Garcia will likely start Sunday

A good water cooler bet: Jeff Garcia will quarterback the Bucs on Sunday.

Garcia took most of the reps in practice today -- and likely will Thursday -- and is preparing to start against the Carolina Panthers while Brian Griese recovers from elbow and shoulder injuries he suffered in the Bucs 16-13 loss to the Broncos.

Griese said an MRI revealed no structural damage from the hit he sustained in the third quarter from cornerback Champ Bailey.

"I haven't tried to throw and don't expect to try today,'' Griese said. "I'll continue to get the treatment on it and then later in the week address that.

"I couldn't give you a percentage (of playing).''

But following practice Wednesday, coach Jon Gruden all but confirmed Garcia would be the starter, with Luke McCown the probable backup.

""You know what? If you can't throw, you have a hard time playing,'' Gruden said of Griese. "Again, I don't want to make any concrete statements until we get a chance to meet and see how Brian is and how Jeff feels and the whole crew of quarterbacks.''

Garcia said he was excited about the chance to play again.

"For me, it's an exciting time because I feel like there's an opportunity that might be presented there,'' Garcia said. "I just want to be able to get back in and be the guy I was for this team last year, the guy that I feel I'm capable of being. If I'm given that opportunity, hopefully I can run with it and make the most out of it.''

Garcia, who engineered a 90-yard drive for the Bucs' only touchdown last Sunday, said he has recovered from calf, ankle and pinkie injuries and has benefited from rest and practice time.

"I hate to refer back to health and practice time, but I think since that first game of the season, I've had a lot more practice because of what went on in training camp with the calf,'' Garcia said. "I'm a lot more healthy at this time. I'm not favoring anything. I feel the speed is back, the explosion within the pocket, the mobility within the pocket. So those things are definitely better than going into the first week. Not to say that was an excuse, because it wasn't.''

Gruden said Garcia's health is no longer an issue and that will make him more effective this time around.

"Yeah, I do, I think he is coming back and that's a good sign,'' Gruden said. "If you're Jeff Garcia and you play the way he does, his mobility and creative play-making is a big part of his style. I agree with him. I think he looks much better in the pocket and that's his game.''

Comments

[Matt]

So is Jeff saying Gruden might have been right to sit him and let his entire body heal?? Now he's not favoring anything with all the rest he's had and can be a complete QB that we need?!?! No way...GRUDEN was right about something? You mean with his years of experience as a coach he might know more than sports reporters...no way!

[Turk]

Okay, so we have Garcia this week. Personally I don't expect a lot of change from what we've been seeing. All the talk of us needing a great WR, ends who can catch and a QB who can pass over 10 yards only masks the real issue here and that is poor play calling.

Gruden needs to get off his high horse, wake up and place some degree of trust in his players. He needs to be the genius he is credited to be. He needs to be gutsy instead of playing it so close to the vest. Every team knows exactly what to expect of us and that is just not acceptable. Man...I wish somebody could get through to him but it ain't likely. Especially when he has a sweet contract under him as he does now. Just my two cents.

[Al]

Both radio sports shows in the am and at 3pm said Garcia would never start again. I am tired of hearing all the Gruden bashing. Can't they find something better to talk about? If it wasn't for the Rays if would be unbearable. And this is for a team that is 3-2. Unbelievable.

[BUCFAN4LIFE]

WHAT RECIEVERS DO YOU THINK THE BUCS CAN TRADE FOR....AND PLEASE I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR TORRY HOLTS OR TONY GONZALES...GOOD YOUNG RECIEVERS....OH AND NO ROY WILLIAMS!....HOW ABOUT GESNER FROM NEW ENGLAND...YOU KNOW THEY ARE PROBABLY LOOKING FOR A QB AND OTHERS....

why are you yelling at us?

[Rube]

All you haters on here. Just shut up. If you don't like Gruden, then get out of here. The guy has brought us a Super bowl and 3 division titles. What more can you ask. And don't give all the credit to the defense. You could be a Cowboy fan who hasn't won a playoff game since 1996 or a Raider fan, who has gone into the tank since the Bucs jacked them in SB 37. Garcia was a pro bowl QB last year. Whats with the bickering with him? The Panthers are in for a rude awakening on Sunday. They've beat up on some low-talent teams like Kansas City, and Delhomme will be rushed all day and Steve Smith is going to catch one over the middle and will be blind sided by T Jax or Flip, or both! Division lead is ours after Sunday!

[Joe]

Bucs are horrible....overrated and a bunch of babies....GO RAYS!!!

