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Posted August 13, 2006
Chris Havel column: Brown's advice: Be patient with Packers
By Chris Havel
WEST ALLIS  Gilbert Brown didn't pull any punches. The "Grave Digger" only could shake his head at a lot of what he saw in the Green Bay Packers' preseason opener at San Diego on Saturday night. At times, he sounded part player, part TV commentator and all former Packers nose tackle.
But for all the sloppy play early, Brown stressed that Packers fans need to patient. He said the key to the season, in his opinion, is the offensive line.
"The offensive line is going to make or break this team," he said.
"And I'm a defensive guy. If those three guys (center Scott Wells and guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz) hold up on the front line, they should be OK. If they don't, it could be worse than last year."
Brown, 35, who is part owner of the Milwaukee Mile race track in West Allis, was here to sign autographs and promote the track.
He built time into his schedule to watch his favorite team, and he wasted no time offering no-holds-barred opinions.
"Samkon Gado's returning kickoffs?" he said. "What are they trying to do? Get him messed up early? Did I miss something, or is Ahman Green totally healthy?"
Two plays later, Brett Favre was hit as he threw a pass, and it prompted Brown to say, "Get Brett out of there."
Brown rolled his eyes when the Packers' first-round draft pick, outside linebacker A.J. Hawk, got beat by the Chargers' Antonio Gates for a 17-yard gain early in the first quarter.
"Hawk's a (middle) linebacker," he said. "They need to move (Nick) Barnett outside."
When Chargers receiver Kennen McCardell outmaneuvered cornerback Al Harris for what appeared to be a 17-yard touchdown reception on the same drive,
Brown immediately said, "He didn't have both feet in."
After the touchdown was overturned by replay, Brown added, "If the Chargers had any (guts), they'd come right back with the same play."
Presto! Moments later, Vincent Jackson beat Ahmad Carroll for a touchdown on the same play.
In a flurry of plays, Carroll was beaten for a touchdown and penalized for a personal foul. He also made a devastating hit, except it was the back judge that went flying.
Brown declined to comment on Carroll, but he did say,
"I think (Charles) Woodson's going to step up to the challenge, but I still see Al Harris being the man. If they get the two of them playing at a high level, nobody will be able to mess with them. Where are they going to throw the ball?"
After the Chargers' first touchdown, I asked Brown what the defense was feeling.
"They're saying, 'Oh, well. It's preseason,'" he said. "That's not how you want the rookies to think, but that's what the veterans are saying to themselves."
Brown admitted it is difficult to watch the Packers play, even if it was only a quarter before he had to leave to pick up former teammate Santana Dotson at an airport.
"Hell, yeah, it's tough," he said. "That's why I don't mind going to get Santana. But tell the fans to be patient. It's way too early to jump off the Tower Drive Bridge."
Chris Havel can be reached by voice mail at (920) 431-8586 or by e-mail at chavel@greenbay.gannett.com
Comment:
There's - no shit comments there!
GO PACKERS ! HOLD THE FAITH ! !
Chris Havel column: Brown's advice: Be patient with Packers
By Chris Havel
WEST ALLIS  Gilbert Brown didn't pull any punches. The "Grave Digger" only could shake his head at a lot of what he saw in the Green Bay Packers' preseason opener at San Diego on Saturday night. At times, he sounded part player, part TV commentator and all former Packers nose tackle.
But for all the sloppy play early, Brown stressed that Packers fans need to patient. He said the key to the season, in his opinion, is the offensive line.
"The offensive line is going to make or break this team," he said.
"And I'm a defensive guy. If those three guys (center Scott Wells and guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz) hold up on the front line, they should be OK. If they don't, it could be worse than last year."
Brown, 35, who is part owner of the Milwaukee Mile race track in West Allis, was here to sign autographs and promote the track.
He built time into his schedule to watch his favorite team, and he wasted no time offering no-holds-barred opinions.
"Samkon Gado's returning kickoffs?" he said. "What are they trying to do? Get him messed up early? Did I miss something, or is Ahman Green totally healthy?"
Two plays later, Brett Favre was hit as he threw a pass, and it prompted Brown to say, "Get Brett out of there."
Brown rolled his eyes when the Packers' first-round draft pick, outside linebacker A.J. Hawk, got beat by the Chargers' Antonio Gates for a 17-yard gain early in the first quarter.
"Hawk's a (middle) linebacker," he said. "They need to move (Nick) Barnett outside."
When Chargers receiver Kennen McCardell outmaneuvered cornerback Al Harris for what appeared to be a 17-yard touchdown reception on the same drive,
Brown immediately said, "He didn't have both feet in."
After the touchdown was overturned by replay, Brown added, "If the Chargers had any (guts), they'd come right back with the same play."
Presto! Moments later, Vincent Jackson beat Ahmad Carroll for a touchdown on the same play.
In a flurry of plays, Carroll was beaten for a touchdown and penalized for a personal foul. He also made a devastating hit, except it was the back judge that went flying.
Brown declined to comment on Carroll, but he did say,
"I think (Charles) Woodson's going to step up to the challenge, but I still see Al Harris being the man. If they get the two of them playing at a high level, nobody will be able to mess with them. Where are they going to throw the ball?"
After the Chargers' first touchdown, I asked Brown what the defense was feeling.
"They're saying, 'Oh, well. It's preseason,'" he said. "That's not how you want the rookies to think, but that's what the veterans are saying to themselves."
Brown admitted it is difficult to watch the Packers play, even if it was only a quarter before he had to leave to pick up former teammate Santana Dotson at an airport.
"Hell, yeah, it's tough," he said. "That's why I don't mind going to get Santana. But tell the fans to be patient. It's way too early to jump off the Tower Drive Bridge."
Chris Havel can be reached by voice mail at (920) 431-8586 or by e-mail at chavel@greenbay.gannett.com
Comment:
There's - no shit comments there!
GO PACKERS ! HOLD THE FAITH ! !
Comment