Hunter Luepke - what am I missing?

[Reid1boys]

The days of the Daryl Johnston fullback are over. I am NOT a hater of any player. So someone tell me what Hunter Luepke is so great at that his spot was assured from day 1 of camp? To my amateur eye, he seems like an avg guy you can get anywhere. He doesnt run the ball great(at least he hasnt been given any real chances). He blocks on 3rd downs? does he?

I just dont get it.So someone list his assets and what he brings to this team, besides being cheap.

 

[heir]

He is a full back and a core special teams guy who can play RB in a pinch of the others in front of him get hurt on game day. Coaches loves layers like this cause it's like getting 3 players in 1 on the game day roster.

 

[Tabascocat]

Special teams along with being an emergency backup placeholder and deep snapper.

 

[Xizor]

The days of the Daryl Johnston fullback are over. I am NOT a hater of any player. So someone tell me what Hunter Luepke is so great at that his spot was assured from day 1 of camp? To my amateur eye, he seems like an avg guy you can get anywhere. He doesnt run the ball great(at least he hasnt been given any real chances). He blocks on 3rd downs? does he?

I just dont get it.So someone list his assets and what he brings to this team, besides being cheap.

Kyle Juszczyk has entered the chat. Hunter wasn't even shown during preseason games. So we haven't see him. You know who has seen him. Our coaches. They have to have a plan for him and there has to be some worth on being able to block, run and catch the ball. I feel one of these days he is going to surprise us and make us understand why we gave him that contract. Also not saying hes going to be a beast but that he will be a weapon that opens up the playbook.

 

[Xizor]

I know its college but the guy has skills just don't feel they have put him on the field enough. He was looking real good when Mccarthy was here on a drive he fumbled in the end zone and hardly ever saw him again.

 

[Reid1boys]

He is a full back and a core special teams guy who can play RB in a pinch of the others in front of him get hurt on game day. Coaches loves layers like this cause it's like getting 3 players in 1 on the game day roster.

RBin a pinch? he has 6, 12, and 16 carriues in his first 3 seasons. He has 3, 12 and 13 catches Ok, if Malik and demarcado both broke legs in the same game, yea, Luepke could take some carries. IM only 56, I could take some carries in a pinch.

Again, I just dont get it. Am I missing him coming in on obvious passing downs to block?I seriously am scratchingmy head wondering what he possibly brings to the team.

I will repeat, I am not a hater of any player on this roster...especially since someone went to the packers.

 

[Chasing6]

The days of the Daryl Johnston fullback are over. I am NOT a hater of any player. So someone tell me what Hunter Luepke is so great at that his spot was assured from day 1 of camp? To my amateur eye, he seems like an avg guy you can get anywhere. He doesnt run the ball great(at least he hasnt been given any real chances). He blocks on 3rd downs? does he?

I just dont get it.So someone list his assets and what he brings to this team, besides being cheap.

I think that is a very fair question. Seems like after every season we hear them say they need to use Luepke more, but they don't for some reason.

You can't keep a guy for what he is capable of but then don't use his capabilities.

In my opinion Hunter is a Jake of all trades. He is a fullback, he can run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield and can even be an H-back at times and of course special teams.

It's like what is the point t of carrying 6 WR's when you will most likely only play 4.

 

[Reid1boys]

I know its college but the guy has skills just don't feel they have put him on the field enough. He was looking real good when Mccarthy was here on a drive he fumbled in the end zone and hardly ever saw him again.

Idont disagree with you. He seems decently athletic for a fullback. He definitely was trustedas a guy that could catch the ball.... but with the way this team, what is his great upside? hes just..... blah.

 

[Xizor]

RBin a pinch? he has 6, 12, and 16 carriues in his first 3 seasons. He has 3, 12 and 13 catches Ok, if Malik and demarcado both broke legs in the same game, yea, Luepke could take some carries. IM only 56, I could take some carries in a pinch.

Again, I just dont get it. Am I missing him coming in on obvious passing downs to block?I seriously am scratchingmy head wondering what he possibly brings to the team.

I will repeat, I am not a hater of any player on this roster...especially since someone went to the packers.

 

[Reid1boys]

I think that is a very fair question. Seems like after every season we hear them say they need to use Luepke more, but they don't for some reason.

You can't keep a guy for what he is capable of but then don't use his capabilities.

In my opinion Hunter is a Jake of all trades. He is a fullback, he can run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield and can even be an H-back at times and of course special teams.

