Kayvon Thibodeaux has never pretended to know the names of every great NFL player past and present, but he perks up at the mere mention of Myles Garrett.
Garrett leads the NFL with 13 sacks and is the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year because the Browns defense is driving their playoff push.
Thibodeaux — one of six other players with double-digit sacks entering Week 12 and the rare bright spot in this lost Giants’ season — is just 2.5 sacks off Garrett’s pace.
“I’ve been looking up to him since I was in high school,” Thibodeaux told The Post after Friday’s practice. “The way he’s still able to do it at a high level, he’s a true man of men.”
So, can Thibodeaux’s younger legs allow him to catch Garrett for the sack crown over the final six games, beginning Sunday against the Patriots?
He also would have to pass Danielle Hunter (Vikings), T.J. Watt (Steelers), Micah Parsons (Cowboys), Khalil Mack (Chargers) and break a tie with Maxx Crobsy (Raiders) — a group with 19 Pro Bowl selections and two Player of the Year honors — en route to the top.
“I hope so,” Thibodeaux said. “That would mean that I’ve been working. I’m trying to make the Pro Bowl, trying to make All-Pro. I’m trying to do as much as I can to help my team win.”
Thibodeaux isn’t exaggerating, especially if you peek behind the scenes.
Giants’ sack milestones within Thibodeaux’s reach include the career highs for Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 in 2011), Leonard Marshall (15.5 in 1985), Osi Umenyiora (14.5 in 2005) and Justin Tuck (12 in 2008).
“He really works hard at his craft. He meets a lot with the coaches,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “Last week, I went in there, and he was kind of running a meeting with a bunch of the defensive guys, too. So that’s a good thing to see.”
About three weeks ago, Thibodeaux and middle linebacker Bobby Okereke added more meeting time for the defensive front-seven before the position coaches join the room.
That timeline coincides with the trade of Leonard Williams, which put more responsibility on those he left behind.
“It’s so that we can continue to keep that camaraderie and get better as a front,” Thibodeaux said. “We had the film on, and we were just looking at the run game. I had the clicker, and we’re all just talking ball and communicating. Bobby and I never really come off the field, so we’re guys that people have to get comfortable with as we continue to grow.”
Just three rookies or second-year players in the past six seasons have reached 10 sacks over the first 11 games: Watt, Parsons and Thibodeaux.
Among players with at least 30 pressures this season, Thibodeaux’s time to pressure of 2.49 seconds is fifth-fastest (Garrett is No. 2) this season, according to FTN Data.
“We want personal accountability, and Kayvon has done a great job stepping up,” Okereke said. “He has 10.5 sacks as a pass-rusher, but his understanding and emphasis on the run game is bringing the whole group together. Kayvon has so much potential, not just as an athlete but as a leader. He has those qualities and he gets what it takes for it to be great.”
Defensive mastermind Bill Belichick — who will coach the Patriots against Thibodeaux for the first time Sunday at MetLife Stadium — has noticed the way Thibodeaux feeds off Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
“It’s hard to step up in the pocket because of Lawrence,” Belichick said, “and you can’t get back there too far or you’ll have to deal with the edge from Thibodeaux. Two good players that really complement each other.”
And compliment each other. Lawrence also encouraged Thibodeaux to be a driving voice in those additional front-seven meetings.
“We kind of let that happen just so he can learn, and at the same time have us listen to him and let’s see how he thinks about it,” Lawrence said. “Everybody knows how Bobby and I see things. It’s good to see it from a different perspective, from a guy that’s growing as a player in the league.”
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