RB situation

[HarveyWallbangers]

Jackson is a good third down RB, but I've felt his miscast in our system for a long time. He's not a one cut and go RB. In the right system, he might be a decent all around back. Here's hoping James Starks is the answer to our problems. I'm okay with still running Nance or Kuhn in short yardage. At least, you have a puncher's chance. No more Jackson on short yardage plays.

[Fritz]

I am hoping that Starks will step up, and this season will be like the Packers' championship season. For much of that season, Mikey Holmgren did not appear to know what a running play was. Maybe that was because they didn't perform well. But in the last month of the season, the Packers ran the ball more efficiently. They found a semblance of a running game (but I don't remember if that was in part because Dorsey Levens played more).

But I hope Starks can step up and get a few carries. Let's see what he can do - as long as the dude can pick up blitzes and pass protect.

[Zool]

Jackson is a good third down RB, but I've felt his miscast in our system for a long time. He's not a one cut and go RB. In the right system, he might be a decent all around back. Here's hoping James Starks is the answer to our problems. I'm okay with still running Nance or Kuhn in short yardage. At least, you have a puncher's chance. No more Jackson on short yardage plays.

And no more running left on short yardage. Its not working. On one of the goal line sneaks Colledge's guy made the play while Daryn ended up on his back in the end zone.

[Freak Out]

Fuckin TT should have signed Westbrook.

[RashanGary]

Jackson is a good third down RB, but I've felt his miscast in our system for a long time. He's not a one cut and go RB. In the right system, he might be a decent all around back. Here's hoping James Starks is the answer to our problems. I'm okay with still running Nance or Kuhn in short yardage. At least, you have a puncher's chance. No more Jackson on short yardage plays.

Dimitri Nance has only had what? 15 carries so far? And when he has run, it's been at the end of a game where we were trying to run the clock out with a big lead. . . .

That said, even when nothing is there, he hits a the best crease possible and drives FORWARD. Then, there were a couple runs where something was there and he hit it hard with authority. And I know he doesn't have good straight line speed, but he's quick, especially for his size. If I had to pick one, for a RB, I'd take quickness over straightline speed. He could be an Edgar Bennett type. Has good hands too.

I'm hoping Starks brings something too, but honestly, I think Nance is the better bet this year on 1st and 2nd down. It's a tiny sample, but I like Dimitri Nance so far.

[Guiness]

But Colledge couldn’t get his pads underneath his man.

Pad level! I knew it all along!

[3irty1]

MM said that Starks had better be ready to come up and he may get an opportunity this week. This is truly our last viable shot at a running game this season.

Starks offers what we have been missing this whole time. The home run threat. Grants straight line speed and ability to decisively plant and go is a near perfect fit for this offense. Harv nailed it on the head IMO that Jackson is miscast as an inside runner here. Starks definitely looks the part of a zone runner with a build and style similar to McFadden. If he can make the most of his opportunities and bust off a couple of long ones, this offense could quickly turn the corner from good to unstoppable.

[Shoal]

I'm OK with giving Howard Green a try on the next 3rd and 1 situation.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I'm OK with giving Howard Green a try on the next 3rd and 1 situation.

Who could stop him? Of course while he IS built like him, he's not the Kool-Aid man, so he can't plow through a brick wall... That would have been a lot of fun had he signed with AZ and their bright red jerseys and they played the browns in CLE.

[Guiness]

Someone else pulled the refrigerator play this past week-end, didn't they? I read somewhere that a 300+lb DT got a goal line carry, and TD.

[OS PA]

MM said that Starks had better be ready to come up and he may get an opportunity this week. This is truly our last viable shot at a running game this season.

Starks offers what we have been missing this whole time. The home run threat. Grants straight line speed and ability to decisively plant and go is a near perfect fit for this offense. Harv nailed it on the head IMO that Jackson is miscast as an inside runner here. Starks definitely looks the part of a zone runner with a build and style similar to McFadden. If he can make the most of his opportunities and bust off a couple of long ones, this offense could quickly turn the corner from good to unstoppable.

