Green Bay Packers: 5 Things James Starks Can Learn from Ryan Grant

While Starks has yet to complete a full, 16-game schedule or even play in 16 career games for that matter, we as fans have seen potential in the 25-year old.

Some of that potential I saw in Grant when Grant burst onto the scene in 2007.

However, Starks is still raw and Grant has the experience that can help turn Starks into a star. Here are five things that Starks can learn from Grant.

Running Style

Ryan Grant is known for his low center of gravity when he runs, and while it leaves him susceptible to head-on collisions with defenders, it also maximizes his speed.

Not only does it affect his speed, but his agility as well. While running more upright gives him more mobility, running lower takes away some of the deceleration of a cut and maintains his forward momentum.

While Grant isn't known as an explosive runner, his style enhances his athleticism and makes him more explosive.

In comparison, Starks runs slightly more upright which means he has better cutback opportunities, but leaves some of his speed on the field. The young runner could take some time to adjust to the new running style, but it is one that would benefit him as he attempts to make an impact on the league.

Pass Protection

Everyone knows that the Green Bay Packers offense revolves around the play of Aaron Rodgers. If the Packers wish to continue winning, they must keep him upright. This is where Ryan Grant's present value reigns supreme to the other Packer halfbacks.

Grant has had four years to become accustomed to Joe Philbin's zone-blocking scheme and learn the intricacies that help amplify a back's abilities.

While Grant hasn't been given as many opportunities in the passing game this year as in years past, he makes the best of what he receives. He makes sure to land a solid block on defenders while pass blocking for Rodgers.

Starks appears to want to make an impact play whenever he's on the field, which is not a fault by any means.

However, sometimes it would make a bigger impact to hold a block rather than attempt to land a crushing blow. Doing so risks missing the defender and leaving Rodgers susceptible to a hard hit.

Zone Reading

One of the key reasons that Ryan Grant has been able to maintain his success is because he knows how to find the proper hole to run through.

Unlike other high-profile running backs that rely on speed and being able to cut outside to gain yards, Grant relies on his intelligence and instincts to run between the tackles and pick up yards.

He has shown an indisputable knack for finding the correct hole. While his ability to capitalize on the open hole has diminished following his ankle injury, he still knows how to read the offensive line.

Starks tends to run to the outside to find his yards, and while he has had moderate success this season doing so, he can make more of an impact between the tackles. He could then continue to gain yards as the Packers attempt to run out the clock without constantly having to give the ball back to the opposing team.

I saw Starks doing so during the most recent Packer game against the Chargers and it helped him become the team's leading rusher.

Goal-Line Play

Last season, inside the five-yard line was been a deathtrap for Green Bay Packer drives.

The team lacked the aggressiveness of Ryan Grant and the scoring suffered as a result. While it gave kicker Mason Crosby more chances, it could have cost the team wins during a season in which they never lost a game by more than seven points.

Grant's ability to read the zone, which was explained on the previous slide, is obviously a key factor within his goal-line play. But, it's his aggressiveness in pushing the pile that leads to scores.

A good portion of Grant's 11 touchdowns in 2009 came within the five-yard line.

Starks inability to score in close yardage situations became evident during the 2011 NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears. On two different drives, Starks had more than one chance to push the ball in. On the first drive, the Packers had to run a bootleg with Aaron Rodgers on which he took a big hit after scoring and on the second the Packers had to run a stretch play to the right.

If Starks can become a consistent scorer in the red zone, he will be a long-lasting Packer.

Passing Game

Running backs are not often one of the options for quarterbacks in Mike McCarthy's system, but Ryan Grant has shown the ability to make a play from the backfield.

Over the course of the four seasons (I'm not counting 2010), Grant has played with the Packers, he has registered 80 receptions. Not one of the those catches was over 27 yards, but Grant still compiled over 500 yards receiving. Grant has soft hands out of the backfield and is able to quickly turn around and make a play.

It isn't that Starks has poor receiving qualities, but that I haven't seen the consistency that Grant has provided. Yes, Starks already has a 16-yard reception, but when you only have 20 career catches for 160 yards, take out the long catch and his average drops too dramatically for a running back. 

I don't doubt that Starks will be every bit as good as Grant in the passing game, but until he proves it, I have to rate Grant higher.