What was Jeff Garcia's early career with the 49ers like?

Originally posted by 80849er4life:
Garcia was great. He was an ultimate competitor. The only thing was towards the end of his 49er stint, T.O. Called him a homo, and he was never the same. But Garcia was just 3inches short on a throw to T.O. in the playoffs one year and that cost us the game. He had great moments at Candlestick. But the one thing that stuck out in my mind was that throw in the playoffs, I think it was against the falcons when they went to the superbowl, he thru a deep ball to Owens that was like 3 inches underthrown. That's the closet he got to the Superbowl.

Originally posted by Robert:
Yup that was Young. Garcia's two stints in the playoff ended at Lambeau and Tampa. And no one throw would have won either of those for us, unfortunately.

Originally posted by calinig4life:
Great quarter back but sucked at da deep ball. Da end.

Originally posted by Evilgenius:

Not true. His problem was his lack of height. Most folks don`t know he won the NFL QB competition when participating in it... including the longest throw (70+ yards).

He also had an unorthodox delivery at times and moved around the pocket a lot (because of his height).

Originally posted by Evilgenius:

Not true. His problem was his lack of height. Most folks don`t know he won the NFL QB competition when participating in it... including the longest throw (70+ yards).

He also had an unorthodox delivery at times and moved around the pocket a lot (because of his height).

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
No one was sold on Garcia when Walsh brought him over from Canada. If we had a Niner board at the time, there would be a lot of WTF!? I heard Mariucci gave him time in practice but it wasn't good. He was on the smallish side who looked like he can't take a hit. His thrown ball was ugly short, medium, or long. I'm sure Walsh had to do some major selling to the coaching staff just to get Garcia on the football field. When he did get a chance on the football field he was OK at best, and actually stunk it up so badly, he was bench...I want to say 2 games? They end up putting him back in because Stenstrum or who ever it was at the time was even worse. But the lights went on for Garcia after the benching, and he end up very consistent, mobile, and very heady. His ball was still terrible looking, but they get there to the receivers. For those who didn't get to see him play, watch some of the old highlights. There was rarely any tight spirals, but you can here it quacking towards the tv screen into the receivers hands for a TD. He was at his best the last 2 minutes of the half or the end of the game. During those minutes, it was almost like playground football to him.

Walsh spoke highly of Garcia. Saying he won the Gray Cup of Canadian League football and had caught Walsh's eyes in one of the bowl game against Walsh's team. Like everyone else at the time, I just thought Walsh was so desperate for a qb and off his rocker.

Originally posted by 80849er4life:
Garcia was great. He was an ultimate competitor. The only thing was towards the end of his 49er stint, T.O. Called him a homo, and he was never the same. But Garcia was just 3inches short on a throw to T.O. in the playoffs one year and that cost us the game. He had great moments at Candlestick. But the one thing that stuck out in my mind was that throw in the playoffs, I think it was against the falcons when they went to the superbowl, he thru a deep ball to Owens that was like 3 inches underthrown. That's the closet he got to the Superbowl.

Originally posted by kray28:

Originally posted by 80849er4life:
Garcia was great. He was an ultimate competitor. The only thing was towards the end of his 49er stint, T.O. Called him a homo, and he was never the same. But Garcia was just 3inches short on a throw to T.O. in the playoffs one year and that cost us the game. He had great moments at Candlestick. But the one thing that stuck out in my mind was that throw in the playoffs, I think it was against the falcons when they went to the superbowl, he thru a deep ball to Owens that was like 3 inches underthrown. That's the closet he got to the Superbowl.

I think when TO looks back on his career, he'll regret what he said about Jeff. Especially in light of how things went down with McNabb (a vastly more talented QB, but with half the heart, and maybe a quarter of the sack). I know deep down that TO knows that out of all the QBs who threw to him, Garcia might not have been the most gifted, but you really couldn't question his guts or his level of heart, and I think TO as a true competitor will always respect that about Jeff.