Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has put in place what he describes as a “Keep it real” form of open dialogue with his players.
So when he felt he could get more out of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Martindale did not hold back in informing the linebacker in a way he knew would resonate.
“I’ve talked to him about his practice. I think that he heard me clearly, I talked to him in front of the entire defense,” Martindale said Tuesday. “So, Kayvon is going to be fine, first of all. He caused two fumbles, and he recovered two fumbles [in the joint practices in Detroit]. In the two days, we had, like, eight takeaways against, what were they, a top-five offense last year, which gave us confidence in ourselves and the way we competed there.
“I expect him to be at the top of everything.”
Thibodeaux made an immediate impact after the organization drafted him fifth-overall in 2022 out of Oregon.
He finished with four sacks, 49 total tackles, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.
The hope, however, is the 22-year-old has another level he can reach.
That’s going to require him to go the extra mile and expand his repertoire if he wants to dominate NFL-caliber offensive tackles.
Thibodeaux appeared to be receptive to his coach’s constructive criticism in just his second training camp.
He noted it didn’t feel like a negative interaction.
“For a coach talking to, for example, a great player and a coach talking to a player that he sees potential in, it’s going to be different,” Thibodeaux said after practice Wednesday in East Rutherford. “So, him wanting to let me know that he feels I can be a Pro Bowler this year, he feels I can kind of take the league by storm, and me knowing that him saying it really doesn’t mean much, right?
“It’s about what I go do every day, and that’s kind of the conversation that we had, that I am the only one who can get me to the places that I want to be.”
Martindale’s first season in charge of the Giants’ defense, in 2022, featured flashes of promise, but a lot of room for improvement.
The team has brought in reinforcements for him to work with, but part of the improvement is also shaping up the players already in place.
By calling out Thibodeaux, a top-five draft pick who was a unanimous all-American, Martindale’s point was heard loud and clear not only by him, but by everybody.
Veteran Leonard Williams even went as far to say that he never has had a coach “keep it real” like that before, noting Martindale lets every individual know what he’s thinking.
The team respects it, Williams said, adding it’s significantly better than having players wonder where they stand.
“He’s just preaching to the choir,” Thibodeaux said when asked if he responds well to that form of coaching. “I am a guy who kind of preaches that stuff to myself, and I am a guy who tries to lead in that standpoint. So, yeah, we are talking the same language as always and just continuing to get better. I think that’s the point of camp.
“It’s easy when you get to practice 15, 16, 17, it starts to get complacent, it gets repetitive. Just continuing to stay fresh, continuing all that grind.”
