Do not get rid of Luepke

[Cowboys5217]

Definitely not a plodder. Not sure how he would translate vs #1s but a lazy comparison for me is a Peyton Hillis lite player.

Sort of the same usage in college, except Hillis had to fight for touches with McFadden and Jones but he was the punt returner iirc.
Same size, Luepke has a better vert but same 40(4.65 combine Hillis-4.55 Luepke pro day).

He's not a traditional fullback that can just block or fall for a yard or two. Honestly, while he has the size for it, I think he's more of a running back in the NFL but can lineup as a H-back or fullback if need be.
I think if he sticks on the 53 it's due to the team thinking he can play ST's, and go light at first at linebacker(Cox) but also some upside with the ball in his hands. Something that the former fullbacks we've had here since McCarthy been here never really offered.

We haven't had a real FB since the Moose. Luepke is a better athlete than Moose was, but Moose was a beast lead blocker. I agree with Stash that I wanted to see him as a lead blocker on power running plays in the last game. Everything else, picking up short yardage run plays, pass receiving in the flats, and pass blocking, and avoiding mistakes were all areas that Luepke passed with high marks.

 

[OmerV]

The Cowboys may have shot themselves in the foot with Luepke this weekend. They have some tough roster decisions to make, and Luepke may have been a good candidate for the practice squad, but his performance this weekend had to have hurt his chances of slipping through waivers

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Can someone show me a run where Leupke showed all this special power that people are blathering about?

Dowdle and Davis both fall forward too, people are acting like Luepke is Mike Allstott.

 

[aikemirv]

Can someone show me a run where Leupke showed all this special power that people are blathering about?

Dowdle and Davis both fall forward too, people are acting like Luepke is Mike Allstott.

Is he a special player in todays NFL - maybe not, but he is more valuable than McKeon so they better not keep McKeon over him. He has great hands and a good feel for the game and is the guy people forget to cover in that 3rd and 4th down play you need to have!

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Is he a special player in todays NFL - maybe not, but he is more valuable than McKeon so they better not keep McKeon over him. He has great hands and a good feel for the game and is the guy people forget to cover in that 3rd and 4th down play you need to have!

How is he more valuable? They don't even play the same position. Any idea that Luepke can just play TE is blind, baseless speculation.

Any RB in the league can be "the guy people forget to cover." It's much better to have a guy that teams want to cover on the field.

 

[aikemirv]

How is he more valuable? They don't even play the same position. Any idea that Luepke can just play TE is blind, baseless speculation.

Any RB in the league can be "the guy people forget to cover." It's much better to have a guy that teams want to cover on the field.

I don't want him to play TE. I want a good short yardage back who can block, pass protect and have some functional utility and not have a 4th TE that is going to sit 95% of the time and if he does play it is to block! Schoon and Ferguson can do that and play more snaps.

We have the guys they want to cover. I want the guy who gives the QB an option when everybody else is covered! A guy who can pick up the blitz or go in the flat if they don't blitz is much more valuable than the 4th TE.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I don't want him to play TE. I want a good short yardage back who can block, pass protect and have some functional utility and not have a 4th TE that is going to sit 95% of the time and if he does play it is to block! Schoon and Ferguson can do that and play more snaps.

We have the guys they want to cover. I want the guy who gives the QB an option when everybody else is covered! A guy who can pick up the blitz or go in the flat if they don't blitz is much more valuable than the 4th TE.

This "short-yardage back" is going to sit 95% of the time also and will probably be inactive more often than not.

You're just grossly overstating the role for Luepke. A RB who can passblock isn't any more effective at protecting the QB than a RB who commands coverage.

As for the bolded, I don't understand this. Literally anyone can do it. That's not a valuable skillset. McKeown, Luepke and Micah Parsons can all catch balls 3 yards down field when nobody is covering them.

 

[Ragin_Kage]

If they plan to keep Mckeon, he will be primarily used as a blocker, maybe even a FB at times. I think they should keep Luepke instead and he can play a very similar role.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Folks need to stop looking at Luepke as a feature back.

It’s ridiculous to do so.

