Finley88Beast
13 years ago
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81cc41a0/article/packers-rookie-rb-starks-lifts-struggling-ground-game 

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- James Starks had 18 carries for 73 yards against the San Francisco 49ers and his coaches didn't cite him for any major mistakes in pass protection. He even remembered to thank his offensive linemen.

Not bad for a rookie who hadn't played a meaningful down in nearly two years.

"The kid, he never gave the impression that it was too big for him," Packers running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "He was poised, I guess you could say. Even in pregame warmups, you saw it in his eyes. This kid was ready to play."

He certainly had plenty of time to get ready before.

Starks missed his entire senior season at Buffalo because of a shoulder injury and slipped to the sixth round of the draft before the Packers chose him.

Then he hurt his hamstring in offseason workouts and began the season on the physically unable to perform list. Green Bay added him to the active roster Nov. 9 but he didn't get into a game until Sunday.

"Even when I was out, I was in the playbook a lot more than probably the other guys," Starks said. "They were probably tired and drained out. I had a little extra time to study the playbook and get in there and learn concepts a lot more. I feel like I'm pretty much catching up. It doesn't feel like I'm far behind at all."

Coaches believe Starks has far more to show, and are eager to see his speed.

"When he comes off the back end, you better watch out," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's going to the end zone."

Unlock HQ Video HQ video delivered by Akamai

Bennett insists the 6-2, 218-pound Starks runs a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash and can be a breakaway threat.

"Oh yeah," Bennett said. "He has that type of ability."

Bennett praised Starks for using his time away from football to prepare.

"This kid was coming in here early and leaving late, studying film and making sure he was raring to go," Bennett said. "Like I said, it was about making the most of his opportunity. And he was excited to get out there and play with his teammates. He kept talking about going down and complimenting the offensive line for the job they were doing, I mean, when you see a young kid that in tune, making sure that he thanked his teammates, that's what it's all about."

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers -- who hasn't been afraid to get after teammates for their mental mistakes of late -- made it clear he wants to see more out of Starks and other younger players in practice.

"Say what you want about Ryan Grant. Obviously, I think he's a lot more appreciated in injury than in health, unfortunately," Rodgers said. "That guy, no one could ever question his practice habits. Look at Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Brett Swain. Those guys practice as well as everybody. Every day they bring it. Jermichael (Finley) became that player this season. I want to see those young guys take that seriously.

"Because how can I have any confidence in you being on the field if you can't show me what you can do in practice? That to me, is the most important thing. And that's what being a professional is about. This is a whole-week job."

The fact that Starks' debut was such a big deal in Green Bay this week shows just how badly the Packers running game is struggling going into Sunday's game at Detroit.

Green Bay has had a pass-first offense under McCarthy, and that certainly hasn't changed after a season-ending ankle injury to Grant in Week 1. Rodgers was their leading rusher in a loss at Atlanta two weeks ago.

Brandon Jackson has struggled, and has made the case in recent weeks that he needs more carries to get into a rhythm. That isn't likely to happen if Starks can show that his debut wasn't a fluke.

"I would like to have some type of rotation of all three of those backs, but Brandon is still our main guy," McCarthy said. "He's done it all year. As I've stated before, I don't think it's in our best interests with as much football as we have in front of us to sit there and run Brandon Jackson 25 times a game."

Jackson didn't complain about getting only four carries to Starks' 18 on Sunday.

"He just adds another dimension," Jackson said. "Hopefully, he's going to do good things in the running game to help push us forward."

Starks said he'll take whatever the coaches are willing to give him.

"We've got great backs," Starks said. "Whatever is asked of me, that's what I'm going to do. I'm up for any challenge, just as the other backs are. If you put us in the right situation, we'll all succeed."


A Quote from my brother Mike(Bears Fan)
"Fucking Greg Jennings"
After he makes a catch
Yerko
13 years ago
You gotta love what the kid is already bringing to the Packers. He seems very grateful to be in the position he is in and is making the best out of it here and now.

