Watch for Raider outside spotlight

RB Charlie Garner can burn the Bucs rushing, receiving or blocking.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 25, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- Quarterback Rich Gannon is the league's Most Valuable Player. Jerry Rice is the greatest receiver of all time, and Tim Brown is on the short list of runners-up. Jerry Porter is considered one of the game's most dangerous deep threats. Sebastian Janikowski is the AFC's top-scoring kicker.

But the Raider who might cause the most trouble for the Bucs?

"I don't hear enough about No. 25," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "That's the first thing I'm talking about at meetings. If you don't stop 25 you'll never win this football game."

Charlie Garner -- No. 25 on the field, No. 1 on the Bucs worry list -- is used to that treatment. Opponents are well versed, and deeply concerned, but the average fan doesn't know much, or necessarily think much, about him.

"Every day I go out there and try to prove everybody wrong, whoever is talking about me," Garner said. "I don't pay attention ... but I hear it a lot from my family. I just use that as motivation to go out and try to prove everybody wrong. If we win the Super Bowl, I think it will silence some of the critics."

His numbers make a pretty good case. In a career that has taken him from Philadelphia to San Francisco and across the bay to Oakland, Garner has developed into one of the most productive all-around backs in the league. He is 5 feet 10 and 190 pounds, but he plays like a big back, ramming defenders before they slam him.

"I got that from Walter Payton," said Garner, 30. "You don't want to take the hit, you want to deliver the hit."

Over the past four seasons, St. Louis' Marshall Faulk is the only back with more yards from scrimmage (8,255 to Garner's 6,873). This season, Garner was the only back to exceed 900 yards rushing (962) and receiving (941). His 5.3 yards per carry was second behind Denver's Clinton Portis (5.5), and no back had more receptions (91) or receiving yards.

"He's the best all-around back in the NFL," Raiders offensive coordinator Marc Trestman said. "He's a premier receiver, a premier runner and he's arguably the best blocking back in the NFL in terms of pass protection."

"The pulse of our team," coach Bill Callahan said. "He is the guy we go to in critical situations -- third downs, first downs to get us out of a hole. He's a guy we can count on, a guy we have complete confidence in taking the game over. He's one of the backs who is so complete in every facet, every realm. He can produce the big play at any time."

To take full advantage, the Raiders try to find as many ways as they can to get the ball in his hands, including splitting him out wide, which can make him tougher to account for.

"Charlie Garner, to me, is as dangerous a football player as there is in the NFL -- rushing, receiving and he is a nasty pickup artist when it comes to picking up blitzes," said Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who lobbied hard for Garner to sign with the Raiders. "This is one physical, dynamic player that I obviously have great respect for."

One reason Garner is not embraced more is he tries to keep his distance, shunning the media and spotlight. The Raiders are just happy for what he does on Sundays.

"He's not only a dynamic player, but there is an energy, a life force to him that's different than a lot of guys," Trestman said. "The only thing I can say about Charlie is we give him his own yard to play in. He has a little bigger fence than anybody else, but he never goes outside the line."

And as for where he should be mentioned with other top backs?

"I just go out there and compete and let other people make comparisons," Garner said. "I'm just trying to win ballgames."