Starks runs with opportunity
By JASON WILDE
GREEN BAY James Starks didnt know just how many or for how long Green Bay Packers fans had been clamoring for him to make his NFL debut, but the rookie running back certainly understood their position.
I was anxious to get out there and see myself play, Starks said after rushing for a game-high 73 yards on 18 carries in his first game in almost two years a 38-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field Sunday. I cant wait to get (back) out there.
And the Packers cant wait to see what else the rookie sixth-round draft pick can do. While quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver Donald Driver offensive coordinator Joe Philbin did their best to temper their enthusiasm, coach Mike McCarthy after going into the game intending on giving the 6-foot-2, 218-pound Starks probably eight to 10 carries raved about his newfound offensive weapon.
I like his running style. Everybody is going to talk about how high he is, just because of his particular build. But hes a talented young man and when he comes off the back end, you better watch out its going to the end zone, McCarthy said. He has that kind of ability. He falls forward and the bigger backs have that ability. And thats the difference. Thats the difference between second-and-7 and second-and-4. And thats what well continue to train him to do.
He has that little different dimension than the other two guys. They are all uniquely different, which I think is a real plus for an offensive staff when youre game-planning, particularly in the run game and even in the passing game, too, because they all can contribute out of the backfield. Were getting better at the halfback position, which is important here down the stretch.
Starks had not played in an actual game since the International Bowl with the University of Buffalo on Jan. 3, 2009. He suffered a pulled hamstring during a May 18 organized team activity practice, then tore the hamstring in the pre-training camp conditioning test, landing him on the physically unable to perform list. After practicing for three weeks, he was activated from the PUP list on Nov. 9 but was a game-day inactive for games against Minnesota and Atlanta the last two weeks while the coaches gave him extra work in practice.
The staffs biggest concern? Ball security. And while Dimitri Nance was cleared to play after suffering a concussion at Atlanta last week, the staff felt good enough about what it had seen from Starks in practice to trust him not to turn the ball over.
When youve got a young player that hasnt played you have to kind of get him repped up a little bit. The guy got here in May, but he hadnt been tackled until today., Philbin said in explaining why the staff had waited as long as it had to play Starks. It looked like he ran pretty well. He held onto the football, which was the No. 1 thing we were concerned about. We talked with (running backs coach ) Edgar (Bennett) that, even though hes not Catholic, he could go to Catholic mass today and say a few extra (prayers). He held onto the ball, he ran hard. Well see. Weve got to watch the film.
Rodgers, while pleased, also took the wait-and-see approach and saved most of his praise for the way Starks didnt turn the ball over.
I thought James did pretty good. I think we'll look at the film and see how it went, Rodgers said. He's a big guy, athletic. He fell forward a lot today. He held onto the football. That's was I think the most important thing you worry about with a guy getting his first extended action, a lot of carries. He did a great job.
Added Driver: Thats a good running back. He showed what he can do. I just want to see more of it, and hell get his opportunity once again next week.
By unofficial count, Starks played 24 snaps he came in on the third play from scrimmage and gained 2 yards on his first NFL carry and did his best work when the Packers were trying to run out the clock. Taking over with 11 minutes 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Packers ran 17 plays and used up 8 minutes and 35 seconds, and as Rodgers pointed out, James was a big part of that."
After being stopped for no gain on the first play of the series giving him 38 yards on 10 carries Starks broke free on a run up the middle for a 16-yard gain to the Packers 38. Rodgers kept the drive going with an 11-yard scramble on third-and-5, and Starks picked up the drives next first down with a 7-yard bolt. While Starks last run was for no gain, hed done more than was expected of him.
James Starks is a really talented young man. Im pleased with his individual performance, McCarthy said. Im sure throughout the film study there will be some things we can improve on pad level, ball security. (But) he did a nice job. To get him 18 carries in the game, just on a personal note, for his development because its obvious he hasnt played in a game in quite some time I thought he performed very well.
Hes off to a good start.
And for Starks, the 23-month wait turned out to be worth it. He was particularly impressive with the yards he gained after contact, especially given how long itd been since hed absorbed contact.
I felt good. After I was getting hit and the contact, I felt good, my legs felt strong. I felt like I could move em, so I kept moving them, Starks said. Im excited. Im always excited. Before the game, I was excited. In practice, I was excited. Im always going to work hard, thats just the type of person that I am.
Actually, (being on PUP) wasnt frustrating at all. I got better, learned my protections, got healthy, got to know my teammates and learn the offense a lot better. So I used it as a positive.
I was just excited for the opportunity. Hopefully, they like me a little more. But, thats not going to affect me. Im just going to continue to be myself and keep working hard, trying to get better. You work hard, hard work pays off.
Perhaps the thing the Packers should be most excited about are the options they now have in their backfield. While injured starter Ryan Grant is surely still missed, Starks joins a backfield where starter Brandon Jackson (an excellent pass-catcher and blitz-protector), Dimitri Nance (a powerful short-yardage option who was inactive Sunday) and fullbacks John Kuhn, Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson give McCarthy a myriad of play-calling choices.
Its very nice to have flexibility with three fullbacks and now I am excited about our three halfbacks. I feel like we have three diversely different runners and Im looking forward to moving into our next game plan, said McCarthy, who lined up his three fullbacks straight across in what the Packers call their T-Bone formation on several snaps. James was an unknown, just how he would play on game day. I think Brandon has been our steady No. 1 there. He handles everything, pass protection all the way through. And Dmitri just needs a real chance. I just really havent given him a real opportunity so itd be great to have him back.
I feel very good about the halfback position today, a lot more so than I did probably five or six weeks ago.