The Packers haven't scored a touchdown on offense in two pre-season games, but coach Mike Sherman says it's nothing to worry about.

"I have a good deal of confidence in our No. 1 offense," Sherman said after the Packers' 19-14 win over the Saints in which the only Green Bay touchdown came on Darren Sharper's interception return.

"We have many of the same people back from a team that was No. 2 in the NFL last year from the red zone. In pre-season games, you can't always work on the timing and things with your first unit. It's the pre-season, and I think this group will be able to get a touchdown."

Sherman is probably right. Packers' fans almost seem to search for things to get concerned about during pre-season, when the games are nothing more than scrimmages you pay to watch.

Brett Favre and Ahman Green will still be two of the best at their positions if they remain healthy. The receiving corps seems to be more experienced and deep than last season. Once Mike Wahle and Mike Flanagan get healthy the offensive line should be solid.

Backup quarterback remains some concern, since Tim Couch still looks a little lost out there. He also shut it down in Tuesday's practice because of a continued problem with a tender arm.

"I thought Couch played better this week than last week," Sherman said. "We will continue to work with him.

You'd like to see Couch develop, since he is still relatively young and once was a No. 1 draft pick. But, if he doesn't, veteran Doug Pederson is still around to take the dozen or so snaps the backup to Favre usually gets per season.

Punter, who in some ways is part of the offense and defense, also could be a concern. Rookie B.J. Sander, projected to be the No. 1 punter, and Nathan Chapman punted horribly last Saturday.

"Our punters aren't hitting the ball. I believe this young man (Sander) will become a good punter. Everything he did last week and this week is correctable. It's only the second week of pre-season. We will want to see more consistency when the regular season starts."

Sherman added some insurance at punter on Monday when he signed veteran Bryan Barker. Some speculated the 40-year-old veteran could end up the No. 1 punter and Sander could be cut.

The good news out of the Saints' game was that the new defense of coordinator Bob Slowik looked much better than it did in the pre-season opener against Seattle. Sherman said the Packers are still using only a fraction of the defense in pre-season games.

Veteran free agent Mark Roman also seems to be establishing himself at the safety spot opposite Sharper. "Roman was very active and made some good tackles," Sherman said.

The No. 1 offense did play the entire first half last Saturday, which for a pre-season game is a virtual marathon. So, you would like to see more scoring.

But, unless the malaise continues the next couple weeks, or the two linemen continue to have injury problems, or the franchise -- Favre -- gets injured, the Packers are likely to find ways to score.

Olympics Update

You can say what you want about whether Paul Hamm deserved the gold medal in the all-around gymnastics event at Athens, but you can't doubt his ability to perform under pressure.

Hamm won a silver medal in the high bar Monday night, after having to delay the start of his performance because the crowd loudly protested a low score given to a Russian gymnast who preceded Hamm. Some of the boos initially were mistaken to be for Hamm, who has been in the middle of the controversy over a scoring error in the all-around event.

It was a pressure-filled performance in the high bar that rivaled Hamm's come-from-behind performance in the all-around.

Hamm does not deserve to be penalized because the judges in the all-around were mathematically challenged. The fairest way to handle the controversy over the scoring error in the all-around is to give the South Korean gymnast, who finished third because of the mistake, a gold medal too. That was being discussed as an option as of this writing. There also is a precedent for it. Remember the skating controversy in the Salt Lake Winter Olympics.

If you didn't see some of the updates at the end of last week's column, here are the other Wisconsin medal winners as of Tuesday night: Verona swimmer Neil Walker, part of the gold medal 400 meter medley team; rowers Chris Ahrens of Milwaukee and Beau Hoopman of Plymouth as part of the Men's 8 gold medal team: UW swimmer Carly Piper as part of the 800 meter freestyle relay team that won gold.

Check Sports Buzz Updates at the end of this column for some other Wisconsin athletes who are yet to compete in Athens.

Hot Tix

UW-La Crosse runner Andrew Rock will compete in the 1600 meter relays later this week in Athens. Pentathlon star Mary Beth Larsen-Iagorashvili of Mukwonago also had events scheduled. Wrestler Garrett Lowney of Freedom was scheduled to wrestle after this writing on Wednesday. You can see his results in a Sports Buzz Update at the end of this column later on Thursday.

The Packers play at Jacksonville Friday night. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on the Packers' state TV network.

The slumping Brewers are on the road until Aug. 30, when they host the Pirates. Their chances of avoiding a 12th straight losing season are looking slimmer with every loss.

Wave United also finishes its regular season with three games in the Pacific Northwest. WU needs some wins if it is to make the A-League playoffs, which start Sept. 1.

ASA (American Speed Association) action will bring some of the best short track stock car racers in the country to The Milwaukee Mile Friday through Sunday.

Prep football also gets cranking in many places around the state. College football is not far behind. See next Thursday's State Sports Buzz for a preview of state college football.