"When tight end Marcedes Lewis was drafted in the first round by the Jaguars two years ago, quarterback David Garrard made an immediate impression.

"It's weird because my rookie year when I came in, right away David came to me four times in a row. It stuck out quick. When I was a rookie, everything was moving fast, but I knew who David was very quickly," Lewis said.

Lewis said he's never made the kind of immediate connection with a quarterback the way he did with Garrard.

"Not even in college and high school. It was like I got on the field and, 'bam, bam, bam,' passes [were coming] from everywhere," he said.

Not surprisingly, Lewis was impressed with Garrard right from the start.

"Even though he wasn't starting, the way he approached the game and the way he went out there and prepared for the game as if he was [starting], it was just something about him that I knew he was special. I'm glad it's his time. You can tell out there on the field from the confidence he has making decisions and leading the team. I'm happy for him. I'm just happy to be on the same team with him," he said.

The rapport they have could turn the Garrard-to-Lewis combination into a weapon in Lewis' third season.

Last year, in Garrard's first full year as a starter, Lewis caught 37 passes. He certainly could bolster that total this year.

"Whenever we talk about catching and receivers, we always talk about receivers. It's something quarterbacks do unless a guy stands out, and he [Lewis] can be that guy," Garrard said. "He can become of those tight ends that are tops in the league."

Lewis said the fact that Garrard is entrenched as the quarterback is a plus for the team.

"I think whenever you don't have controversy and we can just focus on playing football and winning games [it helps], especially at the quarterback position. He is the guy. He leads our team. He approaches the game every day out there with a smile on his face. We all follow him," Lewis said.

Garrard returned the compliment.

"He's a great talent, big size, big target for me to throw to, and we need to make sure we are on the same page," Garrard said. "This is something that both of us just have to take to a new level because tight ends are usually my favorite targets.

"They are reliable and always around the middle. They are a whole lot easier to throw to, so I definitely want to get his receptions up and get his play to where [Lewis is] one of the elite tight ends in the league," Garrard said."