Harbaugh Says Moving Thibodeaux and Golston Inside Makes the Giants' Stunts More Effective
The Giants carry six defensive linemen after trading Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati in April. Harbaugh said the alignment gives some things up and makes the defense's twists and stunts more effective.
John Harbaugh said Monday that the Giants rushed Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chauncey Golston from the interior of their defensive line against Dallas because of the way the roster is built, and that the alignment makes the defense's stunts more effective.
“Well, no question. It's our personnel. That's the way we're built. We've got those guys,” Harbaugh said at his Monday news conference, according to the team's official transcript. “And for those guys to be able to go in there and do that and even those two guys are different in the way they do it. So, it's different things that we do with those guys. But it just puts some athleticism on the field. I mean it gives some things up too when you do that. But our games, our twists, our stunts, those things become even more effective.”
The Giants traded defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati on April 19 for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 draft, according to the team's transaction log. Their active roster lists six defensive linemen, including Golston, and defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris is on injured reserve. Thibodeaux is listed as an outside linebacker.
Harbaugh was asked whether rushing inside required buy-in from Thibodeaux, who is in a contract year and is scheduled to reach free agency in 2027, according to Spotrac.
“Those guys love going in there and going against those guards and having a chance to run those inside stunts,” Harbaugh said.
A stunt sends two rushers along crossing paths instead of straight ahead, so that one occupies a blocker and the other loops behind him into the space that opens. Which of the two goes first depends on the call. On an exit stunt, Harbaugh said, the end penetrates first.
“When you run a tech stunt, a TE, it's the inside player that goes first. And that's what those guys get a chance to do and a lot of times that's the player that comes free on the stunt. So, they know that. So, they don't mind going in there at all.”
The Giants beat the Cowboys 28-20 on Sept. 13. They did not sack Dak Prescott and were credited with three quarterback hits, one of them by Thibodeaux, according to the ESPN box score. Prescott averaged 5.1 yards on 34 attempts. Golston finished with four tackles.
The Giants play at the Rams on Monday, Sept. 21, at 8:15 p.m. ET.