Outside Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux
Q. With the addition of (Brian) Burns, how does that affect you, and how county two of you play off of each other?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: That's funny, me and Burns go way back from me being in high school, him being in college, seeing him play. He hosted me on my college visit. I've always kind of compared myself to him as I continue my pass-rushing professional career. Being able to be with him, was kind of like that full-circle moment. Yeah, the competitive spirit. We're chasing greatness every day. He knows a lot of things. He been in the league a lot longer than I have. He got a lot of game, a lot of gems that's going to help my game. Continue to get with him on and off the field and continue to grow.
Q. What have you learned about him so far?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: He's a Florida boy. You talk about a little bit of city, a little bit of country. I'm from West Coast, from L.A. You talk about the mix of the outdoors and the indoors, the big city and the wide-open country. It's a good mix. We've been able to get together, show him some things, he's shown me some things. Talk about culturally, music-wise. It's been a good time so far.
Q. You command attention. Do you feel that attention is going to have to be balanced more so?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: It's funny, I haven't even really thought about the other team, what they're going to do. If you just talk about our energy, if you out there today, you felt it. It's going to be a grind every day whether we're in pads, not in pads. We're going to be laser focused. We're talking about what we're bringing to each other, bringing to the team, that upbeat tempo, that competitive spirit, just continuing to battle. Regardless of who is on the other side, we're going to try to have a party at the quarterback.
Q. Where are you now, compared to last year?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Never. You think when you're a rookie you have this long career, right? You look at a guy lie I take Aaron Donald, he just retired, went to 10 Pro Bowls. I'm already two years down, not been to one. 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.
Q. What in particular do you think are the next steps for you? I need to get better at this, this, this?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: We talked about it. My coach, Charlie (Bullen), he's been cooking. I'm really happy to have him. I thank God I have him, to be honest. He's been very instrumental in the short period we've been together. Talk about accolades plus respect equals achievement to legacy. That's kind of what we've been talking about. 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.
Q. This defense is different schematically. In what ways do you think that can benefit you?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think it's great that I don't have to think. 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.
Q. You talk about Charlie, but also Andre Patterson is working with you guys. What is that like?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: Dre is a legend. He's like Mr. Miyagi, Yoda, knows how it all works. Charlie comes in and, he's the young, the energy company. When you talk about the scheme, things like that, they've been working hand-in-hand. When you see how it's going to continue to unfold, I think last year the interior and the edge weren't cohesive. Now it's going to start to work like clockwork. That's the maturity. That's where I'm growing as a player and we're growing as a defense, being able to play as a unit.
Q. We've been told this defense is going to put a premium on four-man pass-rushing. I assume you're one of the four.
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think we get paid a lot of money and we want to be the greatest. This is New York. You want to see your great players play. Bringing Burns in, having Dex. Dex is a Hall of Famer; Burns is a Hall of Famer. Hopefully one day I'll be able to get up and put that work in.
You talk about being able to display your traits. We're all here to see great players play great. I think that's what we're going to be able to show in this defense.
Q. On seeing the fan excitement from the success of the Knicks.
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: First, shoutout to the Knicks, they went further than a lot of people expected on the outside. They put in a lot of work. When you see the heart they play with. It hurt me. Speak to what you're saying. It felt good, but it also hurt because I was at seven and saw how much work they put in and couldn't get it done. Now people see me, you're next, you're up. Going back to that softball, baseball moment, when you're up to the plate, we got to keep putting the work in so we can show up on Sundays.
Q. You mentioned the interior and the edge weren't cohesive. What do you mean?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: I think when you look at a defense, we're speaking of basketball. Basketball has a lot of star players. You can play one on one. You can go out there and have a LeBron, all these greats go and score. Now with football, you're not as good unless you have all 11 players. Now when you look at the front, right, one side isn't setting the edge and the other side is, it doesn't matter.? If the back end isn't covering the wide receivers, there's no chance for a sack. The front end is not pressuring the quarterback, there's no chance for a pick. When you think about how things work together, we have to understand that.
Dex is a guy, he's going to demand a lot. You talk about demanding attention. I have to learn how to play off of him with Nacho, Burns, and all the guys coming up.
Q. What is the key to playing off of him?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: The key is letting him do him. It seems simple. I'm not going to tell you the scheme. Just understanding how he plays, and what his strengths are so he can bull rush a guy, set a guy down at any chance. Once he does that, the quarterback is going to flush. If you look at most of my sacks last year, the quarterback is dropping back because he sees Dex coming in. If I shorten my rush, the quarterback is going to get out. So I stay high, Dex comes up the middle. The quarterback either steps up, Dex gets him, or he falls into my lap coming off the edge.
Q. Before the cameras came on, you started talking about chasing records. Why is that something you do?
KAYVON THIBODEAUX: We're in a life that we only really get once. You talk about living it to the fullest. When you have people who have lived it and who have walked it, it would be kind of a disservice to myself to not strive to be better than the standards they set. Now being here, it's like he didn't have as many rush opportunities as I'm going to have. The game wasn't as much passes as it was before. I have an opportunity that people would wish they could be in. It's only right if I give the people what they want. I honor myself by putting everything on the line, trying to be the best.
