New starting QB has a quiet start

In for only six plays, Jeff Garcia completes one pass for 4 yards.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published August 11, 2007

Jeff Garcia scrambles during one of his two series. He was 1-for-4, but that included a dropped pass by Joey Galloway.
	[James Borchuck | Times]

TAMPA - It will take a while for Jeff Garcia to feel at home.

Playing for his fifth team in five years, the quarterback with a moving company on speed dial took in his new surroundings during Friday's 13-10 preseason win against the Patriots.

First, he followed the directions to Raymond James Stadium, found his locker and took his place in the huddle.

Locating the first down marker will come later. Then maybe the end zone.

Garcia's night ended early when he went to the sideline after just six plays, and the Bucs' first-team defense made sure he remained there.

Patriots backup Matt Cassel engineered a 65-yard drive that chewed up 8:45 and was capped by Sammy Morris' 2-yard touchdown run.

It was reminiscent of last season, when the defense yielded nine-minute drives to start and finish a 4-12 season.

But the preseason also is about evaluating young players, and rookie running back Kenneth Darby shined.

April's seventh-round pick from Alabama rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries. His 31 yards on the final drive set up Matt Bryant's 32-yard field goal on the last play.

Garcia, 37, failed to muster a first down during his six plays. He went 1-of-4 for 4 yards, firing high to Ike Hilliard to end the first series. Joey Galloway dropped a pass to end the second.

"I think when you come into a situation like this ... you're excited. You want to do well," Garcia said. "You are probably moving through reads and progressions a little faster than normal because you want to get the ball in your receivers' hands and allow them to make some plays."

Much like the 2006 preseason, an upstart backup stole the show.

Luke McCown added more cement to his status as No. 2 passer by completing 7 of 7 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in leading Tampa Bay to 10 first-half points. He also scrambled three times for 19 yards.

"The thing we're excited about is his mobility," coach Jon Gruden said of McCown, who missed last season with a right knee injury. "He's been on the rise since he returned from the knee injury. Had he performed like this last year, he'd been our starting quarterback, no question about it."

McCown's favorite target was Paris Warren. The seventh-round pick in 2005 had a game-high four catches for 46 yards.

One snapshot, of course, doesn't make a family album. But some things stood out.

The defense is faster, and it is hard to attack it on the perimeter. But it looked vulnerable to power runs up the middle. After just 25 sacks last season, the Bucs also are hoping for more pressure. Ellis Wyms had the only sack Friday.

"Our pressure's not good enough," Gruden said. "I'm not going to come out of here being negative. But if that's good enough, then hell, let's give them a lollipop sucker. It ain't good enough. We've got to get better pressure. I don't want to rely on blitzes. I want to be able to use a four-man rush like we've done historically here."

Certainly, there were some bright spots. The defense bent but didn't break against Tom Brady, who went 5-of-7 for 34 yards. First-round pick Gaines Adams, on just his second snap as a pro, ended Brady's night by batting away a pass on third down at the Tampa Bay 39.

"I thought he showed some energy and life," Gruden said. "He's got a long ways to go.

"He got close a couple of times. I think he found out the backs will chip you, too, and knock you sideways. That's legal."

Darby was impressive in the second half. Credit the rebuilt offensive line, which included rookie Arron Sears at left guard and Anthony Davis at left tackle. Luke Petitgout did not play.

Bruce Gradkowski, entering his second season, engineered the winning drive. But the quarterback got a mixed review.

"I thought Gradkowski was marginal," Gruden said. "He made some good throws. He engineered some decent drives. He didn't finish them. At the end of the football game, I expect a guy with 11 starts in this league to be better."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 11, 2007, 02:00:45]