Who's Ready to Help?

The Packers have a few players set to return in the next week or two that could have a significant impact on the season. James Starks and Davon House appear healthy enough to play for the first time this year, and Mike Neal will be returning from his four game drug suspension. All three of these players have shown tremendous promise in one way or another, but none has truly lived up to the potential that they've shown. I'm hoping we can get some real value from one or all of these guys in the weeks to come, so let's review how they might fit in.

23 carries for 123 yards in this painfully close game...

Starks has played the most significant role of any of the three players we'll discuss. He exploded onto the scene late in 2010, and was an integral part of the Packers' Superbowl run. His consistent and productive play during the playoffs was a huge boost to a team that had struggled to run the ball for years. He split carries with Ryan Grant in 2011, for a total of 578 yards on 133 carries (a solid 4.3 yard average), along with one touchdown and two fumbles. In other words, he was solid but unspectacular when called on to run the ball. His running ability has unfortunately taken a back seat to his propensity to miss blocking assignments, drop passes, or make any other mental error you can think of. He has been a lightning rod for criticism from Aaron Rodgers both on and off the field, which simultaneously speaks to his potential and also his lack of focus. If he didn't have the tools to be great, Rodgers would never call him out in public. He is a one cut and go back that can produce when given a lane, but has not shown an ability to create yards on his own the way Cedric Benson can. His upright style will eventually lead to fumble problems, but his large frame makes him not very fun to tackle. Mike McCarthy said earlier this week that the time is now for Starks to show the coaching staff that he's ready to contribute. If Starks can prove to the coaches that he's healthy enough to make some plays, then I look for him to spell Benson between the twenties for something like five to eight carries a game. If he can't go now, then I wouldn't be surprised if he got cut. The staff and players are high on Alex Green and Brandon Saine, so there's no sense waiting on Starks to work his way back.

He probably got injured on this play

Mike Neal is likely about to embark on his last chance to contribute to the Packers. The 2010 2nd round pick has tallied a total of four tackles and one sack in nine games over two seasons. He was touted during the draft as a workout freak with incredible strength, but has since been busted for PED's. I honestly don't think he derived all (or even most) of his strength from PED's, but I do believe he was taking them in an effort to return sooner from injury. If Neal does not want to go down in Packers lore as Justin Harrell 2.0, then he'd better stay on the field for the rest of the season. Depth along the defensive line is a huge asset, and while I don't expect Neal to develop into a prominent inside pass rusher, he does have all the tools to give our top interior linemen a breather for a series or two. I'd love for him to finally be what he was drafted to be, but I'm skeptical. Unless he can finish the season healthy and have at least moderate production, he'll likely be gone.

I'd like for him to play like the last #31, but to be less of a dick

By far the most enigmatic of these three players, Davon House could contribute in a wide variety of ways. Seemingly having won the starting cornerback job opposite Tramon Williams out of training camp, House was then sidelined with a shoulder injury (a left shoulder subluxation to be precise, which sounds cool but is, in fact, not cool). He'll be forced to wear a harness on that shoulder even after he returns full time, and most Packer fans will remember how badly a shoulder injury limited Tramon Williams in coverage last year. A starting corner needs to be able to not only bump a receiver with power at the line, but also tackle in run support. I for one would like to see House get completely healthy before he returns, but everyone that actually matters seems content to let him play. He was a 'healthy' scratch last week, but I'd be surprised if we don't see him in action soon. My question is, what role will he really be able to play? Sam Shields has been playing with confidence since regaining his starting job following the predictable failure of the Jarrett Bush experiment, and Casey Heyward looks like he belongs at this level in the nickel. Special teams coverage will be tough with a dinged up shoulder, and his range of motion on his injured arm is limited. It's obviously going to be tougher to bat down or intercept balls if you can't move your arm the way you're accustomed to being able to. If it were up to me, I'd shut him down for the year, open up the roster spot, let him heal up for next year, and then give him another chance to earn that starting job. Maybe his shoulder is not as bad as it sounds, and he'll be able to showcase the coverage ability that made him a starter in training camp.

Roster depth was a MAJOR factor in the Packers' Superbowl victory in 2010. You can never have too many capable players at any position, and the healthy return of these three players could provide some excellent fall back plans. It's a long season and we'll no doubt be faced with tough roster decisions due to injury at some point. Maybe none of these guys will play much in the near future, but one or all of them could be forced into starting roles. I suppose it's better that they've had some playing time prior to that, so I understand the desire to get them in the game. Player development is important, but winning comes first.