It's like what is the point t of carrying 6 WR's when you will most likely only play 4.

IMO, the difference is those bottom 2 guys could very well come in on real game days and put up numbers, just like Flournoy did when he had the chance. Luepke dresses every week...... and when the game is over, did you even know he played?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Luepke is not an important player because he produces big offensive numbers.He's important because Dallas can put him on the field in a variety of situations without giving away what it's about to do.

He isn't valuable because he's a great running back. He's valuable because Dallas can put him on the field and get multiple jobs done with the same roster spot. He can line up at fullback, short-yardage runner, lead blocker, pass protector, checkdown/flat receiver, emergency tight end and special-teams player. And in an NFL environment where the 53-man roster is incredibly tight, a guy who can legitimately be an offensive Swiss Army knife contributing all over the offense is worth considerably more.

I'd actually argue that Luepke is one of the more underappreciated players on the Cowboys' roster. He's the type of player coaches tend to love more than fans do because his value shows up in the structure of the offense rather than the box score.

 

[exciter]

The days of the Daryl Johnston fullback are over. I am NOT a hater of any player. So someone tell me what Hunter Luepke is so great at that his spot was assured from day 1 of camp? To my amateur eye, he seems like an avg guy you can get anywhere. He doesnt run the ball great(at least he hasnt been given any real chances). He blocks on 3rd downs? does he?

I just dont get it.So someone list his assets and what he brings to this team, besides being cheap.

Because he performed at a high level in the 252 snaps they needed a fullback last season (2nd highest PFF) and he plays special teams!
Nope! No one is playing the I formation in today's NFL.
Doesn't mean you're not going to need one for 12-15 snaps per game. That's why just about every team still carries one!

 

[Xizor]

Luepke is not an important player because he produces big offensive numbers.He's important because Dallas can put him on the field in a variety of situations without giving away what it's about to do.

He isn't valuable because he's a great running back. He's valuable because Dallas can put him on the field and get multiple jobs done with the same roster spot. He can line up at fullback, short-yardage runner, lead blocker, pass protector, checkdown/flat receiver, emergency tight end and special-teams player. And in an NFL environment where the 53-man roster is incredibly tight, a guy who can legitimately be an offensive Swiss Army knife contributing all over the offense is worth considerably more.

I'd actually argue that Luepke is one of the more underappreciated players on the Cowboys' roster. He's the type of player coaches tend to love more than fans do because his value shows up in the structure of the offense rather than the box score.

100 percent this! Great post.

 

[Xizor]

Luepke is not an important player because he produces big offensive numbers.He's important because Dallas can put him on the field in a variety of situations without giving away what it's about to do.

He isn't valuable because he's a great running back. He's valuable because Dallas can put him on the field and get multiple jobs done with the same roster spot. He can line up at fullback, short-yardage runner, lead blocker, pass protector, checkdown/flat receiver, emergency tight end and special-teams player. And in an NFL environment where the 53-man roster is incredibly tight, a guy who can legitimately be an offensive Swiss Army knife contributing all over the offense is worth considerably more.

I'd actually argue that Luepke is one of the more underappreciated players on the Cowboys' roster. He's the type of player coaches tend to love more than fans do because his value shows up in the structure of the offense rather than the box score.

I'd add I have seen him at TE before as well on some plays

 

[Bigrandrn]

He is a full back and a core special teams guy who can play RB in a pinch of the others in front of him get hurt on game day. Coaches loves layers like this cause it's like getting 3 players in 1 on the game day roster.

Yeah, he can get you carries at RB in a pinch as well as block and to other things, he’s worth keeping as a RB vs some other RB who can ONLY do RB things.

 

[plymkr]

(2nd highest PFF

Wow!! You just taught me something. I didn’t know that. Cool. Actually knowing that makes me feel good about him.

 

[Kwyn]

The days of the Daryl Johnston fullback are over. I am NOT a hater of any player. So someone tell me what Hunter Luepke is so great at that his spot was assured from day 1 of camp? To my amateur eye, he seems like an avg guy you can get anywhere. He doesnt run the ball great(at least he hasnt been given any real chances). He blocks on 3rd downs? does he?

I just dont get it.So someone list his assets and what he brings to this team, besides being cheap.

The fullback position has changed significantly. That old school 240 lb bruiser who ran into the hole to meet the MLB is nearly extinct.

