|
Life in the NFL
Travis LaBoy
|
Foundation for '07 Titans is set
WITH a potential playoff berth at stake, we had one of our toughest games and toughest opponents this past Sunday. All we had to do was beat the Patriots and we would have a shot at the playoffs.
Going into Sunday, we had an energy and fire that had been fueled by a six-game winning streak. We knew we had to win to get in and we felt we were prepared for a tough game against possibly our toughest opponent. Unfortunately, we were unable to grab that final win against the Pats, ending our playoff hopes and our storybook 2006 season.
Looking back on all the columns I have written this year, it is amazing to see how far our team has come. From an embarrassing 0-5 start, to a dramatic playoff run, it is almost unimaginable what our team accomplished this season. It truly has been an amazing season for our organization and serves as a strong foundation for the future of the Tennessee organization.
After two seasons where we went 5-11 and 4-12, an 8-8 season shows the direction this team is headed in. At the beginning of the season, we were the second youngest team in the NFL. We had just lost one of our offensive leaders, and fixtures of the Titans in Steve McNair. There was the issue of starting Vince Young at quarterback, or giving him time to learn the ropes before throwing him into the fire. We had off-field issues, injuries, trades, etc., all creating the popular belief that the Titans were doomed for the 2006 season.
Critics pegged us as one of the worst teams, if not the worst, in the NFL from Day One. No one gave us a chance to win more than four games. Despite all the scrutiny, all the question marks, all the doubt, and all the controversy, we were able to piece together one tremendous run.
We knew we had a young team. We knew we had what would turn out to be the toughest schedule in the NFL. We knew that nobody outside our organization gave us a fighting chance. But we also knew that we had a very talented team. A team that was not going to surrender to anyone, anywhere. We knew we had a lot to prove -- to ourselves, our fans, the media, and the NFL. And we did.
We broke out this season, and in a huge way, winning eight of the final 11 games. We beat some of the NFL's best in the Eagles, Colts, Jaguars and Giants. Four of our eight losses were by a touchdown or less and two losses were by a single point. We re-established ourselves amongst the top teams in the NFL and we don't plan on looking back.
Many say our turnaround is attributed to Vince Young being given the starting nod at quarterback. Vince certainly took the reins of our offense and led our team to victory, but he didn't do it alone. Without the exceptional play of our offensive line, our wide receivers and our running backs, Vince's success would have been limited. Travis Henry also had a great season, stepping in as the No. 1 running back and has proved to be one of the best in the NFL.
On defense, led by our veteran leader Keith Bulluck, we played a lot better than our 32nd ranking. When our offense was down, the defense stepped up to keep our team alive.
Our special teams also had a big year. Pac-Man Jones showed that he is one of the best return men in the NFL. I doubt teams will be kicking his way in the future.
We may not have accomplished our goal of making the playoffs, but what we did accomplish provides a strong foundation for next season.
With the offseason at hand, free agency and the NFL Draft will bring us more to work with in '07. There are always changes made to every organization, but rest assured, the Titans are headed in the right direction and will be a team to watch in 2007.
My offseason starts with about a week of rest and recovery. During that time, I will be finalizing the details of my first Island Weekend and Football Camp. Like I said last week, several of my teammates and friends from around the league are coming back home with me to give you an NFL experience you will not forget.
I will have more information for you in the weeks to come. If anyone is interested in partnering with us or simply can't wait for the official details to come out, feel free to e-mail me at sackautism@aol.com. I will also be posting more information in the weeks to come on my soon-to-be-revamped Web site, www.travislaboy.com. Stay tuned.
Former UH lineman Travis LaBoy is chronicling his season with the Tennessee Titans for the Star-Bulletin