Bucs are close to reuniting Garcia with former QB coach

The Bucs are expected to move a step closer to completing their coaching staff by hiring Rams assistant Greg Olson to be quarterbacks coach.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published January 29, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Rams assistant Greg Olson coached Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia while the player enjoyed one of his finest seasons, 2001 with the 49ers. They worked together again during Garcia's lone season with Detroit in 2005.

TAMPA - The Bucs are expected to move a step closer to completing their coaching staff by hiring Rams assistant Greg Olson to be quarterbacks coach.

But the Bucs had not made the news official as of Monday.

For Olson and starting quarterback Jeff Garcia, the move would be a reunion. Olson coached Garcia while the player enjoyed one of his finest seasons, 2001 with the 49ers. That season, Garcia threw for 3,538 yards with a 94.8 quarterback rating and a career-high 32 touchdowns.

Olson and Garcia remain close, having worked together again in Garcia's lone season in Detroit in 2005. Olson even attended Garcia's wedding last year.

Olson had worked his way up to become the Rams' offensive coordinator and in 2006 guided a unit that was rated sixth in the league at 360.4 yards per game.

But a rash of injuries in 2007 left Olson's group in shambles, and the Rams' fortunes plummeted. They finished 24th in total offense 297.5 yards a game and 28th in scoring offense (a 16.4-point average). Coach Scott Linehan, under fire, shook up his staff and told Olson he could return in a lesser capacity.

Reached by the Times last week, Olson said he preferred to look elsewhere for work rather than accept the demotion, saying, "I don't know that I want to do that."

Olson worked for the Bears in 2003 and for several colleges before that. He is a former quarterback at Central Washington.

Olson is expected to replace former quarterbacks tutor Paul Hackett, a veteran of three decades of coaching who appears to have opted for retirement.

Olson's addition would leave one position-coach opening, at running backs. The Washington Post reported Monday that Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner will interview for that post today.

Byner, whose contract with the Redskins expires Thursday, was offered a one-year contract by the Redskins, the Post reported.

The Bucs are looking to replace Art Valero, a Linehan friend who joined the Rams as an assistant head coach.

[Last modified January 28, 2008, 23:25:37]