Packers_Finland
14 years ago
Starks showed explosiveness and promise in that Philly game but I wouldn't count on him too much going into the game. He's only played a couple of games so I won't slobber his nuts yet, except in a joking manner. A good game against the Falcons would change that.
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warhawk
14 years ago

Starks showed explosiveness and promise in that Philly game but I wouldn't count on him too much going into the game. He's only played a couple of games so I won't slobber his nuts yet, except in a joking manner. A good game against the Falcons would change that.

"Packers_Finland" wrote:



I'm not defending Starks as much as I don't buy the statement "our run defense has BEEN SO GOOD" statement. The Falcons give up 4.7 yds per carry. Twenty four teams give up less.

Anything under 4.0 and maybe start talking about a stout run D but 4.7? I don't think so.

I think Abraham has been drinking a little to much Urlacher.
"The train is leaving the station."
Packers_Finland
14 years ago
I think a part of that number (Falcons D run yards per carry) is that when the Falcons are ahead they expect the opponent to pass, not run. If we get ahead of the Falcons, I'm sure their run defense will be more stout than that (though I hope not).
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Zero2Cool
14 years ago

James Starks shows long-term potential at running back 

Six weeks ago, it looked like running back rated among the Green Bay Packers top two or three priorities for the 2011 NFL draft.

Not now.

We havent seen a lot of rookie James Starks, but weve seen enough to reasonably conclude hes a real NFL running back. Samkon Gado hes not.

Starks performance in a small sample of playing time doesnt eliminate the need at running back in the draft, but it definitely reduces it. Because of the short shelf life and value of quality depth at that brutalized position, the Packers still should take a shot in the draft if possible. They still dont know if Starks is pretty good, or something more.

But based on his 52 carries over the past five games, theres reason to think Starks might even be a little better than Ryan Grant, whose season-ending torn ankle ligaments in Week 1 diminished the Packers run game this season.

Impressive, was what one pro scout for an NFC team said after Starks 123-yard game last week against Philadelphia. Good size with good straight-line speed on the second level. Ive never been a big Grant guy.

Starks and Grant are similar in several respects. They have tall, lean builds for their position Starks is 6-foot-2 and 218 pounds, Grant 6-1 and 222 and are decisive and physical runners.

Starks appears to be the better all-around athlete a little more wiggle to avoid defenders, much better hands as a receiver. What no one can know at this point is whether he has anything approaching Grants unimpeachable toughness, which is critical for a position that probably takes the most physical abuse in the NFL.

Starks injury history is one reason the Packers have to remain wary. He missed his senior season at the University at Buffalo because of a shoulder injury, then with the Packers had the recurring hamstring injury that sidelined him for most offseason practices plus all of training camp and the first six games of the regular season.

Maybe that was just a bad run and hell be healthy from here on out, relatively speaking at least. Hes certainly impressive on the hoof. But that upright running style has to be a concern. Maybe not as much for ball security, because he appears to protect it well even when fighting for the extra yard. But it makes him an inviting target. Hes going to take some direct shots.

Lets be clear also, nobody here is anointing Starks as the next Paul Hornung or even Ahman Green. Maybe Starks will play better than Grant, maybe hell even be as good as, say, Dorsey Levens. Well see. If nothing else, hes shown enough in his limited time to not dismiss the possibility.

Still, looking beyond Saturdays game, the Packers are in a better spot at halfback than two months ago, when their future consisted of an injured starter, Grant, who in December turned 28, which is nearing the point where many running backs begin to slide, plus stopgaps Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn, and undrafted rookie Dimitri Nance.

With Starks, they still dont have a game-changer, but they have two backs who are probably good enough to be the primary runner for a respectable run game. Its still worth the Packers while to draft another, because Grants time is running down, and maybe they can uncover a game-breaker. But the need isnt as acute.

Whats difficult to figure is why coach Mike McCarthy cut back Starks carries from 18 in his promising debut against San Francisco on Dec. 5 to six the following week at Detroit to banishing him to the inactive list the two games thereafter. For anyone who hadnt been following the Packers, Starks 23 carries for 123 yards last week against Philadelphia seemed to be a playoff gift fallen from the sky, but five weeks earlier, against the 49ers, he sure looked like the teams best runner, much like Grant when he got his first chance at Denver in 2007.

McCarthy deactivated Starks for those two later games because, as the coach put it, Starks hadnt performed well enough on the practice field to win a spot. In arguing McCarthys case, running back coach Edgar Bennett said the problem wasnt effort or work ethic, but a missed assignment, in say, pass protection.

