The bar does NOT need to be touching your shins. If it starts out touching your shins...it will have to slow down and go fwd as it goes over your knees...putting your body at a weak point. Start with the bar out farther. Let me see if I can get a link to post for a good deadlift article.
http://www.testosterone.net/articles/194dead2.html
B True
http://www.testosterone.net/articles/194dead2.html
B True