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He might've become the forgotten man, had David Garrard not turned in a spring performance that opened the eyes of anyone who knows the sound of a football cutting through the air. With today's conclusion of the Jaguars' four-day "passing camp," Garrard left little doubt he's a player to be mentioned in the same breath with Mark Brunell and Byron Leftwich.
"He's shown me he has a great arm. Both Kenny Anderson and I have been surprised by how well he can throw it. We always knew he could run, but he can also throw," offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said.
Yes, Garrard has been surprising, through two mini-camps and this week's "passing camp." His command of the offense has been a surprise, as has been the ease with which he has moved and thrown. His passes have been sharp, decisive and without wobble; they've whistled through the spring air.
Clearly, he is competing to be something more than this team's backup. He'd like to say he's competing to be this team's quarterback of the present and for the future, but Garrard learned they are unnecessary words.
"You know inside you want to be here, you want to be there, but you have to do it the right way," he said.
Translation: It's best to keep your mouth shut.
"Right," Garrard said, smiling.
A year ago, on his draft day, he did not keep his mouth shut. He talked about taking the starting quarterback job away from Brunell. Garrard was all about the foolish innocence of youth, then.
Now, he speaks as a veteran should. He only has one year and one starting assignment under his pro football belt, but Garrard has already developed enough poise not to lose his cool that he is caught between Brunell and Leftwich, which is to say somewhere between the team's present and its future. That's a tough spot.
"Mark's our guy. I had never been a backup before and I've grown. I understand it more. I'm definitely behind Mark, learning from him," Garrard said.
"He's shown me he has a great arm. Both Kenny Anderson and I have been surprised by how well he can throw it. We always knew he could run, but he can also throw," offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said.
Yes, Garrard has been surprising, through two mini-camps and this week's "passing camp." His command of the offense has been a surprise, as has been the ease with which he has moved and thrown. His passes have been sharp, decisive and without wobble; they've whistled through the spring air.
Clearly, he is competing to be something more than this team's backup. He'd like to say he's competing to be this team's quarterback of the present and for the future, but Garrard learned they are unnecessary words.
"You know inside you want to be here, you want to be there, but you have to do it the right way," he said.
Translation: It's best to keep your mouth shut.
"Right," Garrard said, smiling.
A year ago, on his draft day, he did not keep his mouth shut. He talked about taking the starting quarterback job away from Brunell. Garrard was all about the foolish innocence of youth, then.
Now, he speaks as a veteran should. He only has one year and one starting assignment under his pro football belt, but Garrard has already developed enough poise not to lose his cool that he is caught between Brunell and Leftwich, which is to say somewhere between the team's present and its future. That's a tough spot.
"Mark's our guy. I had never been a backup before and I've grown. I understand it more. I'm definitely behind Mark, learning from him," Garrard said.
