This is a guy that apparently that Packers are pretty happy with, and I really like the fact that he was under consideration for CB, which means the kid has great speed and quickness. He's on the PUP right now with a hamstring injury.

Here's a little literature....
http://www.packers.com/team/roster/James-Starks/a52b27c4-0792-4dd1-be0d-2d0dcd8b69bc 

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He has not played competitive football in, what, a year and a half?

He may be on the PUP, and thus get 3 weeks of practices before a decision has to be made on him I think, but I highly doubt he'll be ready in three weeks to play at an NFL level.

Basically, I expect nothing from Starks this year.

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I don't think the PUP players get to practice at all. I believe the last time he played live tackle football was Jan. 3rd 2008.

When I've watched him he reminds me of Jordy Nelson over all others... tall, lanky, long strides, not the quickest but has good size for his size, VERY good route runner and catching the ball, he'll hit a hole but doesn't really have power.... unlike Nelson he's not a good blocker (yet). But I could see using him like a WR/RB like the Saints use Reggie Bush.

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I'm really excited to see Starks play. But I can't see him making a worthwhile contribution until close to week 10. Maybe not even until training camp next year.

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You are right that PUP players do not practice while they are on the PUP, but when they come off it in week 6, the team has three weeks to either put them on the 53-man active roster, or put them on IR.

When off the PUP, Starks will have a maximum of 3 weeks worth of practices to get ready to play. Considering he has not played competitively for more than a year and that he is a rookie who missed all of training camp, getting him ready for live action in three weeks seems like a next-to-impossible task.

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I think your mistaken. Players on the PUP have to stay on it for 6 weeks. But they don't have to come off of it until week 9.

When they come off the PUP they can go to the IR (no practice) or the 53 man roster (where they would have to cut, IR or trade someone to make space.

I don't believe they can play or practice unless they're on the 53 man roster.

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He can work out and attend all the meetings. He just can't participate in practices.

He was almost ready to go when the season started. They didn't want to expose him to waivers to get him on the PS so they PUPed him instead.

My guess is that he will be ready to go when he comes off PUP.

Since this stretch of games is our most advantageous, we have time for the 3 PUP players to get ready to play.

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if there's anything that gives me hope, it's that RB is one of the most intuitive positions in the NFL. That's why rookie RBs can make great contributions right out of the gate. Not saying it's a gimme, but out of all the positions, i'd say RB is the easiest to jump right into action with.

On starks himself, looks like he's got some great hands and pretty good quickness.

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After I watched a highlight of Starks, I watched one of Jim Brown. I was struck by some of the similarities between the two.

*Disclaimer* I am not making a talent level comparison, just a style one.

The highlight of Brown I watched was on youtube and it played to White Zombie's More Human than Human. I would have to search for it so if anybody wants to see it, so can they. I saw it right after the draft.

Starks had some moves that reminded me of Brown, the refusing to go down or out of bounds, taking hits and keeping his balance, hoping out of tackles. One that impressed me in both Brown and Starks was they made moves on guys that were coming up from behind them. There is no way either of them could see the defenders, but they avoided them anyway.

Starks is also fluid out of the backfield catching passes.

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Wow, Starks. I haven't really watched the clips of him til now.

He has what I think is good vision, a nice first stutter step, quick fluid juke move and looks like he uses every bit of that 4.48 40 speed of his.

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