“Stone Cold” Wink Martindale?
The Giants’ defensive coordinator was gushing about top pick Kayvon Thibodeaux during Thursday’s media session, when he invoked an old WWE Steve Austin slogan to describe KT’s impact on the Giants defense beyond the stat sheet.
“I think with our system, itself, I’ve said before it’s a position-less defense, and when you look at the defense statistically in areas where there are a lot of sacks, he’s doing the selfless work,” Martindale said. “I always say we’re going to open up a can of whoop-ass, well he’s the can opener!”
Indeed, Thibodeaux has just one sack in seven games, but Dexter Lawrence already has a career high with five sacks, and fellow linebackers Jihad Ward and Oshane Ximines are tied for second on the team with two each – nine sacks for which many are testament to the havoc KT is wreaking on the other side.
“Like, you have a guy running free to the quarterback, playing a single-high safety, well he has to do the right pattern to get that guy free and that’s what pleases me about the guy himself,” Martindale said. “I know everybody wants to say ‘sacks, sacks, sacks’ to him after games, but if there’s 1,000 plays run and we’re happy with him 950 of them, that’s better than the guy that has 12 sacks, plays 600 plays and can’t play the run, can’t do this, can’t do that. I just think the kid’s playing great.”
Martindale is confident, though, that Thibodeaux’s sack total will eventually reflect his effort and his impact.
“It’s just like takeaways or anything else, the sacks will come. The other thing is too, look at the holding calls he’s drawn, look at the whole picture,” Martindale said. “He drops well in coverage, I can’t say nothing but positives about how he’s playing, how he’s chasing after the football like a veteran, studying like a veteran, leading like a veteran. So, I’m really glad he’s a Giant.”
KT and the defense have a tough task with two games in the next seven days, starting Sunday with a Lions offense that is in the Top 10 in yard and points per game despite being 3-6.
The Giants will be ready.
“This defense, this group of guys, are the most selfless people I’ve been around in this profession,” Martindale said. “All they want to see is what’s on the left and what’s on the right in the win column, and they have never flinched during a game. No matter what happens, they come back and they’re ready to go on the next play.”
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