October 13, 2025 • 9 mins
Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux speaks to the media Monday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Akave on Good morning. Good Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
You know, sometimes when we talk about setting the edge
and run defense, we we tend to make it a
lot more simplistic that I'm sure it actually is. Can
you talk about the evolution of your game within that
and how you guys, uh, you know, approach that on
Thursday night?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Yeah, I would definitely say, you know, when it comes
to stopping and run, it's definitely you know, technique, discipline,
all the things that we practice, but then it's also mentality.
You know, coming into a game, you you kind of
got to know that a team is going to run.
Most teams are going to start off trying to run
the ball, and you know, with the team like we
played last week, you know, they got a great set
of players that they can't run the ball with, and
(00:43):
you know, we're gonna have to step up to the plate.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
You know, you know your your game.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I mean, you know, I don't.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I won't speak for you, but it seems like you
really have done a great job this year being a
lot more physical. It's not that you weren't physical beforehand,
but going back to the summer when we talked about
all the things.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
That you know, worked on, is was that a big
part of your.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Game, just being able to hold up on that edge
and being able to you know, be a physical force.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Well, the funny thing about you know, off season training
is that nothing is ever perfect, right. There's no drill,
There's no one thing that you can do that guarantees you,
you know, success on the field. But I will say that,
you know, there was definitely a lot of you know,
emphasis that I put on this off season, just holding
it in on my craft and holding it in on
my discipline and becoming more mature as a run defender
(01:35):
and a pass defender. I think my whole career, not
just in the NFL, but in college. You know, I
took pride in a run game, and for me coming
to this next level, I understood how important it was
and how I needed to improve on not just a run,
but on the pass to be you know, a four
down player. So you know, we always kind of say like,
you got to stop the run to be able to
get the opportunity to rest a passers.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
So I'm taking pride in that this year. Thankskevi. I
appreciate Evan Barnes.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Hey you.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
Speaking kind of going on that note, when you guys
are now rotating so much between you Burns and Abdul.
Do you see how it's helping you guys be able
to be so effective because you guys are just being
able to be so much more fresh with that rotation.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I think that is, you know, a realistic perspective. But
I also think, you know, we're all you know, in
shape and ready to play ball just hovery much the
game you know will go.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
So I won't necessarily say that it's well.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I will say that it is a positive having guys
that you can kind of flow in and that can
rush and that can do different things. But I think
we all are still you know, will be capable to
play more snaps or whatever the case may be, you know,
depending on the game of the situation.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Gotcha, okay?
Speaker 6 (02:44):
And then also when you get a chance to I
know you guys are off this weekend, but have you
got a chance with at this Denver offense yet?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
No, not yet. We're looking at it. We're looking at
it today and you know tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Got it? Okay? So I'll put to this question.
Speaker 6 (02:58):
Obviously, for Thursday, the vises high and everybody was just
kind of, you know, right in the way of this win.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
So for you as a player, how do you.
Speaker 6 (03:05):
Try to make sure these vibes stay the way they
are because obviously you don't want to get so high,
get so.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Caught up in that, But how do you try to
make sure that you guys can sustain it? Put me
into this matchup on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You got to be critical to film, you know, you
got to look at your tape see what you can
get better at. You know, even though I feel like
I played pretty decent this Thursday, I think there still
is a lot of things to get better at. And
I think you know, when you do have a weekend
office time for a lot of self reflection and some healings,
so you know, just understanding what you can get better
at as an individual and then also you know, as
a team and seeing what we can improve on.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Thank you, ran On Lab, Hey Kevan, thanks for doing this.
How you doing vo Nicks?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
I know you just said you haven't scouted them much,
but you guys sharing alma matter. I don't think you
guys were teammates. But do you guys have a relationship
from you going back there at all, or you have
any kind of relationship with and just watching him play?
Speaker 1 (04:01):
What do you think of him as a quarterback. I
think he's a great player.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
You know, the the memories I do have of him
started with him at Auburn and beating us at Oregon,
and then he ended up, you know, going to Oregon
after that. I didn't actually go to school with him,
but I am familiar with him. We've been at the
top of the recruiting class for a while, you know,
since about high school, so I've been to different camps
in different environments where he's been. I think he's a
(04:25):
great person, he's a great athlete, he's a great player.
