal could be at least serviceable if not significantly above replacement level as the RT. Hypothetically, if Neal stays healthy and plays an adequate but not great RT this season what do you think Schoen does with Neal’s fifth-year option, which needs to be decided on before next year’s training camp, I believe.

Ed says: Nikki, you are correct that a decision on Neal’s fifth-year option would need to be made next offseason. Right now I can’t imagine the Giants picking it up. Neal’s performance would have to be dramatically better in 2024 than in his first two seasons for that to even be a debate.

Doug Mollin asks: Saw an interesting little story on SI:

https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/big-blue-plus/giants-a-darkhorse-for-super-bowl-run

I know it seems crazy when most of the media have us with a top 5 draft pick, but what are the most important things to happen for the Giants to actually make that kind of darkhorse SB run?

Ed says: Doug, it’s the same list of things we have talked about all offseason:

• Daniel Jones needs to be as good or better than he has ever been.
• Malik Nabers needs to be Beckham-like. The other receivers drafted by Joe Schoen also need to step up.
• The offensive line needs to do its part.
• Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns need to dominate.
• Young players in the secondary need to be good enough.
• A few surprising things need to happen. Scouting Academy Director Dan Hatman always reminds me that luck plays a big part in runs like that.
• A team like the Dallas Cowboys needs to falter.

H.Michael.Obrien asks: With the new kickoff rules in play, do you think there is any possibility for punters being used instead of place kickers? The rule only references kick off location and use of a stick if the ball is blown off a tee. Directional punting and allowing the tackling team to leave their spots on the 40-yard line after the ball touches down inside the receiving zone appears to me to allow for some creativity, albeit with the potential for great risks if poorly executed. Thoughts?

Ed says: HMO, we are not going to see actual punts on kickoffs. These placekickers are able to place the ball where they want it, and I’m sure we will see a lot of that.

There is some potential for teams to use someone other than a placekicker, if they have a regular position player who can consistently put the ball in the landing zone with some semblance of direction. There is some concern league-wide that the new rule will lead to kickers being directly involved in tackles more often. If that becomes the case, I think teams will look for ways to protect their placekicker by having someone else handle the kickoff job.

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