It's been a season full of gridiron failure for the city of Buffalo, but former Buffalo Bulls running back James Starks has finally given Western New York football fans something to cheer about.
In his playoff run, Starks has rushed for 263 yards against elite NFC competition. He ran for 123 yards against the Eagles and scored his first career NFL touchdown on Sunday against the Bears.
As of now, Starks and the Packers are slight favorites to win the Super Bowl over the six-time champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
So is Starks Buffalo's superhero?
I wouldn't say so just yet.
If you're familiar with the comic, Tony Stark did not immediately assume his role as a superhero just because he donned a super-powered suit. It took some time for him to realize his full capabilities.
The same thing applies for the talented running back. I give him credit for getting his name out there, but three games simply aren't enough for him to be considered a serious threat. For now, Starks is simply a Bulls standout rather than someone you have to change your whole NFL gameplan for.
Once you delve further into his statistics, you'll see why.
Consider this: it has taken 70 carries for him to reach 263 yards. That's only an average of 3.76 yards per carry, with just one touchdown to show for it. While these stats are OK, it's nothing to gawk over.
Then you have to think about when he got those yards. Starks' performances in each contest were by no means game-changing. Yes, Starks ran for his career-high against the Eagles, but the Packers could easily have survived without those yards because of the solid play of their defense and efficient passing game.
Starks' performance against the 10th-ranked Falcons rush defense didn't mean much either. The Packers were already up by a huge margin going into the third quarter, and it was because of Rodgers' elite performance. Starks' performance was secondary in that game.
However, the one game I will give him credit for is his performance against the Bears. For any rookie to gain 74 yards and score a touchdown against the tough Chicago defense is something that should be taken seriously.
I think Starks' true test will come at the Super Bowl. I believe the feared Steel Curtain will be at its most impenetrable on football's biggest stage. In addition, the Steelers have been battle tested in playoff scenarios. I expect Starks' rookie flaws to be fully exposed come showtime.
If, by some slim chance, he does break 75 yards on Super Sunday, I will gladly eat my words.
But if my predictions are right, I'll still be with UB next season cheering him on. Starks' stint in the playoffs could be considered a blessing because rarely do you get a chance to start off your career against elite teams at their best.
Failure or not, Starks should be able to come out strong next season. There is no way I can doubt him if he's consistent for 16 games instead of three. With a strong showing, he will truly become the heroic Ironman that UB will be able to brag about.
E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com