I think he's savvy. I think he's having you know,
playing some great ball. But we're definitely gonna try to
you know, contain him and and limit you know, what
he can do.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
On Sunday and.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
Then postgame, Deck said something like, you guys urged Boeing
to be a little more aggressive, and Burns was really
complimentary of Burns his game of Bowen's game plan being aggressive,
especially on that flot pick. I'm just curious, you're one
of the leaders of the defense. Is that something has
that been a communication with you guys and bowing like, hey,
(04:56):
trust us, let's let's be let's dial it up a
little bit more.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well, I would say, you know, it starts with just
open communication, you know, and trust with the coaches and
the players. And I think that we have that in
this building, a facility or whatever. But I think that
you know, Bowen has been elevating and changing and evolving
on how he calls different games and kind of you know,
his growth as well as our players and understanding you know,
(05:25):
what works and what doesn't work, what we like, how
to you know, different players or schemes that will kind
of help our skill sets.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
But I would say it's a collective, you know.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I would say, there's no individual, there's no you know,
kind of one man show. I think Bowen does a
great job of hearing out the players, and I think
you know, the players do a great job of making
sure they, you know, do with Bowen asked of us.
So I would say, just continuing to jail together and
to continue to just keep the main thing the main thing,
and go out there and execute.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Thanks, Keila, we'll take two more.
Speaker 7 (05:58):
Pati trainer, Good morning, Kevon.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
How are you.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I'm doing well? Thank you for asking cave on. To
my own trained eye, it looks like the defense has
been getting home a lot more with four. What do
you attribute that to?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I would say, you know, individual skill.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
They can't A team can't slide, you know the same
way every time, right, They got to kind of figure
out who to stop.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And I think.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
The tough part about being an offensive line is that
you know, you usually want to leave the one on
one for the weakest guy, right, you want to try
to double team the best guys lead the one on
one for the weakest guy on defense. But for us,
we don't really have a week link, right, Like everybody
is kind of trained to go. So being able to
(06:42):
whoever gets that one on one, being able to win
that and show up and make the play, you know,
has been good for us.
Speaker 7 (06:50):
Thanks Kivon.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Last one, Paul Schwartz, Hey, Hey doing Paul good good?
Speaker 7 (06:59):
I would I think you would agree that you know,
the best teams are consistent from.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Week to week, right, not predictable.
Speaker 7 (07:05):
But you know this Sunday, whatever day it is, we're
going to get this.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Do you know right now? First of all, as the.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Team week to week, what you're going to get from
you know, the Giants?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Could you ask that question one more time, like as
far as what we're like, what we're gonna do, or you.
Speaker 7 (07:24):
Just as far as look, you know, over the years,
you say, when you play the Chiefs, you know they're
going to do this every week. Now may they not win?
When you play the Ravens, this is what they are.
Do you know what the Giants are every week now?
Speaker 1 (07:36):
So far? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
If I'm speaking for I guess offense, I would say,
you know, smash my football, like, they're gonna try to
be physical and they're gonna, you know, try to win
the game up front. And I would say similar things
to to defense. You know, we're gonna play physical, We're
gonna try to win the game upfront and affect the quarterback.
So I would say, from a you know, identity perspective, Uh,
this is a team that when people come here, they're
(07:59):
gonna have to win up front. You know, we don't
we don't play ceball. We play smash mout football in
New York. And I think that, you know, aside from
just the identity of the team, you know, we play
with a relentless passion and a vigor to win.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Do you think that has to be earned?
Speaker 7 (08:17):
I mean, you you're saying that from within, but do
you think down the road these teams are going to
look at the Giants and say, all right, this is
what they are, this is what we have to deal with,
or not yet.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's got people well again, people aren't watching these interviews
trying to get the answers. People watching the tape, right,
and the tape is what is the resume? You know,
So these characteristics that I'm bringing up the smash my football,
this is something that I've gotten specifically from the tape.
And when I watch our team, this is what I
think we show one tape, you know, And I think
that that speaks value into the league, and that speaks valume,
(08:49):
you know, to our peers.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
You like that, You like that resume, You like that identity.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I think I think it can definitely still be cultivated,
It can definitely still be upgraded, and you know, we
can continue to pour in.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
But I do like the trajectory wrong.
