Rusher Brandon Jackson Will Be Released This Offseason

With Starks coming on strong, Jackson is odd man out

Brandon Jackson was forced into the starting role midway through the first game of the season, when primary back Ryan Grant went down with an injury. Jackson has seen the majority of the rushing snaps since then, but his success has been limited at best. The Packers drafted running back James Starks in the 2010 draft, but have been unable to start him due to his own injury problems. Well, this past Sunday, Packer backers got their first look at Starks, and I don't think they want to look back.

Before I give in to sensationalism, let's look at the comparative numbers of running backs Brandon Jackson and James Starks

Brandon Jackson

GS - Att - Yds - Avg - TD
12 -- 136 -- 527 -- 3.9 -- 3

James Starks

GS - Att - Yds - Avg - TD
1 -- 18 -- 73 -- 4.1 -- 0

As you can see, in just one start - his first NFL action and first football action at all in about 2 years - James Starks is averaging that extra percentage per play that turns 2nd or 3rd and short into 1st and 10. Obviously, when comparing their running styles, and the disparity in number of games started, it's apples to oranges - But I don't think it's an overstatement to say that coach McCarthy was tickled with how Starks performed against San Francisco. This was evident by the number of calls he got. According to Mccarthy, the plan was to get Starks just 8-10 carries, but he finished with about twice that number. While the coach maintains that Brandon Jackson has earned his spot as the primary back, and that Starks will still see just a secondary role, there are conflicting whispers coming from the staff. Running backs coach Edgar Bennet, a pretty nifty runner in his own right, has been quoted as saying that Starks has what it takes to be "an every down back." While Brandon Jackson has proven that he can be available as an every down back, and his ball security is certainly outstanding, his numbers on the ground have left something to be desired. His lack of production has been a detriment to the team. Opposing teams know the Pack favors the pass, and will only guard against run if they see that retro, 3-back wishbone formation. Starks may be just the back to earn Green Bay some respect on the ground. McCarthy would be foolish not to further explore the skill set of James Starks. He should do so immediately. My best guess is that he is already planning to do so, but must play his hand close to the vest with regards to the media. He's a smart enough football mind to know that you feed the hot hand, and Jackson has been ice cold all year.

This offseason will bring some interesting decisions. Presuming Ryan Grant comes back and is capable of resuming primary carrying duties, who will be the number two guy? If Starks keeps his numbers up, and his pad-level low, Brandon Jackson just may find himself 3rd on the depth chart. Jackson has been given a real opportunity this year to prove to the league he is a worth back, but with the exception of a few specialized skills, he has largely failed to do so.