QB Garcia a big fan of options

He and coach Jon Gruden do a bit of give-and-take over playcalling, not that Gruden enjoys talking about it.

By Stephen F. Holder
Published September 18, 2007

TAMPA - Jon Gruden, game-show host?

That's what he must feel like sometimes when coaching quarterback Jeff Garcia. The veteran passer apparently doesn't like absolutes. He prefers choices, Gruden said Monday in acknowledging that Garcia and the coach don't always agree on play calls.

"We have a pretty good idea of what he likes," Gruden said. "Sometimes it's a matter of if he likes door No.3, door No.2 or door No.1. He likes all three doors, but you got to pick, which door do you want?"

Gruden clearly wasn't eager to discuss the subject. Asked several ways about the level of Garcia's involvement in play-calling, Gruden grew a bit irritated, likely because he didn't want to give the appearance that there is discord between him and his quarterback.

Instead, like Sunday, Gruden said he welcomes Garcia's input and will be open to it. He said the two have an understanding that will develop even more.

"Sometimes I have a tendency to go with what he wants instead of what I want," Gruden said. "I was very excited by the communication. The feedback I got from him Sunday, I think it paid off for us. I think we can do that more and more as the season unfolds.

"(Garcia) has a lot of input, obviously, with me. I think he has earned that being in the league for as long as he has been. It is hard to describe, but until you go through a game, or two, three, or four with your quarterback, it is hard to truly explain where you want to go."

But Garcia took another head-on blow Sunday, diving for a first down near the goal line in the first quarter. In Week1 at Seattle, Garcia left the game after experiencing disorientation because of a hit.

"He's got a reckless style, and that's something that you don't ever like to see your quarterback exposed to, a head-on collision like that," Gruden said. "It's a credit to him, his desire and his effort to get that first down, and I just get worried about him, I'll be honest with you."

CADDY CRANKING UP:Cadillac Williams got 24 carries Sunday and, to let Gruden tell it, that's only the beginning.

"I want to see him carry the ball a lot more," Gruden said. "To do that, he needs to get himself ready. He needs to get hit, he needs to play and work himself through some of the his rust and inactivity that I forced on him in the preseason. All I heard him b------- about was not carrying the ball in the preseason. You're going to get a lot in the coming weeks, my friend."

Seems fine with Williams. When asked Monday whether he was satisfied with the number of carries, he joked, "I tell (running backs) coach (Art) Valero every week, '25 touches, Coach.' So, I'm one short."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 18, 2007, 00:48:51]