woodbuck27
08-17-2006, 11:56 AM
Posted August 17, 2006
Favre gives blockers a vote of confidence
" There is a lot of talent there, " Favre says of young offensive line
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
As Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre was sacked by San Diego linebacker Matt Wilhelm in Saturday's preseason opener, it would have been interesting to know what was running through Favre's mind just before his head hit the ground.
Favre had been sacked on back-to-back plays. The Packers were on their way to a humiliating loss. The offensive line, which as recently as two years ago was among the NFL's best, has three new starters, including two rookies.
"I'm sure a lot of people watching that game the other night were saying, 'Whew! I bet he's thinking he'd (rather be) at home,'" Favre said Wednesday.
Favre, however, says he hasn't second-guessed his decision to return for at least this season.
"I'm here to play. I'm very satisfied with the decision I made," Favre said.
"I'm committed to this decision, I'm committed to helping this team win, regardless of who we have, and we'll just go from here."
Two seasons ago, Favre played behind an interior offensive line of center Mike Flanagan and guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, all of whom have made the Pro Bowl. On Saturday, his guards were rookies Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz, both of whom struggled, and first-year starting center Scott Wells.
"I hope it gets better. And it will," Favre said.
"How much better? I don't know. How quickly? I don't know. Time will tell. The effort is there, and I think that's the first thing you look at. You expect, especially as young as we are, that there will be mistakes. You just don't want to see them over and over again. So, we'll see."
Saturday's performance by the offensive line prompted one lineup change, with Colledge demoted to the second team in favor of fellow rookie Tony Moll.
Favre said he understands there is a learning curve with a young line, and said he's confident it will develop into a solid group.
"Losing Mike Wahle, Marco, Flanny  from a veteran quarterback's point of view  doesn't help," Favre said.
"I think any quarterback who has played for any period of time would love to have a veteran line. But, I still stand by the comments that I made that we are very talented. Watching Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz and Tony Moll, and not just the line but some of these younger guys, there is a lot of talent there."
Favre's words meant a lot to the young linemen.
"It's great that he said that, and I know we really appreciate it, because we didn't get it done for him," Spitz said. "It makes us want to work as hard as we can to protect the guy."
Moll agreed.
"He's been around for a long time, and he's had super offensive linemen here," Moll said. "Just to have him still believe in us is a great thing. He knows we have things to learn, and it wasn't just because we're young that he's getting hit. It was miscommunication across the board, and that's something we're working to fix."
Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said one of the team's major goals for this week is to see improved play from the offensive line. He doesn't want to hear any more about inexperience.
"They are young, but we're not going to use that as an excuse," Jagodzinski said. "They have to go out and perform, just like any of the other 11. We're counting on those guys to do that."
Favre said it doesn't do any good to get impatient with young players. When he looks back on some of his struggles early in his career, it makes him more understanding about what the offensive line is going through.
"I would expect in that game for us to protect better, but you know, it's a first go-around," Favre said. "I try to think back to my first go-around, it probably wasn't too pretty, either."
Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at dtomlins@postcrescent.com
GO PACKERS ! HOLD FOR FAITH !!
Favre gives blockers a vote of confidence
" There is a lot of talent there, " Favre says of young offensive line
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
As Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre was sacked by San Diego linebacker Matt Wilhelm in Saturday's preseason opener, it would have been interesting to know what was running through Favre's mind just before his head hit the ground.
Favre had been sacked on back-to-back plays. The Packers were on their way to a humiliating loss. The offensive line, which as recently as two years ago was among the NFL's best, has three new starters, including two rookies.
"I'm sure a lot of people watching that game the other night were saying, 'Whew! I bet he's thinking he'd (rather be) at home,'" Favre said Wednesday.
Favre, however, says he hasn't second-guessed his decision to return for at least this season.
"I'm here to play. I'm very satisfied with the decision I made," Favre said.
"I'm committed to this decision, I'm committed to helping this team win, regardless of who we have, and we'll just go from here."
Two seasons ago, Favre played behind an interior offensive line of center Mike Flanagan and guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, all of whom have made the Pro Bowl. On Saturday, his guards were rookies Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz, both of whom struggled, and first-year starting center Scott Wells.
"I hope it gets better. And it will," Favre said.
"How much better? I don't know. How quickly? I don't know. Time will tell. The effort is there, and I think that's the first thing you look at. You expect, especially as young as we are, that there will be mistakes. You just don't want to see them over and over again. So, we'll see."
Saturday's performance by the offensive line prompted one lineup change, with Colledge demoted to the second team in favor of fellow rookie Tony Moll.
Favre said he understands there is a learning curve with a young line, and said he's confident it will develop into a solid group.
"Losing Mike Wahle, Marco, Flanny  from a veteran quarterback's point of view  doesn't help," Favre said.
"I think any quarterback who has played for any period of time would love to have a veteran line. But, I still stand by the comments that I made that we are very talented. Watching Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz and Tony Moll, and not just the line but some of these younger guys, there is a lot of talent there."
Favre's words meant a lot to the young linemen.
"It's great that he said that, and I know we really appreciate it, because we didn't get it done for him," Spitz said. "It makes us want to work as hard as we can to protect the guy."
Moll agreed.
"He's been around for a long time, and he's had super offensive linemen here," Moll said. "Just to have him still believe in us is a great thing. He knows we have things to learn, and it wasn't just because we're young that he's getting hit. It was miscommunication across the board, and that's something we're working to fix."
Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said one of the team's major goals for this week is to see improved play from the offensive line. He doesn't want to hear any more about inexperience.
"They are young, but we're not going to use that as an excuse," Jagodzinski said. "They have to go out and perform, just like any of the other 11. We're counting on those guys to do that."
Favre said it doesn't do any good to get impatient with young players. When he looks back on some of his struggles early in his career, it makes him more understanding about what the offensive line is going through.
"I would expect in that game for us to protect better, but you know, it's a first go-around," Favre said. "I try to think back to my first go-around, it probably wasn't too pretty, either."
Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at dtomlins@postcrescent.com
GO PACKERS ! HOLD FOR FAITH !!