Ryan Grant Or James Starks?
Do the Packers have to choose between the two running backs, or does the pair working together create the best weapon for the offense?
By maxginsberg
Heading into training camp, the question of who would be the Packers starting running back this year created a significant amount of buzz. And yet, the more I see of Ryan Grant and James Starks, the more I think it is less of a competition between the two and more of a cooperation.
In head coach Mike McCarthy’s pass-happy offense, a featured back is a rarity, but both players have strengths to complement the offense.
Incumbent Ryan Grant is a hard-nosed runner who gets better as the game – and the season – wears on. Always secure with the ball, he’s the type of north-south runner the team wants carrying the ball at Lambeau Field in the December snow.
Starks, on the other hand, is shifty and elusive. He possesses the ability to make defenders miss and the speed to turn the corner and make plays outside of the tackles. Starks has also shown a knack to make the most of screen passes, a trait which could help him stay on the field more this season.
“I like screen passes,” said Starks after Friday night’s preseason tilt against the Indianapolis Colts. “They leave you in the open, you get to crate stuff and make a person miss. You could take them to the house. You never know where it will go.”
McCarthy has stated that he will play the running back with the “hot hand”, but with Grant’s and Starks’ complementing running styles, it may continue to be a shared role.
Following the Indianapolis game, Grant articulated how the tempo of the game will dictate how the Packers choose to divide up the play calling.
“You never know how games are going to play out," Grant said. "We went into the Colts game thinking we were going to run the ball a lot. Just with the way the game played out, we didn't. You have to maximize what you have and make sure you're doing your assignment. We had some looks in that game that were different from what we wanted to do.”
The Packers know as well as anyone around the league that position depth is the key to success in today’s injury-filled NFL. With Ryan Grant and James Starks, the Packers are set to run this season.
Now all the duo needs to do is convince their head coach to call more running plays.
Comments (14)
August 29, 2011 at 07:57 am
James Starks is clearly the better RB of the 2. He's faster, stronger, and able to change direction quick and get people to miss. He likes contact also, and almost always falls forward which is very important for running backs. Grant took a million less for a guaranteed roster spot, i think mainly cause he realized there was a good chance he could get cut if he didn't. It's good to have Grant as an insurance policy and to give Starks a blow, but McCarthy has to start featuring Starks and giving stop giving Grant so much respect just cause he's already had couple 1,000 yard seasons. Barring injury, Starks is best option we have..
August 29, 2011 at 08:21 am
Hopefully,Starks will get the Packers what they haven't been able to get at game start...a 1st down via the run on the opening series or two.
Run,Run,deep pass incomplete...punt,it's like clockwork.
August 29, 2011 at 09:58 am
"Ryan Grant or James Starks?"
... Them's fightin' words.
August 29, 2011 at 10:21 am
If Grant needs a certain amount of carries to get up to speed - so to speak - and Grant, Starks and Green are going to split the running duties, then I would expect Grants play to suffer. Plus, if the Pack go more no-huddle more often and Rodgers is calling the plays (more passes) that would mean even fewer Grant carries.
In other words, I would favor Starks because he is more explosive and doesn't need the same amount of touches to make something happen. Starks must make sure he hangs onto the ball though, because Grant has been exceptional in that regard.
August 29, 2011 at 10:35 am
I see no reason why Grant should take any significant carries from Starks. He has shown nothing this camp/preseason and that draw play was pathetic. Starks on the other hand has looked much better from all accounts and is more of a threat in the passing game. With all the no-huddle they're running they won't want to have someone like Grant stuck there. I also don't understand the "Grant is more hard-nosed and Starks is shiftier". I saw Starks break more tackles and fall forward in last year's playoffs alone than in much of Grant's career. The truth is Starks is better at trucking AND eluding tacklers. As well as cutback vision and screen passes. Starks should start
August 29, 2011 at 10:40 am
At this point, it's a bit of a stretch to assume Starks can be the guy that carries the ball 250+ times a season and be healthy/productive.
This is a playoff team. I want Starks to be healthy and fit for a playoff run. For me, that means Grant takes a lot of what fans want to be Starks carries in the regular season just to preserve the kid for a playoff run. Green should progress and start to contribute when both guys need a breather towards mid-season.
Starks needs to be healthy down the stretch.
August 29, 2011 at 11:08 am
But then again, Grant is his most effective as the season goes on, and with worse field conditions.
So, though Starks IMHO is a better back than Grant, we have more to gain having Grant carrying more the ball later than earlier.
August 29, 2011 at 11:15 am
We're really agreeing to the same concept, though. A healthy Starks is a weapon down the stretch and Grant (at least historically) can wear down an already fatigued defense late in a season. Regardless of how either one of us phrase it, it's near-sighted for fans to call for Starks to take carries away from Grant.
August 29, 2011 at 11:16 am
I do know this: Grant won't take any pass receptions from Starks this year.
August 29, 2011 at 11:45 am
James Starks.
Grant looks like he is running with a weighted vest on. Starks has flashed the look of a special back at times. I absolutely think grant plays a significant role on this team, and if I had my druthers that role would be to spell Starks.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 29, 2011 at 06:46 pm
From the little I've seen of Alex Green, If I were Grant or Starks, I'd be looking over my shoulder.
People talk about Starks having burst and explosion.. But Green takes off like a rocket when that ball gets tucked in his breadbasket. Give this kid a year to hone his pass pro and learn the offense, and he could be the one to take the bull by the horns and make the starting job his.
August 29, 2011 at 06:57 pm
Of course, first he has to get his linemen to stop hating him
August 29, 2011 at 09:57 pm
Sorry Oppy, don't know what you have been watching, but Alex Green has not looked good that good in preseason. Maybe kid has potential, but been getting stuffed at the line many times, and doesn't really fall forward for positive yards. Could he be good down the road, I don't know, but as of now this kid would be lucky if he sniffs 2 carries a game.
August 29, 2011 at 08:45 pm
Run Starks in the first half and then go with Grant in the second half when the defense is tired. Both are special players and with the addition af Green I'm so happy we finally have ahuge threat running the ball. WE WILL STRIKE FEAR THIS YEAR!!!!!!!! ON THE GROUND