James Starks (RB) Set for NFL Debut

[Fosco33]

Starks should be primary back - 12-14 carries a game.
Jackson should be targeted out of the backfield - 3-4 times a game (screens, checkdowns, etc.)
Kuhn on short yardage and the occasional handoff

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I want to see Starks get 15-20 carries a game. We need that balance on offense. Our passing game would be so much better if we could run the ball and bring back the play action pass. I really enjoyed watching the offense today. If we run the ball with talent we have in the passing game we could be very good on offense.

[Patler]

Ya, maybe. We saw him against Washington and Detroit after all!

Realistically, I'm not going to get too excited until he plays a bit more. The Packers got nothing more from him than they did from Justin Harrell as a rookie.

Holy jinx the guy! I'm not the superstitious type, but would still never lay a label like that on someone!

No label. Someone mentioned about how much everyone in this draft class has contributed. I don't believe Neal contributed much at all. Not saying anything about his future. But for his rookie year......

[Packgator]

It will be interesting next year with Grant, Starks, Jackson and Nance all here.

And a rookie from the draft.

[Lurker64]

And a rookie from the draft.

Maybe, maybe not. Last March I would have bet my shoes that we would have picked up an OLB in the first three rounds and here I am in the Winter with my feet both warm and dry.

[SlimPickens]

He reminds me of Grant a little bit in the fact that I cant remember a negative carry...2 I think 0 yard gains but no losses...I like that

That was what stood out to me.

[Fred's Slacks]

No, he wasn't the 4th lineman when the season started because he was inactive the first three weeks due to an injury at the end of camp. He finally made it to be active on game day for two weeks, then was lost for the season. He played just two games.

He was the 4th DL on the depth chart, active or not.

Only active for 2 games and notches a sack and a forced fumble. For a position that typically takes time before a player does anything, that's pretty impressive.

I'm sorry, I'll stop talking about Neal in a Starks thread now.

[Scott Campbell]

And a rookie from the draft.

I'm in the same camp. Starks had a great debut, but there are some things about his running style that leave me wondering. He's tall, and runs very upright. Those guys tend to get hurt in the NFL. He's also a long strider, so there's no lateral quickness. He might be just what we need to finish out this year. But I'm not as encouraged long term.

[vince]

Starks isn't quite as fast as Grant, but from what I've seen has far better lateral quickness. I think the upright argument is overplayed. People said the same thing about Adrian Peterson and Eric Dickerson when they came into the league. I'm not comparing Starks to either of those guys except to say they - along with Grant - all have/had an upright running style. Robert Smith was another.

Can anyone cite an upright runner whose career was negatively impacted by it? I can't really think of one...

[VermontPackFan]

How about the Vikings RB (George?) Foreman. Great all around back but I think he ran upright. I know he took a pounding and probably cost him a few years at the end of his career?

[Cheesehead Craig]

The whole running style thing really doesn't bother me. We've all seen back who have their style questioned that do just fine.

[Patler]

He was the 4th DL on the depth chart, active or not.

Only active for 2 games and notches a sack and a forced fumble. For a position that typically takes time before a player does anything, that's pretty impressive.

I'm sorry, I'll stop talking about Neal in a Starks thread now.

You can't be the 4th D-lineman if you aren't practicing or active for games. He was listed as second string at one position, just as Harrell was at another position. I will agree Neal made a couple plays. I will agree that he looks like he has potential. But that isn't what the comment was about. His overall actual contribution this season was negligible. His impact on this season is virtually nothing.

[Scott Campbell]

Starks isn't quite as fast as Grant, but from what I've seen has far better lateral quickness. I think the upright argument is overplayed. People said the same thing about Adrian Peterson and Eric Dickerson when they came into the league. I'm not comparing Starks to either of those guys except to say they - along with Grant - all have/had an upright running style. Robert Smith was another.

Can anyone cite an upright runner whose career was negatively impacted by it? I can't really think of one...

I don't even remember him making a cut yesterday. But I didn't record it.

[Patler]

I think the upright argument is overplayed. People said the same thing about Adrian Peterson and Eric Dickerson when they came into the league. I'm not comparing Starks to either of those guys except to say they - along with Grant - all have/had an upright running style. Robert Smith was another.

Can anyone cite an upright runner whose career was negatively impacted by it? I can't really think of one...

How can you even tell if it was their upright running style that affected their career, or if it was the fact they ran into and over people, or if it was just plain luck? To me, the only way the argument would make any sense is if virtually all upright runners have very short careers, and that just isn't the case. The average running back has a short career expectancy anyway, regardless of style. Some of all styles have lasted long, including upright runners.

To me, its as much of a concern as the O-lineman who has arms that are too short, simply because they are 1/2 inch shorter than the prospect who has "acceptable" arm length. In the end, most players have "deficiencies" from the ideal for their position. It all comes down to what they do with the way they are.

[pbmax]

I don't even remember him making a cut yesterday. But I didn't record it.

He had at least 2 cutbacks on zone plays. One was a fantastic read by him. He would seem to have enough lateral quickness to run zone plays.