SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) There's been a change this week in
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia.
``He's smoother, throwing it more accurately,'' 49ers coach
Dennis Erickson said Thursday. ``He's throwing the deep ball like
he did early in camp. He's pretty focused.''
That's a Garcia nobody saw much of last week, when he had a poor
week of practice then struggled through one of the worst
performances of his career during a 35-7 loss to the Minnesota
Vikings.
Against the Vikings, Garcia scattered throws high, low and away
from his receivers, completing just 11 of 23 passes for 108 yards
with three interceptions. He left the game at the end of the third
quarter with a quarterback rating of 21.9, then was criticized
afterward by Niners star receiver Terrell Owens, among others.
This week has been different. Garcia, still recovering from a
groin injury that affected him in Minnesota, has displayed in
practice the type of determination and precision passing that has
sent him to the past three Pro Bowls.
The Niners are hoping those characteristics start appearing in
their offense Sunday against the Detroit Lions. San Francisco has
scored just one garbage-time touchdown in its last eight quarters,
and that came with backup quarterback Tim Rattay in the game.
Garcia is tied for 27th in the NFL with a 63.2 passer rating and
is 24th in the league with a 5.91-yard average per pass attempt. He
has thrown four touchdown passes and six interceptions. His longest
completion this season has gone for 29 yards.
Garcia was expected to be one of the prime beneficiaries of a
more aggressive offensive approach brought in this year by
Erickson. But that has not turned up through the bumpy first
quarter of San Francisco's season.
``I'm definitely capable of much better production,'' Garcia
said. ``We just haven't been consistent on the field. We haven't
been efficient. We haven't been effective as a team. I'm just going
to keep working until we find ways to improve that.''
DEESE BACK IN STARTING LINEUP: Garcia might have more time in
the pocket this week with veteran Derrick Deese returning to the
starting lineup at left tackle. Deese hasn't allowed a sack in his
last 24 starts. But he has missed the past three games with a high
ankle sprain.
In his place, rookie Kwame Harris struggled in pass protection.
Harris allowed three sacks last week in Minnesota.
``Derrick knows the position and it's obviously great to get him
back,'' Garcia said. ``He's definitely important to the continuity
of the offensive line.''
Deese practiced Thursday for the second consecutive day after
missing the previous three weeks of practice.
``I'm going to play and do what I can do, whatever percentage
I'm at,'' Deese said. The Niners have six offensive linemen listed
on their injury report, but only guard Eric Heitmann (doubtful with
an ankle sprain) isn't expected to play.
SHAW RETURNS TO PRACTICE: Second-year defensive tackle Josh Shaw
returned to practice Thursday, three days after completing a
four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse
policy.
Shaw worked out with conditioning coaches Wednesday. The Niners
needed another tackle for practice after Devone Claybrooks, who was
signed by San Francisco on Tuesday, needed to take a leave because
his father died suddenly Wednesday night.
``(Shaw) could have practiced (had Claybrooks not left),''
Erickson said. ``We were kind of making that decision. Then,
obviously, to get through we did it because he's ready to go, but
also because we were down one lineman.''
Shaw has a one-week roster exemption ``so he can practice, work
out and we can take a look at him for a week before we have to make
a decision,'' Erickson said.
The Niners must decide by Monday whether to waive Shaw or place
him on their 53-man roster. If Shaw is released and clears waivers,
the team also could decide to place him on its practice squad.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)