Speaker 6 (09:05):
M h m hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Akave on Good morning. Good Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
You know, sometimes when we talk about setting the edge
and run defense, we we tend to make it a
lot more simplistic that I'm sure it actually is. Can
you talk about the evolution of your game within that
and how you guys, uh, you know, approach that on
Thursday night?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Yeah, I would definitely say, you know, when it comes
to stopping and run, it's definitely you know, technique, discipline,
all the things that we practice, but then it's also mentality.
You know, coming into a game, you you kind of
got to know that a team is going to run.
Most teams are going to start off trying to run
the ball, and you know, with the team like we
played last week, you know, they got a great set
of players that they can't run the ball with, and
(00:43):
you know, we're gonna have to step up to the plate.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
You know, you know your your game.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
I mean, you know, I don't.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I won't speak for you, but it seems like you
really have done a great job this year being a
lot more physical. It's not that you weren't physical beforehand,
but going back to the summer when we talked about
all the things.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
That you know, worked on, is was that a big
part of your.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Game, just being able to hold up on that edge
and being able to you know, be a physical force.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Well, the funny thing about you know, off season training
is that nothing is ever perfect, right. There's no drill,
There's no one thing that you can do that guarantees you,
you know, success on the field. But I will say that,
you know, there was definitely a lot of you know,
emphasis that I put on this off season, just holding
it in on my craft and holding it in on
my discipline and becoming more mature as a run defender
(01:35):
and a pass defender. I think my whole career, not
just in the NFL, but in college. You know, I
took pride in a run game, and for me coming
to this next level, I understood how important it was
and how I needed to improve on not just a run,
but on the pass to be you know, a four
down player. So you know, we always kind of say like,
you got to stop the run to be able to
get the opportunity to rest a passers.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
So I'm taking pride in that this year. Thankskevi. I
appreciate Evan Barnes.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Hey you.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
Speaking kind of going on that note, when you guys
are now rotating so much between you Burns and Abdul.
Do you see how it's helping you guys be able
to be so effective because you guys are just being
able to be so much more fresh with that rotation.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I think that is, you know, a realistic perspective. But
I also think, you know, we're all you know, in
shape and ready to play ball just hovery much the
game you know will go.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
So I won't necessarily say that it's well.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I will say that it is a positive having guys
that you can kind of flow in and that can
rush and that can do different things. But I think
we all are still you know, will be capable to
play more snaps or whatever the case may be, you know,
depending on the game of the situation.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Gotcha, okay?
Speaker 6 (02:44):
And then also when you get a chance to I
know you guys are off this weekend, but have you
got a chance with at this Denver offense yet?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
No, not yet. We're looking at it. We're looking at
it today and you know tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Got it? Okay? So I'll put to this question.
Speaker 6 (02:58):
Obviously, for Thursday, the vises high and everybody was just
kind of, you know, right in the way of this win.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
So for you as a player, how do you.
Speaker 6 (03:05):
Try to make sure these vibes stay the way they
are because obviously you don't want to get so high,
get so.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Caught up in that, But how do you try to
make sure that you guys can sustain it? Put me
into this matchup on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You got to be critical to film, you know, you
got to look at your tape see what you can
get better at. You know, even though I feel like
I played pretty decent this Thursday, I think there still
is a lot of things to get better at. And
I think you know, when you do have a weekend
office time for a lot of self reflection and some healings,
so you know, just understanding what you can get better
at as an individual and then also you know, as
a team and seeing what we can improve on.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Thank you, ran On Lab, Hey Kevan, thanks for doing this.
How you doing vo Nicks?
Speaker 5 (03:48):
I know you just said you haven't scouted them much,
but you guys sharing alma matter. I don't think you
guys were teammates. But do you guys have a relationship
from you going back there at all, or you have
any kind of relationship with and just watching him play?
Speaker 1 (04:01):
What do you think of him as a quarterback. I
think he's a great player.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
You know, the the memories I do have of him
started with him at Auburn and beating us at Oregon,
and then he ended up, you know, going to Oregon
after that. I didn't actually go to school with him,
but I am familiar with him. We've been at the
top of the recruiting class for a while, you know,
since about high school, so I've been to different camps
in different environments where he's been. I think he's a
(04:25):
great person, he's a great athlete, he's a great player.
