Quotes about Travis LaBoy

MIJ = Marin Independent Journal

About Travis, the Titans' DL coach Jim Washburn said:
"He's a guy we want to have a breakout season. He's one of my favorites. I really like him. I just hope for him and for us he has a big year. It's a big deal. He's on the verge." (MIJ)


About how he's fairly healthy right now, LaBoy said:
"This is as healthy as I've been here." (MIJ)

MIJ Note: "LaBoy is as happy as he's been with the Titans, too, despite what the depth chart shows. He and his wife, Nohealani, welcomed their second son, Koa, in the offseason and LaBoy, 26, also managed to set aside some quality time to get fit. After the game at Jacksonville on Sunday, he text-messaged Travelle Gaines, a longtime friend who finally convinced LaBoy to accept a standing invitation last June to participate in a five-week training and conditioning program. Gaines has opened a training facility in Seattle where he trains other NFL athletes. He also worked as a strength and conditioning coach with newly-signed Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell at LSU, where Gaines said he was falsely accused of a state law violation last year for assisting a sports agent."


About how his goal was to make LaBoy more effective and efficient in the NFL, Travelle Gaines (who met Travis when they were freshman football players at Utah State) said:
"I was going to take it personally if Travis didn't do well this year. If he didn't, it was going to be my fault. He is re-focused on the game. He did nothing here but eat healthy and work out." (MIJ)

MIJ Note: "For LaBoy, the timing was right. His wife and kids were going back to Hawaii for an extended visit so he sublet an apartment in Seattle and stuck around."


About training with Gaines in the offseason, LaBoy said:
"I had been trying to get away from the football field to be a good father. It was time for me to get back to playing football (better) and train like I did in high school." (MIJ)

MIJ Note: "Gaines concentrated on LaBoy's core strength, explosiveness and quick first step. The results were pleasing to LaBoy and Gaines. LaBoy, who will be a restricted free agent after this season, went to training camp this summer weighing 265 pounds with 6-percent body fat.

Then, early in training camp, LaBoy suffered a mild, albeit annoying, hamstring injury that caused him to miss almost two weeks of practice. Physically, he was fine but another setback was a quick reminder that LaBoy hasn't been able to play a full season without being hurt in his first three years with the Titans after they selected him in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft."


Frustrated with how his injuries have prevented him from being the player he could be, LaBoy said:
"I feel all of my (lack of) production is because of health issues. It seems like a snowball effect. One injury leads to another. I feel if I could stay healthy there's no question about the things I could do on the field." (MIJ)


About how LaBoy is frustrated with how injuries have hampered him, Washburn said:
"He's really frustrated because he should have had 10 sacks two years ago. But then he took so many hits and missed opportunities. He's frustrated. I'm frustrated. We're frustrated. We hope this will be his year." (MIJ)

MIJ Note: "LaBoy has extra motivation. After starting 11 games at right defensive end last year, LaBoy has been shifted to the left side. Washburn has him playing behind Kyle Vanden Bosch, who Washburn is trying to free from so many double-teamed blocking schemes. Atwan Odom is now starting at right defensive end and, on Tuesday, the Titans acquired veteran defensive end Bryce Fisher from the Seattle Seahawks."


About being moved from right to left DE, LaBoy said it:
"is like shooting a basketball left-handed." (MIJ)


About their defense, LaBoy said:
"As a team, our defense is the best it's been since I've been here." (MIJ)