I agree with most of your assessment but the guy has been attending meetings. Since he's not on the field he's had more time to study the playbook and get to know the offense. I wouldn't expect anything from him in the first few weeks after he comes back but maybe later in the season. Plus, coming in as a RB has to be one of the easier positions to adjust to--for the most part you just get the ball and run. The hard part is picking up blitzes and knowing what to do on pass plays.
"djcubez" wrote:
I just do not think attending meetings makes up for the fact he has a grand total of zero reps in our system. He may have had this time to get the playbook open and study it, but that does not mean he has been able to focus on some of the more physical aspects of practice (securing the ball, keeping his feet moving, understanding how to make adjustments to audibles, etc.).
I highly doubt Starks main focus is going to be coming in and getting the ball, then simply running. A lot in this scheme (zone-blocking) is predicated on the running back having good timing: being patient enough to let the backside blocks (cuts) occur and then cutting it back for positive gains. He simply cannot get that without having taken a rep in training camp, let alone not having played football in about two years.
Starks may have potential, but asking anyone two do something - especially at a higher level - two years after they did it last is asking a bit much. Starks is now playing in a league where everyone is that much faster and stronger, and taking mental reps is much different from taking live reps where a hesitation of a slight second may be the difference between the QB throwing a TD and the QB getting planted and injured.
I simply cannot be led to believe that Starks will provide anything beyond minimal value this season. And I think anyone in the higher places of this organization would be fool to think the RB position would be alright as long as Starks is activated.
The NFL: Where Greg Jennings Happens.