Sharing: Are Grant & Starks really about the same?

[Harlan Huckleby]

There's nothing wrong with Grant. He's running hard and generally getting what's blocked. Now he needs to start making the safety miss.

I love how McGinn damns Grant with faint praise and then slips the knife in. I want to be an asshole like McGinn when I grow up.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I must say I thought they'd be about even, but Starks looks considerably better. Grant doesn't look terrible, but he looks average and isn't quite to the form pre-injury. Starks looks like what I saw on his college highlights. I think he was hindered by his injury last year. He still runs too damn upright though. He takes a lot of big hits.

[pbmax]

I must say I thought they'd be about even, but Starks looks considerably better. Grant doesn't look terrible, but he looks average and isn't quite to the form pre-injury. Starks looks like what I saw on his college highlights. I think he was hindered by his injury last year. He still runs too damn upright though. He takes a lot of big hits.

Six-two always looks upright when the rest of the league is filled with five-ten RBs who resemble fire hydrants.

[Pugger]

Grant looked very good today. Unless the bare's run D is lousy rumors of Grant's demise are premature. I felt bad for Starks. He had a poor day and fumbled the ball.

[Iron Mike]

2011 NFL Leaders

RB Yards Per Attempt (min. 20 attempts)

1. Michael Turner.............. 6.9
2. James Starks ............... 6.8
3. LeSean McCoy............... 6.6
4. Fred Jackson................. 6.5
5. Beanie Wells ................ 5.7
6. Darren McFadden .......... 5.3
6. Adrian Peterson .............5.3

Yeah, that'll change this week......

[Joemailman]

Grant's cutbacks were right on today. Maybe he was just rusty.

[Smeefers]

I say they're damn near the same. I think you're going to see either one getting more touches depending on who's hot. We've seen time and again McCarthy run the hot hand (Jones or Jordy) and I have no doubt he'll do the same with this RB tandom. Right now, Starks looks better, but I don't think for a second that Grant doesn't have some serious skills.

Man I'm good.

[red]

this is exactly why you don't cut grant. you keep both good running backs and if one has a lousy game there's a chance the other will step up

now we just need to learn how to stay with the back with the hot hand during the game

[Patler]

Week 1
Grant's (9/40) 4, 5, 10, 3, 4, 2, 8, 3, 1
Starks (12/57) 0, 5, 10, (-2), 17, 4, 2, 3, 9, 3, 2, 4.

Week 2
Grant (6/25) 1, 9, 4, 6, 3, 2
Starks (9/85) 6, 8, 1, 14, 40, 0, 6, (-2), 12

Week 3
Grant (17/92) 13, 2, 9, (-1), 9, 5, 13, 14, 11, 10, (-1), 0, 1, 4, 0, 0, 3 (
Starks (11/5) 3, 2, 1, (-1), (-1), 8, (-1), 0, 1, (-5 and fumble), 1

Grant - 32 carries for 157 yards
Starks - 32 carries for 147 yards

[bobblehead]

Grant's cutbacks were right on today. Maybe he was just rusty.

Grant has always run well against the bears from my memory. He looked very good today.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Grant has always run well against the bears from my memory. He looked very good today.

Agreed. Grant has seemed to run well against two very good run defenses in Chicago and Minnesota. I think no nonsense works against those guys. Hit your hole and get what you can. Starks didn't have a ton of room, but he didn't hit it up their hard. He looked Brandon Jackson.

[mraynrand]

now we just need to learn how to stay with the back with the hot hand during the game

QFT. why they changed up the hot hand was beyond me (well, I suppose Grant got winded), but they were only having luck inside and pretty much only with grant.

Those continued runs to Starks were classic Stubby calls.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Grant not only got winded. I think he got injured. Word is that he will be okay but was taken to a Chicago hospital afterwards to take a look at his ribs.

[mraynrand]

Grant not only got winded. I think he got injured. Word is that he will be okay but was taken to a Chicago hospital afterwards to take a look at his ribs.

Fair enough. But Starks wasn't fellin' it and those runs to the outside weren't happening. Maybe just run the T-bone with Starks in there- there are all sorts of options off that formation too.

[pbmax]

Starks is still the 3rd down and shotgun back. Grant doesn't block blitzers much. Both Kuhn and Green practiced it, but not Grant. He isn't playing much on 3rd down.

Hot hand is for 1st and 2nd down. 3rd down is like nickel and its a trained personnel grouping; not the hot hand.