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Look
out, Mr. Brunell, here comes David!
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JACKSONVILLE, FL (AP) �The Jacksonville
Jaguars needed a backup for Mark Brunell. The quarterback they drafted views
himself more as a replacement � maybe sooner instead of later.
He's David Garrard, a fourth-round pick out of East Carolina, and like any
player drafted on the second day, he has his weaknesses. He made it clear
Sunday, however, that lack of confidence isn't one of them.
He calls himself a blend between Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper,
believes he has the stuff to take an NFL team to the Super Bowl and thinks
he has the strongest arm in college football � and maybe the NFL, too.
Yeah, he wants to learn from Brunell, who heads into his 10th season as
Jacksonville's clear-cut starter. But kowtowing to the three-time Pro
Bowler? Probably not going to happen with this rookie.
"I'd like to give him a sense of urgency, knowing he has a guy behind him,"
Garrard said. "I want him to know I'm right on his heels, I'm ready to go,
ready to play."
Garrard threw for 2,247 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, but says the
total would have been higher had his receivers not dropped so many balls.
He figures at worst, he's the second- or third-best quarterback in the
draft, even though he was the fifth one selected.
He comes from a school that has produced pro quarterbacks � most notably,
Jeff Blake. But when asked who the best QB in school history is, his answer
comes easily.
"I am. I'm sorry. But I've rewritten the record books. Not to boast or
anything. But there's not a record here I didn't break here," he said.
Garrard's numbers are impressive. In four seasons, he started 38 of 44 games
and threw for 9,029 yards and 60 touchdowns. Working out of a multiple
offense that includes a bunch of options, he also ran for 1,209 yards and 21
scores.
At 6-1, 235 pounds, he has the body to absorb an NFL beating, although
coaches have always worried about him getting too heavy.
Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin wants Garrard to develop into a starter someday,
but says he must compete for the backup job right away. The Jaguars likely
will lose backup Jonathan Quinn to free agency this offseason, and Garrard
is already advising the team not to worry about signing a veteran for the
second-string spot.
"Every time I've been put in a situation in my career, I've always been able
to step in and get the job done," Garrard said. "I can be wherever coaches
need me to be."
Coughlin says there really are some good reasons Garrard fell to the fourth
round. Most of them dealt with his accuracy, set up and three-quarters
sidearm delivery. Plus, it's always hard to know how well Garrard will
absorb the complexities of an NFL offense.
"There are always issues," Coughlin said. "He's definitely got things to
learn -- they all do."
 But overall, Coughlin is happy with this fourth-round selection, and Garrard
is happy � and ready � to be with the Jaguars.
"I think I'm capable of doing pretty much what a lot of the top NFL
quarterbacks do," he said. "I can lead an offense up and down the field,
take it to big games, take it to the Super Bowl someday. I think I can do it
early. I'm not sure how early. I'd love to get time in the first year, but
with Mark there . . ."
Copyright 2002
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
02/23/2007 10:51:20 AM
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