[Anthony]

Chalk this up as another division loss! Loss to the Saints now the Panthers. Expect a lot of under thrown passes and receivers having to slide to make catches. Also you can expect him to shuffle his way right into the arms of the defense on several occasions!

Now I'm not so upset about having to miss the game to take my kids to a birthday party!

Matt, Gruden didn't sit Garcia for any other reason than he thought Griese was the better man for the job. Of course Garcia is healthy now...HE HASN'T TAKEN A HIT IN 5 WEEKS! And yes, GRUDEN IS STILL AN EGOTISTICAL IDIOT!

[Nate Dogg]

Either way, we're stuck with a QB who can't throw further than 30 yards. We better start seeing some first downs rack up!

[Tony F]

Yeah, the Gruden haters are pretty ridiculous...just like you said, Matt & Al. No way Gruden couldn't be anything but diabolical, what a joke. Gruden is going to play WHOEVER he thinks gives us the BEST chance to win, face it haters. Apparently, it doesn't matter if even Garcia himself backs up the story...Gruden is evil...GET REAL He's going to lose games cuz he had a disagreement with the QB he's been trying to get for years...IDIOTS
Go GRUDEN & GO BUCS - 1st place come MONDAY

[Leo in Canada]

This sounds like an easy decision with Griese hurting. When Griese is healed fully, this should make for great competition in practice. Hopefully that spirit will carry out onto game day. I truly hope they push each other into bringing out the best of whomever is selected to start. They both have numerous positive attributes to offer.

[Erick]

What's with people blasting other fans for criticising Gruden? We should be able to discuss this stuff without getting yelled at. He has good points and bad points but unfortunately his play calling is waaayyy too conservative, We have talent here, USE IT!!

[Tony]

Garcia / Griese both only have 4 yrd routs to throw. I have 2 tickets for Panthers call me 678-860-9274

[Wigwam]

You guys are all flippin idiots. We need to trade for Roy Williams the Lions WR...

[Hardhat0038]

ROY WILLIAMS? are you nuts,.. Houshmanzadeh

[Hardhat0038]

Can anyone remind me how many division titles and Super Bowls we won with Dungy?

[Steve "the big dog" Duemig]

I smell a conspiracy!
Any day now the Glazers are going to sell this team ... any day now, I say!

[Stephen]

Lets remember that alot of Gruden's offense is predicated on Yards after the Catch! You have to have playmakers that can not only get seperation but can make things happen after catching the ball. The percentage of plays going wrong greatly increase the more you try and force things downfield. The best percentage of plays come out of formation creativity and trying to get mismatches. I will agree that we lack a stud wr you know that one person who you know teams have to gameplan against and you know is going to get his touches. But with our style of play the long down and distances and early penalties really take us out of our game as well. Now defensively we will always be a contender but until we can get a wr that can produce some YAC's this offense will always look weak. Our offense has personel limitations as most of us know but to have a dominant defense in most cases the offense is not going to get the money to grab the elite talent. I'm not a Gruden hater or a bandwagon fan but I ask this question. Is it possible to have dominance on both sides of the ball? If the defense is stacked will that eliminate the ability to afford top notch talent? Also, not many teams are going to travel to Denver after they lost and get a win. We still had a chance just couldnt get the ball back. Long way to go! Go Bucs!!

[Rick in Atlanta]

Everyone using "haters" in a sentence seems to really act like a whining child.

Criticizing Gruden is fine. He isn't perfect and has done some things that fans should be critical of. he has also done some very good things. The job he did last year was great! His decision making at other times....not so great. That is reality and makes no one a "hater."

When did objectivity become a bad thing? I want the Bucs to win. Gruden put his wide receiver stock in a very old Galloway and a very inconsistent (at best) Michael Clayton. The team is hurting now because of those decisions. That doesn't make me a hater. It makes me not blind.

[Ralph]

Stephen. Who do think you are, with your logical, well thought out, sensible points. Don't you know this blog is reserved for nothing but calling for the firing of Gruden and Allen, repeating local media agendas, and wishing for players that are not available? Nobody wants to read about actual football strategy. Just fire the head coach and a superbowl is guaranteed.

[Keyshawn Johnson]

I would have to strongly disagree with those of you who stated or implied that Gruden plays those individuals who give the Buc's the best chance to win any given Sunday. You can debate whether or not his decisions are justified, but his reasons for not playing Jeff Garcia or others in the past are of some other nature than having to win football games.

[Jeff Garthia]

Roy Williams will not come here to Tampa. I have put my high heeled foot down on that with Guruden. He treated me bad in Duhtroit, and I don't like him, so he is out. Housmandahdah, now that is someone I could invite into me, uhhh, I mean "my" world. Sylvia....