You have to think of them like an H-Back. They line up in the backfield but can split out. They run and they catch. They have to he sure handed and able to protect the QB. Almost all of them also play special teams (there’s one exception)

They’re just a Swiss Army knife that can help a play caller keep the defense guessing and do a half dozen different things that makes them very flexible and that flexibility is the value.

Being in the backfield allows him to see the defense better than a lineman and he can react more easily to audibles, find soft spots in a zone defense and respond with more flex than any almost any other player on the offense.

Kyle Juszczyk is the gold standard of the modern fullback. He’s what Luepke and the cowboys aspire to. It’s a tall order because he’s pretty much in a class of his own, but he does all the stuff except he is so important that they don’t have him on special teams.

Could Luepke do more? Definitely and Schottenheimer said the other day that Luepke came to him earlier in the offseason and said he could do more and the coaches are working toward that. He’s paid like a near elite fullback so he needs to be used more effectively.

Last year he started to show signs of what he’s capable of and it wont surprise anyone to see him featured more this year

I was initially down on him getting his extension because I saw it as one of the two PR moves Jerry made with popular players right after he submarined the entire season six days before it started, but that’s not Luepke’s fault.

 

[Reid1boys]

Luepke is not an important player because he produces big offensive numbers.He's important because Dallas can put him on the field in a variety of situations without giving away what it's about to do.

He isn't valuable because he's a great running back. He's valuable because Dallas can put him on the field and get multiple jobs done with the same roster spot. He can line up at fullback, short-yardage runner, lead blocker, pass protector, checkdown/flat receiver, emergency tight end and special-teams player. And in an NFL environment where the 53-man roster is incredibly tight, a guy who can legitimately be an offensive Swiss Army knife contributing all over the offense is worth considerably more.

I'd actually argue that Luepke is one of the more underappreciated players on the Cowboys' roster. He's the type of player coaches tend to love more than fans do because his value shows up in the structure of the offense rather than the box score.

hes never avg more than 1 carry or 1 catch per game for a season. All of what you say sounds great, but is it actually true>

 

[Xizor]

The fullback position has changed. That old school 240 lb bruiser who ran into the hole to meet the MLB is nearly extinct.

You have to think of them like an H-Back. They line up in the backfield but can split out. They run and they catch. They have to he sure handed and able to defend the QB. Almost all also play a lot of special teams (there’s one exception)

They’re just kind of a Swiss Army knife that can help a play caller keep the defense guessing

Being in the backfield allows him to see the defense better than a lineman and he can react more easily to audibles, find soft spots in a zone defense and respond more flexibly than any almost any other player on the offense.

Kyle Juszczyk is the gold standard of the modern fullback. He’s what Luepke and the cowboys aspire to. It’s a tall order because he’s pretty much in a class of his own, but he does all the stuff except he is so important that they don’t have him on special teams.

Could Luepke do more? Definitely and Schottenheimer said the other day that Luepke came to him earlier in the offseason and said he could do more and the coaches are working toward that’s. He’s paid like a near elite fullback so he needs to be used more effectively.

Last year he started to show signs of what he’s capable of and it would surprise me at all to see him featured more this year

I was initially down on him getting his extension because I saw it as one of the two moves Jerry made with popular players right after he submarined the entire season six days before it started, but that’s not Luepke’s fault.

Dunno if I would say extinct. If you watch that video I showed of him it is sometimes his responsibility at times. I would say that in todays NFL to even consider keeping a fullback he would also be able to run and catch. Moose I think would still be good in todays offense. He also could catch it and used him as such. So in a way he is kinda of secret weapon because of how he could be used and makes defense guess.

 

[Bobhaze]

The days of the Daryl Johnston fullback are over. I am NOT a hater of any player. So someone tell me what Hunter Luepke is so great at that his spot was assured from day 1 of camp? To my amateur eye, he seems like an avg guy you can get anywhere. He doesnt run the ball great(at least he hasnt been given any real chances). He blocks on 3rd downs? does he?

I just dont get it.So someone list his assets and what he brings to this team, besides being cheap.

It’s a fair question Reid.

I think Hunter Luepke’s perceived value in Dallas is as a Swiss Army knife. He’s a very good STs contributor, a sneaky good receiver out of the backfield and an occasional option as a TE in certain packages.

He’s a decent short yardage runner but he’s never going to be leaned on for a lot of carries.

Bottom line, he’s a guy they feel they can use in multiple ways. Having a player who can wear a lot of different hats is valuable player on a 53 man roster.

Having said all that, he’s not particularly great at any one thing that I can see. But the coaches apparently love him.