Railbird Central Podcast: Starks Signing Won't Necessarily Prevent Return of Kuhn

Some have speculated that James Starks' signing signals the end of John Kuhn's run in Green Bay, but that's not necessarily the case.

Episode 376

Details of James Starks' contract were released, and we get into a discussion on the impact Starks may have on the Packers roster. Some have speculated that Starks' signing may signal the end of John Kuhn's run in Green Bay, but that's not necessarily the case. We also get into the report on the Packers' meeting with Michael Sam at Missouri's pro day workout.

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Comments (19)

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HankScorpio's picture

March 21, 2014 at 10:08 am

Guys like Kuhn filling out the bottom of the roster really help a team. He's smart, reliable and brings a skill--pass blocking--to the table.

Lacy has that same skill but he's not as accomplished as Kuhn. None of the other backs are worth a spit in pass blocking. When the Packers are in pure pass mode (like 2 minute offense), Kuhn is actually preferred over Lacy as the single back, IMO. At the very least, he's an option as the single back to cover injury or give Lacy a breather.

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Jordan's picture

March 21, 2014 at 11:14 am

I think it's a catch-22 with Kuhn. Better pass blocking, but you lose a lot of speed with Kuhn.

I think the packers want a better weapon back there on third downs. Time will tell, but McCarthy talks about a "three down back back" frequently. So that's probably a hint that Kuhn is probably gone.

If you remember, San Fran had frank gore doing a lot of third down pass blocking. I think that would be the packers goal is to have a better weapon on third downs (and hopefully not sacrifice on picking up blitz).

I could be wrong, but I think gore was the one who blocked Jarrett bush on that back breaking play.

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Brian Carriveau's picture

March 21, 2014 at 11:38 am

If McCarthy also "talks about" the value of John Kuhn, does that cancel things out?

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Jordan's picture

March 21, 2014 at 04:14 pm

Ted Thompson controls the 53 man roster........McCarty controls the 46 man roster. TT does not tell MM who will be on 46.

But yeah, I think kuhns days over too.

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Jordan's picture

March 21, 2014 at 04:37 pm

Yeah sorry tom, I got my pad level up way too high and it affected my reading comprehension. ;)
My bad.

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Jordan's picture

March 21, 2014 at 03:40 pm

The packers offensive production in last 3 playoff games cancels Kuhn out. And his fumbles.

Why can't the packers have a 3 down back? A back that can run, catch, block? It's nothing profound. ;)

What's the sense in spreading the field if you can't have a back as a serious weapon on third down?

QB needs to throw the immediate check down and get first down instead of looking for bomb every play.

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm

The signing of Starks made me ask this question. If Kuhn would be back.

I don't know for sure if he will be back or not.

I will say that he knows the offense better then everyone except for Rodgers. His best attribute is his pass blocking. Are those enough reasons to bring him back though?
That being said, McCarthy has said he wants Lacy to be a 3 down player next year. Is that his way of saying that he wants Lacy to take over Kuhn's role?

Starks isn't great as a pass blocker, but between Lacy, Franklin and Harris they should be able to fill in nicely for Kuhn.
Right now I'm thinking Kuhn won't be back.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 21, 2014 at 07:21 pm

"I will say that he knows the offense better then everyone except for Rodgers. His best attribute is his pass blocking. Are those enough reasons to bring him back though?"

If the ability to protect Rodgers isn't enough to merit so much as a roster spot, there is a disconnect in the wiring somewhere. Somehow, the obviousness that the Packers are a pass happy team with an elite QB that must be protected is not making it through to upstairs. Protecting the franchise every game is far more important that keeping a 4th RB who won't sniff making a difference except in injury emergency.

There's a reason any halfway decent QB is paid a king's ransom and RBs are finding the FA market to be icy. RB performance is affected so much by the blocking in front of him and the QB behind him. Keeping 4 guys that contribute very little in the primary attack method of the Packer offense is a really bad idea, IMO.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 23, 2014 at 06:29 pm

Tom,

You're way more sold on the ability of Harris and Starks to pass block than I am. I think Starks is bad. I haven't seen enough of Harris to say anything either way but his size would work against him. Franklin is even smaller than Harris.