[bryan]

I could not agree with Matt's post more. To go a bit further, Gruden does know a thing or two about this game and how to evaluate the status of his team. He obviously plays the best player at the time to win. Now is he perfect, obviously not but in my little opinion has a lot more football knowledge than everyone else writing in here..

[bryan]

OK maybe Keyshawn Johnson knows a little bit about football too. Sorry Keyshawn I missed your post.

[Just wondering]

...is it possible to second-guess a coach's decison without it being accused of hating someone?

Just asking here.

[Brandon]

Leo,

Any situation where Griese is honest competition is a pathetic situation at best and would involve two guys that don't belong in the NFL. Once Garcia or McCown get to show what they are capable of EVERYBODY will see that Griese is better suited for the unemployment line.

[Swami]

Swami will coach and take this team to the Super Bowl. Before each play Swami will look into my crystal ball to see what play the other teams offense or defense will run. The Buccaneers will score many touchdowns under Swami's divine guidance.

Can you say Swami! Swami! Swami!

[John P]

Honestly it doesn't matter who the quarterback flavor of the week is for the rest of the year. The Bucs formula for winning a game will NOT change regardless of who is taking snaps:

1. Force opponent turnovers.
2. Pressure the opposing QB.
3. Force the opponent to drive the field.
4. Good special teams coverage and kicking.
5. Offense doesn't screw anything up.

Do we need a good QB with that recipe? No, definitely not.

Still, it'd be nice to have one some day.

[M. STOVAL]

Adding ROY WILLIAMS couldnt hurt. Cant ya see oh cant ya see...what our wide recievers...are doing to me.

ALCS Tickets: Contact me at- luisgarcia813@gmail.com

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[Dark Side]

To all my fellow "haters": Since we cant say anything bad about Gruden without all these little girls on here crying... I say lets wait until Sunday. Everyone keeps saying we are 3-2, long way to go, etc. But IF we lose this weekends game, then everyone will have to admit there is a cause for concern. And IF we do lose (which i sincerly hope we dont), then i will bet it will be cause of Grudens conservative playcalling. He has done this for weeks and even in games we win he does not do whats right. If we lose at home to Carolina, and Gruden commits his usual blunders... then we all have a reason to be "haters"!

[Vince]

PREACH buc fan "DARK SIDE", AND PREACH buc fan "TURK" (at the top)! BUC fans read their posts, as they elucidate to the letter, the REAL issues facing this team!!!!!!

[Steve L]

Vince, point well taken but you may want to spot most of these poster's the definition of "elucidate" first...

[Mike]

Dear John P., your Buc's formula for winning should include.... offensive blocking and protection for th QB

[Garlic]

Good point, the QB needs more protection. While on the subject, why doesn't Gruden give the QBs more opportunity to create and set up situations on the field. Like the two-minute drill, they have a good feel for what's going on at that time. But, it appears that it's Coach's way or no way!

[John P]

Good one Mike, but the offensive line blocking hasn't been bad when running the ball.

Notice that when any Bucs QB drops back, that the opponent defense starts licking their chops because all of their corners are going to be like Neon Deion with our wideouts. Lets not forget about the reads and progressions required in this offense, oh and the shifts as well. All that stuff is great when you've got enough talent, which they haven't had outside the tackle box. The Bucs have to trick a defense to succeed in the passing game.

It's a sad thing when Keyshawn and Mark Carrier are the best receivers to ever play for your franchise. Is it bad luck, or just bad talent evaluation in drafting/free agency signings? Or, are the ruined after they get here?

Dexter Jackson is new, but he isn't going to be a starting wideout in the NFL. I think the Bucs hoped he'd be another Devin Hester. Maybe he'll get better as a returner, he has time.

But lets not forget Bert Emmanual, Alvin Harper, the Keyshawn meltdown, Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green, Courtney Hawkins, Lamar Thomas, Horace Copeland, Marquise Walker, Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall as guys who seriously underperformed over the last dozen years. Stovall and Clayton are still around, but Stovall is looking more and more like a soon to be ex-Buccaneer. Clayton probably won't be back next year, either. So, I don't think I'm off my rocker in saying the this team is cursed at the wideout position - and a direct result has been an offense that just isn't very good.

[Tampa Mike]

Garcia sucks.

[Tampa Mike]

Dont blame it all on the wideouts. It is also a sad fact that the best quarterback to ever play for your team was Brad Johnson. When is the last time we had a quarterback that could hit receivers consistently downfield - even when they got open? It will not start to get better until the Gruden nightmare is over. Hopefully, this is the year the Glazers see the light.