Starting Running Back

[mraynrand]

I offered a sensible course correction, capping only free agency money, but it was resoundly rejected by the retarded, beer-guzzling troglodytes that are packerrats.com

I find this comment highly offensive and objectionable. I live in a lean-to, Mr. Huckleby. A LEAN-TO!

[mraynrand]

Starks has talent but he just can not stay healthy...

Injury Prone!

[Packers4Glory]

I thought Starks mostly sucked last season. Grant outplayed him by a mile, esp at the end of the season. that says a lot in my opinion. They could cut Starks and sign a FA that would be at least as productive. There's nothing special about the guy.

[pbmax]

I thought Starks mostly sucked last season. Grant outplayed him by a mile, esp at the end of the season. that says a lot in my opinion. They could cut Starks and sign a FA that would be at least as productive. There's nothing special about the guy.

Starks made Grant look like he should retire in the first half of last season. The question is, which version do you get this year?

[Harlan Huckleby]

I thought Starks mostly sucked last season. Grant outplayed him by a mile, esp at the end of the season.

Since Starks outplayed Grant through most of last season, where does your mile come from?

I think Starks is a puzzle. I will not be surprised if he yet has a decent NFL career. Or he could be a dud.

Grant - well, he did come on late in the season, but I'm not a fan of that guy, lousy vision & no broken tackles & hands of stone, so I'm satisfied to see him get his gold watch and "best wishes" from the Packers.

[Willard]

I don't know why you find that unusual or objectionable. It happens all the time.

I know it is not unusual in football. It just seems odd that at the highest level in football (the NFL) there wouldn't be coaching candidates with a proven track record at any given position who can hit the floor running if given the opportunity. I guess these "out of position" coaches must be great teachers/leaders/communicators who fit the head coach's style. I hope it works. Sometimes it doesn't-- like in Philly last year.

[MJZiggy]

I know it is not unusual in football. It just seems odd that at the highest level in football (the NFL) there wouldn't be coaching candidates with a proven track record at any given position who can hit the floor running if given the opportunity. I guess these "out of position" coaches must be great teachers/leaders/communicators who fit the head coach's style. I hope it works. Sometimes it doesn't-- like in Philly last year.

M3 has said from day 1 that he values teachers. If you can't teach, I don't think you'd last long as a coach on this team.

[RashanGary]

I have a feeling Starks is going to get PUP'd.

[pbmax]

I have a feeling Starks is going to get PUP'd.

Can't. He practiced.

[RashanGary]

Can't. He practiced.

I could see a surprise cut coming. Saine is faster than any back we have. He's reliable, gets the quick yards, can catch the ball. . . . . . Turf toe is a bitch. Great players can play with it. Blah players, they're already blah. Starks doesn't have much talent to lose.

[Pugger]

If his toe is really bad he might end up on IR.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Turf toe is a bitch. Great players can play with it. Blah players, they're already blah. Starks doesn't have much talent to lose.

I don't think there are too many running backs who can play with turf toe. Maybe Adrian Peterson.

I think it's pretty well understood that Starks has modest ability. But same can be said of 95% of the running backs on the Packer roster the past 30 years.

[Packers4Glory]

Since Starks outplayed Grant through most of last season, where does your mile come from?

I think Starks is a puzzle. I will not be surprised if he yet has a decent NFL career. Or he could be a dud.

Grant - well, he did come on late in the season, but I'm not a fan of that guy, lousy vision & no broken tackles & hands of stone, so I'm satisfied to see him get his gold watch and "best wishes" from the Packers.

Grant started the yr better despite less carries the 1st 2 games. Starks picked up a whole 5 yds on 11 carries vs the bears. Grant had 17 for 92 but then missed the next game vs denver.

After that Starks got the majority of the touches. It's not a big secret that Grant was a guy who got better and better w/ more carries as the game went on. He's not really a split carry type of back. Yet that Packers insisted on splitting them, even giving Grant less when he should have been the guy getting more. It's not rocket science that the final 5 games when Grant started getting more carries largely due to Starks being hurt, that his production went up.

I guess you can say starks played better in the middle of the season, but really I think that's mostly because the stuck Grant on the shelf and misused him. MM knows how to run a passing attack, but his handling of the RB's last yr was a case of mismanagement. He has no clue how to manage the running game right now. Hopefully Benson makes it simple on him.

Benson on 1st, 2nd, and short yardage. Green as the 3rd down guy. Saine and Kuhn in relief.

[pbmax]

Hold the fort there Custer.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StarJa00/gamelog/2011/#stats::none

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GranRy00/gamelog/2011/#stats::none

First two games of the year, Grant goes 15/65/4.33, Starks 21/142/6.76. Then terrible Bears game for Starks, Grant does yeoman's work versus them. Next game Starks goes 13/65/4.85 versus Denver, Grant doesn't get a carry because of a kidney bruise and he was on the inactive list.

Grant did not get above (right on number twice) 4.0 ypc again until Week 12. After Denver, Starks was above 4.0 ypc 4 times. Versus the Lions, Starks only got 4 carries for 4.75, I am guessing he got dinged up in the game. Grant then performed the better of the two for the rest of the year while Starks did not have a carry in Weeks 13, 14 16.