Packers James Starks is a tall back with long legs and tends to run upright. Running backs coach Edgar Bennett has to constantly remind him about his pad level but said Starks was making good progress.
"For the most part I thought he ran with leverage," Bennett said. "He's a big guy and he always falls forward. In the situations where he ended up getting knocked backwards, it was because his pad level was too high."
Said Philbin, "His height is not necessarily a disadvantage for him. There's a couple times when he did a nice job lowering his pads and keeping them down, because the pad level helps protect the football. Obviously, he's not there yet. He still does run a little bit high."
Starks ran mostly out of two- and three-back sets, but Bennett said he could play in any of the Packers' formations. McCarthy said Starks had receiving skills and could catch the ball coming out of the backfield.
"He's an every-down back," Bennett said. "He does have that type of talent where he can stay on the field in every situation."
At the very least, Starks gives opposing defenses something else to think about. Bennett said Starks, Jackson, Nance and Kuhn all "bring something unique to the table."
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