Keeping all 3 at the expense of a guy that can be trusted completely to protect Rodgers is asking for trouble. Rodgers gets hit way too much as it stands.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 23, 2014 at 07:53 pm

Tom,

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on how well protected Rodgers is with Harris and Starks. I'm sure I'll never be persuaded that Harris is "much improved" until he gets off IR and actually plays a regular season game. That is, if he makes the team at all.

Or maybe it is just a disagreement on how important it is to protect Rodgers. Personally, my standard is above "fine" or "adequate", which are two words you have used in defense of the ability of the stable of backs sans Kuhn to protect Rodgers. I'm looking for "good", at least. "Excellent" is right at the top of my wish list to protect Rodgers. And protecting him is pretty darn near the top of the priorities on offense.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 24, 2014 at 06:05 am

I agree that the Packers o-line is shaping up very nicely. To me that is all the more reason to put Kuhn and a run game wrecking ball FB among the 5 RBs, while only keeping 3 runners.

If the o-line is opening holes in the run game, finding a 4th RB off the street should still result in run game production should a rash of injury force the Packers to use their 4th RB.

Basically, my point is that that passing game considerations outweigh running game considerations when it comes to the final roster spots on offense. On a team with Aaron Rodgers, that seems the most sensible approach to me.

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4thand1's picture

March 21, 2014 at 03:53 pm

The best part about Starks is , he takes some of the load off of Lacy. We don't need him playing hurt and burning him out in a few years. He had a ton of carries last year . And if Lacy gets hurt Starks proved he can pound the rock when healthy. RB is set.

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Jordan's picture

March 21, 2014 at 04:11 pm

Yep. Excellent signing. Now on to S, ILB ,TE, and WR in draft. And maybe a fat guy.

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Imma Fubared's picture

March 21, 2014 at 05:57 pm

Lacy is solid. Harris, starks, Franklin and Kuehn if they bring him back means someone would have to go. Since they picked up Starks he's not leaving so it would be either Harris or Franklin if Kuhn came back.
My guess, the Pack have moved on from Kuhn and Franklin stays if he can be a special teamer and kick returner. Just my guess is all.

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TommyG's picture

March 22, 2014 at 10:31 pm

You, I, and everyone else on this board knows that he isn't going anywhere until after his rookie contract is done.

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4thand1's picture

March 22, 2014 at 10:35 pm

Tommy , its just cow being his usual dickish self. He thinks every drafted player should be all pro right out of the gate. If they get injured they're a bust. If you don't make a deep playoff run or win the SB , the season is a complete failure. I guess when you're such a morbid loser like him, it sucks if things don't go your way. Kinda feel sorry for him. Aw , the hell I do.

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TommyG's picture

March 23, 2014 at 05:53 pm

yup, 100's just like him. Unlike those other hundreds though, this one is under contract. TT will keep him through his rookie contract no matter what. We know this because we have all seen it happen (Harrell, et al). Kuhn isn't under contract, and we have four RB; Kuhn will most likely not be playing in GB next year.

I understand what you're saying about skill and durability. Truly, I do. But that just does not matter.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 24, 2014 at 07:06 am

"TT will keep him (Franklin) through his rookie contract no matter what."

Like TT did with Jerron McMillian?

Oops, not so much, I guess.

I'm pretty sure that Allen Barbre, Marviel Underwood and Corey Rodgers were other 4th rounders that didn't play out their rookie contract. Several draft picks have not so much as made the team in their rookie year.

Harrell was a 1st round pick that had injury issues. I do agree that TT held out hope for too long. I think it is fair to say that most people figured out Harrell was not durable enough to play in the NFL before TT did. But that's a far different situation than a 4th round pick.

Where you went off the beam is confusing an anecdote with data.

BTW..Harrell didn't play out his rookie deal either. But his rookie deal was 5 years, not 4.

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HankScorpio's picture

March 24, 2014 at 08:07 am

Not to mention that Franklin brings a different style and skill set to the backfield. He's more shifty than the other 3 runners. He can return. We didn't get much of a chance to see it, but I think Franklin can be their best guy out of the backfield in the passing game. I think he's the only guy that has a chance of being more than a check-down/screen guy.

There may be 100s of guys like him. Personally, I think there are 100s of guys like lots of NFL RBs. The vast majority are far more dependent on blocking and scheme than their own running ability for their production. But Franklin is unique among the guys currently on the Packer roster. If being "more multiple" is a concern on offense (and it always has been), Franklin has a leg up for a roster spot on Harris and Starks, IMO.

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