I want to see that sub 4.4 speed....hot damn.
UserPostedImage
Since69
13 years ago
I hope we see a heavy dose of him against the Lions...
UserPostedImage
13 years ago
I hope so too, more so since I picked him up in my fantasy playoffs because I didn't like the Benson vs. Pittsburgh matchup.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (21m) : He probably plays DB.
Zero2Cool (21m) : I don't even know who that Don is
packerfanoutwest (25m) : What position does Lemon play ?
dfosterf (1h) : I read this am that Don Lemon quit x, so there's that
Zero2Cool (23h) : Seems some are flocking to BlueSky and leaving Tweeter. I wonder if BlueSky allows embeded lists
beast (12-Nov) : He's a review guy
Zero2Cool (12-Nov) : Jordy Nelson is still in the NFL.
Zero2Cool (11-Nov) : Ok, will do.
wpr (11-Nov) : Kevin, donate it to a local food pantry or whatever she wants to do with it. Thanks
wpr (11-Nov) : Kevin,
Zero2Cool (11-Nov) : Wayne, got your girl scout order.
dfosterf (11-Nov) : I believe Zero was being sarcastic
dfosterf (11-Nov) : Due to that rookie kicker Jake Bates that Zero said "he didn't want anyway". 58 yarder to tie the game, 52 yarder to win it. In fairness,
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : Lions escape with a win
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : and now Goff looking better
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : Goff with ANOTHER INT
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : and now Stroud throwing INTs
Mucky Tundra (11-Nov) : Goff having an ATROCIOUS game
wpr (11-Nov) : Happy birthday Corps. Ever faithful. Thanks dfosterf.
Mucky Tundra (10-Nov) : stiff armed by Baker Mayfield for about 5-7 yards and still managed to get a pass off
Mucky Tundra (10-Nov) : Nick Bosa
wpr (8-Nov) : Jets are Packers (L)East
Zero2Cool (8-Nov) : Jets released K Riley Patterson and signed K Anders Carlson to the practice squad.
wpr (8-Nov) : Thanks guys
Mucky Tundra (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday wpr!
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Anders Carlson ... released by 49ers
dfosterf (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday!😊😊😊
wpr (7-Nov) : Thanks Kevin.
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday, Wayne! 🎉🎂🥳
beast (7-Nov) : Edge Rushers is the same... it's not the 4-3 vs 3-4 change, it's the Hafley's version of the 4-3... as all 32 teams are actually 4-2
Zero2Cool (6-Nov) : OLB to DE and player requests trade. Yet folks say they are same.
beast (5-Nov) : In other news, the Green Bay Packers have signed Zero2Cool to update their website 😋 jk
beast (5-Nov) : Might just re-sign the kicker we got
beast (5-Nov) : Are there any kickers worth drafting next year?
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Preston Smith for Malik Willis
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Getting a 7th rounder from the Stillers
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : At least we get 7th round pick now!! HELLO NEW KICKER
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Steelers getting a premier lockdown corner!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Packers are trading edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per sources.
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Preston Smith traded to the Steelers!!!!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : CB Marshon Lattimore to Commanders
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Bears are sending RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals, per sources.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : ZaDarius Smith continues his "north" tour.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Let the Chiefs trade a 5th for him
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Nearing 30, large contract, nope.
Martha Careful (5-Nov) : any interest in Marshon Lattimore?
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : What does NFL do if they're over cap?
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : They've been able to constantly push it out through extensions, void years etc but they're in the hole by 72 million next year I believe
hardrocker950 (4-Nov) : Seems the Saints are always in cap hell
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Saints HC job is not an envious one; gonna be in cap hell for 3 years
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
17h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

18h / Green Bay Packers Talk / civic

13-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

12-Nov / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

11-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

11-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

9-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / joepacker

8-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / GameDay Threads / Cheesey

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.