I think he's savvy. I think he's having you know,
playing some great ball. But we're definitely gonna try to
you know, contain him and and limit you know, what
he can do.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
On Sunday and.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
Then postgame, Deck said something like, you guys urged Boeing
to be a little more aggressive, and Burns was really
complimentary of Burns his game of Bowen's game plan being aggressive,
especially on that flot pick. I'm just curious, you're one
of the leaders of the defense. Is that something has
that been a communication with you guys and bowing like, hey,
(04:56):
trust us, let's let's be let's dial it up a
little bit more.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well, I would say, you know, it starts with just
open communication, you know, and trust with the coaches and
the players. And I think that we have that in
this building, a facility or whatever. But I think that
you know, Bowen has been elevating and changing and evolving
on how he calls different games and kind of you know,
his growth as well as our players and understanding you know,
(05:25):
what works and what doesn't work, what we like, how
to you know, different players or schemes that will kind
of help our skill sets.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
But I would say it's a collective, you know.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I would say, there's no individual, there's no you know,
kind of one man show. I think Bowen does a
great job of hearing out the players, and I think
you know, the players do a great job of making
sure they, you know, do with Bowen asked of us.
So I would say, just continuing to jail together and
to continue to just keep the main thing the main thing,
and go out there and execute.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Thanks, Keila, we'll take two more.
Speaker 7 (05:58):
Pati trainer, Good morning, Kevon.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
How are you.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I'm doing well? Thank you for asking cave on. To
my own trained eye, it looks like the defense has
been getting home a lot more with four. What do
you attribute that to?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I would say, you know, individual skill.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
They can't A team can't slide, you know the same
way every time, right, They got to kind of figure
out who to stop.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And I think.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
The tough part about being an offensive line is that
you know, you usually want to leave the one on
one for the weakest guy, right, you want to try
to double team the best guys lead the one on
one for the weakest guy on defense. But for us,
we don't really have a week link, right, Like everybody
is kind of trained to go. So being able to
(06:42):
whoever gets that one on one, being able to win
that and show up and make the play, you know,
has been good for us.
Speaker 7 (06:50):
Thanks Kivon.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Last one, Paul Schwartz, Hey, Hey doing Paul good good?
Speaker 7 (06:59):
I would I think you would agree that you know,
the best teams are consistent from.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Week to week, right, not predictable.
Speaker 7 (07:05):
But you know this Sunday, whatever day it is, we're
going to get this.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Do you know right now? First of all, as the.
Speaker 7 (07:11):
Team week to week, what you're going to get from
you know, the Giants?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Could you ask that question one more time, like as
far as what we're like, what we're gonna do, or you.
Speaker 7 (07:24):
Just as far as look, you know, over the years,
you say, when you play the Chiefs, you know they're
going to do this every week. Now may they not win?
When you play the Ravens, this is what they are.
Do you know what the Giants are every week now?
Speaker 1 (07:36):
So far? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
If I'm speaking for I guess offense, I would say,
you know, smash my football, like, they're gonna try to
be physical and they're gonna, you know, try to win
the game up front. And I would say similar things
to to defense. You know, we're gonna play physical, We're
gonna try to win the game upfront and affect the quarterback.
So I would say, from a you know, identity perspective, Uh,
this is a team that when people come here, they're
(07:59):
gonna have to win up front. You know, we don't
we don't play ceball. We play smash mout football in
New York. And I think that, you know, aside from
just the identity of the team, you know, we play
with a relentless passion and a vigor to win.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Do you think that has to be earned?
Speaker 7 (08:17):
I mean, you you're saying that from within, but do
you think down the road these teams are going to
look at the Giants and say, all right, this is
what they are, this is what we have to deal with,
or not yet.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's got people well again, people aren't watching these interviews
trying to get the answers. People watching the tape, right,
and the tape is what is the resume? You know,
So these characteristics that I'm bringing up the smash my football,
this is something that I've gotten specifically from the tape.
And when I watch our team, this is what I
think we show one tape, you know, And I think
that that speaks value into the league, and that speaks valume,
(08:49):
you know, to our peers.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
You like that, You like that resume, You like that identity.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I think I think it can definitely still be cultivated,
It can definitely still be upgraded, and you know, we
can continue to pour in.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
But I do like the trajectory wrong.
Speaker 6 (09:05):
M h m hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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