He’s a fullback with some halfback skills. THAT is what makes him different.

We’ve been playing too long utilizing TE’s as H-backs to lead block.

Luepke allows you to use him in short yardage lined up with a RB. He can leak out and he can lead block.

 

[Cowboys22]

Luepke showed enough in that last game to easily project him as very valuable piece to an offense. Maybe not right away but with what he showed, just think about the player he can be later this season and in the next few years with some experience. Teams keep rookies every year that haven’t shown half as much as he has. You keep him for who he will become in short order, not to hand the ball to against NY in week one.

 

[aikemirv]

This "short-yardage back" is going to sit 95% of the time also and will probably be inactive more often than not.

You're just grossly overstating the role for Luepke. A RB who can passblock isn't any more effective at protecting the QB than a RB who commands coverage.

As for the bolded, I don't understand this. Literally anyone can do it. That's not a valuable skillset. McKeown, Luepke and Micah Parsons can all catch balls 3 yards down field when nobody is covering them.

Well McKeon played Saturday night and Luepke played Saturday night - who had the bigger and more impactful role?

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Well McKeon played Saturday night and Luepke played Saturday night - who had the bigger and more impactful role?

That's irrelevant.

Luepke is never going to have that role in a real game.

 

[speedkilz88]

Just my opinion, but I would keep Luepke over Dowdle.

I think there’s a better chance you get Dowdle to the practice squad than Luepke.

I also think that Luepke is a better ‘power back’ compliment to Pollard and Vaughn.

I’m actually surprised that they haven’t really used Luepke in the blocking fullback role.

You know how this works. Dowdle made the team already. That is why he didn't play.

 

[Stash]

You know how this works. Dowdle made the team already. That is why he didn't play.

Maybe so.

But that doesn’t mean that I have to agree with it.

 

[DCreppinBoysfan]

Negative. Duece is specialty / situational back. Dowdle is rb 2

Duece is practice squad material. If they can’t get Turpin on offense, then Deuce is a waste of a spot

 

[quickccc]

The Cowboys may have shot themselves in the foot with Luepke this weekend. They have some tough roster decisions to make, and Luepke may have been a good candidate for the practice squad, but his performance this weekend had to have hurt his chances of slipping through waivers

How would you know what a Hunter Lup can really do in a game if you don't play calls to his abilities ?

 

[quickccc]

Folks need to stop looking at Luepke as a feature back.

It’s ridiculous to do so.

He’s a fullback with some halfback skills. THAT is what makes him different.

We’ve been playing too long utilizing TE’s as H-backs to lead block.

Luepke allows you to use him in short yardage lined up with a RB. He can leak out and he can lead block.

He cannot lead block .. blocking is the knock rap on him.
He does not have that kind of physicality. He's not a Tom Rathman, John Kuhn.

Frankly the more touches he gets, that's more touches away from Pollard, Deuce and Rico
No thanx. Hunter has to have the ball as a big RB to be effective.

 

[MarcusRock]

Folks need to stop looking at Luepke as a feature back.

It’s ridiculous to do so.

He’s a fullback with some halfback skills. THAT is what makes him different.

We’ve been playing too long utilizing TE’s as H-backs to lead block.

Luepke allows you to use him in short yardage lined up with a RB. He can leak out and he can lead block.

Can I ask, did he line up at FB in camp or the preseason? I don't remember it in preseason but didn't follow camp at all.

 

[MarcusRock]

Luepke showed enough in that last game to easily project him as very valuable piece to an offense. Maybe not right away but with what he showed, just think about the player he can be later this season and in the next few years with some experience. Teams keep rookies every year that haven’t shown half as much as he has. You keep him for who he will become in short order, not to hand the ball to against NY in week one.

Your second sentence is why he's practice squad material for now, IMO.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

He cannot lead block .. blocking is the knock rap on him.
He does not have that kind of physicality. He's not a Tom Rathman, John Kuhn.

Frankly the more touches he gets, that's more touches away from Pollard, Deuce and Rico
No thanx. Hunter has to have the ball as a big RB to be effective.

And where have you read that?