Quotebook

By DAVE SCHEIBER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 15, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Brian Cassella | Times] Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia throws to start the Bucs game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. The Bucs defeated the Titans 13-10. Photo gallery Audio: Gary Shelton's post-game analysis

From Bucs coach Jon Gruden

On his overall feelings: "I'd just like to tell you that I am very proud of our team. We beat a very good football team today. Any way we can win, we'll take it. Even though it got a little dramatic there today, we're very pleased with the victory. I think our team showed a lot today; we have several key guys out. For Tennessee to go out there and score with their backup quarterback and overcome third-and-long situations that they were in is a credit to them. Jeff Garcia was superb in the last minute of the game and a credit to Matt Bryant for a clutch kid."

On the resiliency of the team with all the injuries: "Sometimes it's been hard to swallow. ... We have some pro football players in our locker room who are giving us everything they have. I know you see it. I know our fans see it. We have some young guys who are learning some valuable lessons from some great veteran football players. That's exciting. We've got a long way to go, but that was a huge win for us today."

On QB Jeff Garcia: "Well, we knew it was going to be very difficult to run the football. Forget about our injuries and whatnot; we knew it was going to be a very hard day at the office running the ball. Obviously, we tried to put Jeff in some situations where he could make some plays for us and he did. Donald Penn held his own. ... But Jeff Garcia never gets rattled; all he needs is one more shot, and if you give him one more shot, he's capable of going in and that's what he did today. It's a credit to Jeff and what he's brought to our football team. I can't even tell you how valuable he is."

On WR Ike Hilliard's awareness to get out of bounds on the winning drive: "He is a heck of a football player. He understands the game. He's a complete football player from the neck up. People tend to forget sometimes he was a first-round draft choice. He has a lot of talent, and he's been very productive for a long time. I know Jeff feels very comfortable with him, and Ike Hilliard is a specialist in those kind of situations, and that's one of the reasons why we throw to him."

From Titans coach Jeff Fisher

On his overall thoughts: "We knew we were going to play a good football team, a very good defensive team. Our plan going into this week was not to give up the big plays, and we gave up two big plays: Jeff (Garcia) made them. You have to take your hat off to Jeff. That was a great effort staying in there. Every time I looked, he was on the ground. He kept getting up, and he did what we hoped he wouldn't do, and that was find a way to make a play."

On the defense during the final drive of the game: "(Jeff) made plays at the right part of the game. I thought the defense played well; they are consistent, and they are playing hard."

On QB Kerry Collins' performance: "Kerry is here just to do that. (He) put a touchdown drive together and converted some tough distance situations and got the ball in the end zone for us. That is what he is here for."

[Last modified October 14, 2007, 21:55:16]