Browns' Garcia is on the run

Jeff Garcia walked into the post-game press conference after the Cleveland Browns' win last Sunday, appearing calm, cool and in control.
He wore a stylish black shirt unbuttoned three from the top, and he answered questions assertively while choosing his words carefully and saying them slowly.
Through four games of the 2004 season, Garcia hasn't exactly played with the assertiveness the Browns (2-2) and their fans had hoped when he replaced Tim Couch behind center.
But certainly, Garcia can't take sole blame for his ineffectiveness in leading the offense.
Football is a team game, and as Cleveland fans have witnessed many times before, a quarterback can't work efficiently without protection from his offensive line, a reliable running game and play-making receivers that all help to keep defenses guessing.
Garcia feels pressure,and the numbers agree
Note that through four games this season, Garcia has been sacked 10 times, including three times last Sunday against the Washington Redskins. At this rate, he'll be taken down 40 times this season behind the line of scrimmage.
To avoid those costly sacks, the Browns must continue to use Garcia's athleticism like they did last week in their 17-13 win, getting him out of harm's way by calling for play-action and roll-outs. Tight ends Aaron Shea and Steve Heiden and fullback Terrelle Smith give Garcia big targets downfield.
It's no secret that Garcia wants the same. Listen in:
"Because of what I bring to the table as far as being able to throw on the run, those are the things we have to utilize to allow us to create positive plays and momentum," he said. "We don't want to allow the defense to focus on one part of the backfield where I'm going to be setting up and throwing."
Play-action gives Sheatouchdown opportunity
The Browns scored their only passing touchdown against the Redskins when Garcia used play-action to find Shea for a 15-yard scoring strike in the third quarter. That touchdown sparked the Browns in the second half.
"Changing it up like that started to allow us to break some runs, and it also created a better pocket when we did drop back," Garcia said.
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs added of Garcia, "You have a veteran guy who scrambles around and makes plays."
Browns coach Butch Davis countered by saying the play-action/roll-out scheme has been present in all four games this season. It was more evident last week, he added, because the Browns were trying to avoid Washington's aggressive blitz packages.
"The first quarter you're trying to feel out where they're coming from, and then you just try to adjust," Davis said of the pressure.
San Francisco, Clevelandare worlds of difference
Garcia spent five seasons in San Francisco, surrounded by talented players who made his job much easier. Football in Cleveland doesn't come as easy, as he's discovering.
"We've seen bits and glimpses of everything we hoped he would bring to this football team," said Davis, who added that Garcia made noticeable progress in the second half against the Giants [Sept. 26].
"He got the confidence to stand in that pocket, trust those offensive linemen to battle and fight and give those receivers a chance to win," Davis said.
Garcia is too good of an athlete, too good of a quarterback with too much experience and toughness not to succeed in Cleveland.
Several times Sunday, with the Redskins barreling toward him, Garcia concentrated on making his throw, knowing he was about to get smacked to the turf. And he did.
"He stood in there and took some hits and still made some throws," Davis said Sunday.
Yes, Garcia is 34 years old and his days in the NFL are numbered, but he needs time to adapt to a blatantly different situation in Cleveland. It's too early to panic.
As Davis said after Sunday's game, "This guy went to three Pro Bowls for a reason."
It's worth waiting and watching for Garcia to reach that level again.
XBrian Richesson is a sports writer for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.