I'm not buying into this whole Starks can be our savior movement. I'd love to be wrong, but you just don't hear much about Starks other than "He's close" or "He better be ready". I know we're all a bunch of coach bashers, but do you think the coaches would have kept this kid on the sidelines if he was better than what we had? You don't hear about Starks breaking tackles in practice or taking it to the house. You don't hear or read "Starks had a beautiful touchdown reception today" or "Starks out ran the secondary today after blowing through the line." Coaches don't tend to keep star players out of the lineup. Especially on this team with our injuries if a player can play, he will play. We drafted Starks because of his potential, but the man hasn't played a down of football in over two years now. He may turn out to be a good find, but there is going to be some rust, and it's not like we're putting an ex-superstar out there. We need to be realistic when looking at Starks. I'll eat crow if he has a monster game, but I'm just not seeing it.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I'm not buying into this whole Starks can be our savior movement. I'd love to be wrong, but you just don't hear much about Starks other than "He's close" or "He better be ready". I know we're all a bunch of coach bashers, but do you think the coaches would have kept this kid on the sidelines if he was better than what we had? You don't hear about Starks breaking tackles in practice or taking it to the house. You don't hear or read "Starks had a beautiful touchdown reception today" or "Starks out ran the secondary today after blowing through the line." Coaches don't tend to keep star players out of the lineup. Especially on this team with our injuries if a player can play, he will play. We drafted Starks because of his potential, but the man hasn't played a down of football in over two years now. He may turn out to be a good find, but there is going to be some rust, and it's not like we're putting an ex-superstar out there. We need to be realistic when looking at Starks. I'll eat crow if he has a monster game, but I'm just not seeing it.

I think it's a lot more hope than expectation of savior-dom. Given how the running game is floundering, any hint of help is being eaten up.

[sheepshead]

I'm not buying into this whole Starks can be our savior movement. I'd love to be wrong, but you just don't hear much about Starks other than "He's close" or "He better be ready". I know we're all a bunch of coach bashers, but do you think the coaches would have kept this kid on the sidelines if he was better than what we had? You don't hear about Starks breaking tackles in practice or taking it to the house. You don't hear or read "Starks had a beautiful touchdown reception today" or "Starks out ran the secondary today after blowing through the line." Coaches don't tend to keep star players out of the lineup. Especially on this team with our injuries if a player can play, he will play. We drafted Starks because of his potential, but the man hasn't played a down of football in over two years now. He may turn out to be a good find, but there is going to be some rust, and it's not like we're putting an ex-superstar out there. We need to be realistic when looking at Starks. I'll eat crow if he has a monster game, but I'm just not seeing it.

Brett Favre, Steve Young, Ryan Grant and Tom Brady were third stringers once. just sayin'

[Patler]

I'm not buying into this whole Starks can be our savior movement. I'd love to be wrong, but you just don't hear much about Starks other than "He's close" or "He better be ready". I know we're all a bunch of coach bashers, but do you think the coaches would have kept this kid on the sidelines if he was better than what we had? You don't hear about Starks breaking tackles in practice or taking it to the house. You don't hear or read "Starks had a beautiful touchdown reception today" or "Starks out ran the secondary today after blowing through the line." Coaches don't tend to keep star players out of the lineup. Especially on this team with our injuries if a player can play, he will play. We drafted Starks because of his potential, but the man hasn't played a down of football in over two years now. He may turn out to be a good find, but there is going to be some rust, and it's not like we're putting an ex-superstar out there. We need to be realistic when looking at Starks. I'll eat crow if he has a monster game, but I'm just not seeing it.

I don't know what he will do, but a few comments to your concerns:

- Starks has been unable to practice until recently. This staff is absolutely paranoid about RBs being assignment sure in the passing game.
- As a result, they weren't ready to risk it, even if they expect him to be a better runner.
- One reason you hear little is because reporters are allowed to see very little of practices during the season. No one to report.
- Starks missed one season, and hasn't played yet this year. Writers are making a big deal of it. Players miss whole seasons sometimes.
- RB is the one position that physical talent with instincts can net results, even without a lot of practice. Rust will show in fumbles, perhaps.
- At the early off-season camps, writers did comment on his speed, quickness and size. We'll see.

Heck, I just want to see anyone other than Jackson carrying the ball. Jackson regularly makes a 2 yard gain into a 5 yard loss! I don't see too many expecting him to be a savior; just hopefully better than the Packers have now. Cold weather, bad fields, big back, straight ahead runner with some speed.

[Freak Out]

All they can do if healthy is give Starks a chance. There is nothing to lose at this point in time although it sounds like Nance will be cleared to play as well. BJack has shown that he is not the answer and TT and M3 better keep plugging someone else in until they find that guy. Platoon Starks and Nance with BJack going back to the 3rd down specialist with a dose of Kuhn as needed.