Ahhh well here is your answer...
McCarthy to Starks: Special teams key
Dec 28, 2010 -- 12:36am
GREEN BAY – Until James Starks shows in practice that he can consistently contribute on special teams, Mike McCarthy doesn’t care how many Green Bay Packers fans are clamoring for the rookie sixth-round draft pick to become part of the regular running back rotation.
Starks, who rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries in his NFL debut Dec. 5 against San Francisco, has been inactive for each of the Packers’ past two games, with Dimitri Nance getting the nod over him.
While Nance hasn’t been particularly productive running the ball – he had six carries for 11 yards against New England on Dec. 19 and nine carries for 32 yards in Sunday’s victory over the New York Giants – he has become a valuable member of the punt and kickoff units, giving him the edge on Starks when McCarthy fills out the game-day inactive list.
“(Starks) needs to compete to get on the 45. His situation has been exactly the same the last two weeks,” McCarthy said Monday. “James Starks and Dimitri Nance compete for that fifth spot as a running back and as a special-teams player, and Dimitri is just ahead of him right now. He needs to do a better job throughout the week in preparation and in practice. Until he gets that done, he won’t be on the 45.”
McCarthy made no mention of Starks’ pass-blocking, which some thought might have been another reason for his deactivation. The Packers had shown a tendency to run the ball when Starks was in the game and pass it with other backs in the backfield because of concerns with Starks’ ability to pick up blitzes.
“When you are not a starter, if you don’t play all three downs as a starter on offense or defense, you have special-teams responsibilities. You can’t give lip service to special teams,” McCarthy said. “We have had so much change on special teams. We are trying to have some sense of continuity and consistency on our special teams, and we need for the younger players to play better and be more accountable and detailed when they get an opportunity. He needs to do a better job in that area.”
Despite those shortcomings, Starks could get an opportunity in this Sunday’s regular-season finale against Chicago. McCarthy ruled out fullback Korey Hall (knee sprain) for the game, meaning Starks could be the fifth running back active after Brandon Jackson, John Kuhn, Nance and Quinn Johnson.
They didn't out and out say it but after one of his carries they mentioned how he is getting carries b/c of his play on special teams. Made sense to me though but I must admit I was thinking the same thing. I think the starks kid has some upside actually reminds me a little of Grant.
