James Starks, a rookie out Buffalo has become a new star in the playoffs and will be talked about ad-nausuem from the local and national news. He rushed for 123 yards yesterday and will likely be starting on Saturday against the Atlanta Falcons. Finally, we had a running back who decided to hit the hole. The biggest problem with Brandon Jackson was he danced way too much when he first received the hand off. Starks kept pounding the ball whether it was the left side or the right side. It made me wonder if Jackson might have been the problem not the offensive line. Another person who cannot be forgotten is Quinn Johnson. A local hero in Eau Claire, but he played his ass off. Every time he blew up one of the Philadelphia linebackers. I hope Mike McCarthy decides to stick with Johnson instead of going with Korey Hall who probably will be healthy. You have to ride the hot players in the playoffs, just have to. The reason seeing the running game do so well made me happy is because of Marshawn Lynch's performance on Saturday night. I listen to a lot of sports radio and if the Packers were to lose this game, that's all the uneducated callers would talk about. Lynch had one of the best runs in the past memory against the New Orleans Saints, but people seem to forget he only averaged around 3.6 yards a carry this season. Furthermore, that is near the same average for Brandon Jackson (3.7). I really hope Starks makes people forget that there was even interest in Lynch and I am glad that Starks shut up that conversation now. But I will show the run because it's unbelievable.
Starks is a great downfield runner. I love to see what will happen this week. Atlanta is 10th against the rush, but I am sure the Packers haven't shown their complete hand of what they can do running the football. In the playoffs, you always need new players to step up and that's what Starks did. They are excelling in all facets of the game now and become even more dangerous.
-Charlie.
