Hunter Luepke - what am I missing?

[Xizor]

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>

You did say never and what is true but here is what is true.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4383396/hunter-luepke

https://www.nfl.com/players/hunter-luepke/stats/logs/2024/

16 catches last year is almost 1 catch per game fyi. We really going to tear him down over one catch. He is never going to be a CeeDee or even a Pickens. Just a guy you will appreciate we have every now and then.

 

[Bigdog]

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.

JJ is probably hoping that Lupke’s wife designs the jackets that Juszczyk’s wife does so he can a piece of the action

 

[Chasing6]

I

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 agree that he can do all of that, but that is not how he is actually being used.

 

[EPL0c0]

Having a player who can wear a lot of different hats is valuable player on a 53 man roster.

This... Might only be a handful of plays, but they'll be there when needed.

If Leupke can do for DAL what Kyle Juszczyk does for SF, then he's worth the roster spot.

 

[Chasing6]

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.

He could be a legit weapon a few plays a game, because no one is expecting him to get the ball.

 

[gimmesix]

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.

He's essentially our third tight end. I think Luepke was in line for a bigger role before Spann-Ford showed how good he was as a blocker. We planned to use more tight end-fullback formations with Ferguson and Luepke, and that's when they were talking about expanding his role. Now, he's relegated to a few offensive snaps per game but plays on every special team.

Since teams often play two tight ends, you've got to carry more than two players who can fill those roles, and Luepke is better than Schoonmaker if either Ferguson or Spann-Ford got hurt. He's depth, just like at other positions. It's not like having him means we're going to play less two-tight end or three-receiver formations because the guys we've got for those are better options than he is. He's just a better option at the next-tier level of our depth.

 

[Chasing6]

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.

He is not even shown in real games either.

He has averaged 0.68 rushes a game for 3.8 yards per carry. Not bad for a short yardage runner.

He has averaged 0.58 receptions a game for 8.5 yards a catch. He might be our best receiver out of the backfield.

Last year he almost averaged 1 rush and 1 reception, so let's see what happens this year.

 

[Xizor]

I

I agree that he can do all of that, but that is not how he is actually being used.

How so? I have seen him run I have seen him catch and I just posted a video of his blocking skills so please tell me how he isn't being used as big dog said he was. Also saw him do a full back sneak last year for a TD.

 

[Xizor]

He is not even shown in real games either.

He has averaged 0.68 rushes a game for 3.8 yards per carry. Not bad for a short yardage runner.

He has averaged 0.58 receptions a game for 8.5 yards a catch. He might be our best receiver out of the backfield.

Last year he almost averaged 1 rush and 1 reception, so let's see what happens this year.

Again he isnt a Cee Dee nor Pickens type. He is a gadget player who can also block well. Look at the video I posted. He did a good block on Bobby Wagner. He is someone that can do the dirty work who in a pinch might catch a pass or make a run. He has value. It just won't be every play. He also only costs like 3.75 million a year so not sure why this is such a huge deal he made the team.

 

[cowboysfan31]

 

[Xizor]

He's essentially our third tight end. I think Luepke was in line for a bigger role before Spann-Ford showed how good he was as a blocker. We planned to use more tight end-fullback formations with Ferguson and Luepke, and that's when they were talking about expanding his role. Now, he's relegated to a few offensive snaps per game but plays on every special team.

Since teams often play two tight ends, you've got to carry more than two players who can fill those roles, and Luepke is better than Schoonmaker if either Ferguson or Spann-Ford got hurt. He's depth, just like at other positions. It's not like having him means we're going to play less two-tight end or three-receiver formations because the guys we've got for those are better options than he is. He's just a better option at the next-tier level of our depth.

True but Spann-Ford also didn't make Lupke expendable. Clayton Adams seems to have a little old school in him and isn't a pass happy guy. Shotty was known as a pass happy coordinator in his early years. I feel they are balancing each other out and Lupke is a tool for Adams who love to run the ball.

 

[Xizor]

Thank you I was looking for more of his highlights from last year but couldn't find any. Also feel like the beginning of that with Shotty is Shotty himself ending this conversation lol.

 

[Chasing6]

Again he isnt a Cee Dee nor Pickens type. He is a gadget player who can also block well. Look at the video I posted. He did a good block on Bobby Wagner. He is someone that can do the dirty work who in a pinch might catch a pass or make a run. He has value. It just won't be every play. He also only costs like 3.75 million a year so not sure why this is such a huge deal he made the team.

We ran 11 personnel with 1 RB, 1 TE and 3 WR's 66% of our offense plays last year. No one is expecting Luepke to get ball ever.

 

[Big D]

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 actually think he's deceptively nimble for a guy his size. If I was running the team he'd get a fair amount of carries. I think we'd have a nice power run game with lots of options using him as rb, fb, te hybrid.

 

[diamonddelts]

Mr. Fumbliah.

 

[JW82]

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 assume he has some compromising photos of Jerry in his possession. Has to be.

 

[Whirlwin]

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.

Reliable, dependable, consistent, short, yardage, goal line, I see a lot of positives

 

[quickccc]

Wasted roster spot and role., imo.

- He's " Listed " as a Full back, but he is far more like a big RB,... He's not near a Kyle Juszczyk or Jon Alstott, because doen't possess that kind of physicality or style.
-
- He is average as lead blocker, or Hback, he leans and shields player, instead of pop-rooting them out of the hole or off the line.
We could easily use Spann ford as a moving HBack blocker than Hunter.

- Also average/decent as a interior runner, And for one that is not even thought of as a true weapon, i''m not taking touches away from Williams to give to Hunter.

- Special teams , he'll be of a punter protector blocker than downfield gunner.

- To me, his best attribute is a receiver, the flairs, curls - and since he touches are rare spots, he can sneak up and get a few short yards

- Basically Hunter is a Jack of all trades ... but master of None.

 

[Coogiguy03]

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.

Man I love you sometimes I think lol I was hoping to see someone on here mention that maybe he could be used more, which is what I've felt for years.

 

[Cowboyny]

He plays a ton of roles for the team, core special teamer, rb, fb, te.