Raiders head coach Tom Cable addressed the media Tuesday,
answering questions about his team’s plans for the upcoming NFL
Draft as well as the recent signing of Gilroy native Jeff
Garcia
ALAMEDA
Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable addressed the media Tuesday, answering questions about his team’s plans for the upcoming NFL Draft as well as the recent signing of Gilroy native Jeff Garcia.
Below is what Cable had to say regarding the 39-year-old Garcia, who is expected to back up quarterback JaMarcus Russell this season.
Q: There has been a lot of talk since you signed QB Jeff Garcia. What do you think of his role is going to be and what you like about him as a player?
Coach Cable: Well, I think to be very clear in his role. His role is to come in and be a backup that you can go win with if necessary that he plays. And second, I think it is important you have a pro in there that’s really going to, and been through a lot. Think about his career and going to Canada and coming back to the NFL, going to the Pro Bowl, being in the playoffs, it’s all those things. So he’s seen a lot, done a lot and I am hoping that, my goal, was that he was to create an environment in that room with JaMarcus Russell to kind of take him where we are trying to go. And so, I think his role is pretty laid out. And if the opportunity comes to that we have to have him in, he has to go in to play, you have to feel good that he can go in and win for you. He is a pro, he really is. He understands what it is to be starting quarterback in the National Football League. He has done it, he has had failures, successes. He has had a lot of stuff in between. And so I think this will be a great tool, if you will, for JaMarcus to grow from.
Q: Have you had reactions in that regard to quarterback school, that you have noticed?
Coach Cable: Oh yeah, those guys have been going at it. Jeff is such a competitive guy and going at it with JaMarcus. And JaMarcus just taking to it. It’s been everything I wanted it to thus far.
Q: He wouldn’t necessarily be a mentor?
Coach Cable: Why not? You know, why not? I think that’s a good way to look at it in many ways.