Not that it was a lot of things like that, it only takes but one, Bennett said. You have to understand the focus and taking care of the little things, the detail. The kid works his butt off, he comes here early, hes in late. Honestly. Some people say it (for saying it), (but) the kid comes in here early, early sessions, he prepares, he works hard. Its starting to show.

This week will be much tougher for Starks than last. Statistically, the difference between Philadelphias run defense (No. 15 in rushing yards allowed in the regular season) and Atlantas (No. 10) isnt huge, but those rankings dont tell the story. The Eagles small defensive line had become a liability by the end of the season and in the last seven games, including against the Packers, Philadelphia allowed an average of 129 yards rushing.

Atlanta lacks a big-league run stuffer but is deep with competent linemen to rotate in and out of the game. The Falcons also have one of the NFLs under-publicized good players in middle linebacker Curtis Lofton. Even quarterback Aaron Rodgers was cautious when asked at his weekly session with reporters if this game against Atlanta would be different than the teams meeting in November now that you have a balanced attack.

Well see about that, Rodgers said. Last time I was the leading rusher. Hope thats not the case again.

"Pete Dougherty" wrote:


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Fan Shout
TheKanataThrilla (3h) : Hope to see everyone in the Chat tonight!!! Go Pack Go!!!
TheKanataThrilla (3h) : Jeanty would be a great pick-up for the Bears. I see Warren mocked to them as well who I think would be a great selection.
Zero2Cool (4h) : GameDay Chat is open. Posting bits an tids in there.
Zero2Cool (4h) : Excellent Source: The Bears have a deal in place to move up to 5 if Jeanty is there.
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dfosterf (6h) : But it is still not tonight. Lol
wpr (6h) : Today is finally here.
dfosterf (7h) : I should have put it in quotes
dfosterf (7h) : It is the title of a you tube video.
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beast (13h) : If they aren't doing it, then why are you assuming they know how to do it?
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Zero2Cool (23-Apr) : Packers were not selected for the 2025 Hall of Fame game.
dfosterf (23-Apr) : PFOW Out of our division would be a good thing imo
Zero2Cool (23-Apr) : Jameson Williams is done at 24 years old? What? He's a WR, not QB. I'm missing something here haha
wpr (23-Apr) : Tomorrow is almost here.
packerfanoutwest (23-Apr) : would you want him if Pack needed a back up qb?
packerfanoutwest (23-Apr) : JW is done......stick a fork in him
Zero2Cool (23-Apr) : You should. He goes to AFC that helps Packers.
packerfanoutwest (23-Apr) : don't care
Zero2Cool (22-Apr) : Lions shopping Jameson Williams?
packerfanoutwest (22-Apr) : Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst says Green Bay’s roster can win, even without adding anyone in the draft.
Zero2Cool (22-Apr) : It's a poor design. New site has SignalR like our gameday chat
wpr (22-Apr) : Ah today's Shout was very quick to post.
wpr (22-Apr) : now 3
Zero2Cool (22-Apr) : Who? What?
beast (22-Apr) : What is he supposed to say? He doesn't want players currently on the team?
Martha Careful (21-Apr) : meh
Zero2Cool (21-Apr) : Sounds like Walker and Wyatt will be with Packers for beyond 2026
Zero2Cool (21-Apr) : It's so awesome.
Zero2Cool (21-Apr) : new site fan shout post fast
wpr (21-Apr) : Slow posting in Fan shout.
wpr (21-Apr) : Only 4
wpr (21-Apr) : Only 4
Zero2Cool (21-Apr) : If only we had a topic to read about and discuss it. That's something new website must have!!!
dfosterf (21-Apr) : Justice Musqueda over at Acme Packing put up an excellent synopsis of the Packers 1st round options this am
wpr (19-Apr) : 5 days
beast (18-Apr) : 6 days
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Zero2Cool (16-Apr) : sounds like Packers don't get good compensation, Jaire staying
dfosterf (16-Apr) : Nobody coming up with a keep, but at x amount
dfosterf (16-Apr) : Trade, cut or keep
dfosterf (16-Apr) : that from Jaire
dfosterf (16-Apr) : My guess is the Packers floated the concept of a reworked contract via his agent and agent got a f'
Zero2Cool (16-Apr) : Yes, and that is why I think Rob worded it how he did. Rather than say "agent"
dfosterf (16-Apr) : Same laws apply. Agent must present such an offer to Jaire. Cannot accept or reject without presenting it
Zero2Cool (16-Apr) : I'm thinking that is why Rob worded it how he did.
dfosterf (16-Apr) : The Packers can certainly still make the offer to the agent
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