I Think We Keep 4 Running Backs

[Pass2Run]

I think we end up keeping 4 backs.

My best runners are Sanders, Blue, Williams and Mafah.

But special teams will also play a role in who makes the 53.

In an emergency, Mafah or Luepke, if he makes it, can play TE. I think we only end up keeping 4 TEs.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I think we keep 3.

I'm certain Blue stays....

I think we keep 2 of the rest......
Sanders, Williams,Mafah, Luepke.......

As of now i'll say its Sanders, Williams and Blue....

The tight end situation is gonna determine how many we keep.

 

[Risen Star]

We may just go Mafah and a bunch of tight ends.

 

[Whyjerry]

It would be a Mafah mistake to not keep Mafah.

 

[gimmesix]

I think we end up keeping 4 backs.

My best runners are Sanders, Blue, Williams and Mafah.

But special teams will also play a role in who makes the 53.

In an emergency, Mafah or Luepke, if he makes it, can play TE. I think we only end up keeping 4 TEs.

I don't think we keep four tight ends on the 53. I think only three make it: Ferguson, Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford. I could see four RBs making it IF we only keep two QBs and start Grier off on the practice squad.

I think we'll keep two TEs on the PS from among Fant, Stephens, Fairweather and Neville. The UDFAs would have to play outstanding to make the 53 IMO.

Luepke essentially could be counted as a fourth TE, though, and I think he is a roster lock. Not sure why anyone thinks he might be on the bubble. The team has had nothing but praise for him and he's been among the players who've gotten snaps with the starting offense.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think we end up keeping 4 backs.

My best runners are Sanders, Blue, Williams and Mafah.

But special teams will also play a role in who makes the 53.

In an emergency, Mafah or Luepke, if he makes it, can play TE. I think we only end up keeping 4 TEs.

Think that's a bit too many at TE when we can keep 3 backs and label Hunter as a TE, only have 2 -3TE dress, hunter would make number 4

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think we keep 3.

I'm certain Blue stays....

I think we keep 2 of the rest......
Sanders, Williams,Mafah, Luepke.......

As of now i'll say its Sanders, Williams and Blue....

The tight end situation is gonna determine how many we keep.

I agree with this too I can see them stashing mafah on the practice squad unless he really shows out

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I agree with this too I can see them stashing mafah on the practice squad unless he really shows out

Yep I see no scenario where he isn’t practice squad.

 

[75boyz]

I don't think we keep four tight ends on the 53. I think only three make it: Ferguson, Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford. I could see four RBs making it IF we only keep two QBs and start Grier off on the practice squad.

I think we'll keep two TEs on the PS from among Fant, Stephens, Fairweather and Neville. The UDFAs would have to play outstanding to make the 53 IMO.

Luepke essentially could be counted as a fourth TE, though, and I think he is a roster lock. Not sure why anyone thinks he might be on the bubble. The team has had nothing but praise for him and he's been among the players who've gotten snaps with the starting offense.

Yep. I think you may be onto something here.

I think they go 3 RB only and 3 TE only roster spots but with Luepke serving as a swing guy to both the RB and TE positions.

 

[Kingofholland]

I think we end up keeping 4 backs.

My best runners are Sanders, Blue, Williams and Mafah.

But special teams will also play a role in who makes the 53.

In an emergency, Mafah or Luepke, if he makes it, can play TE. I think we only end up keeping 4 TEs.

I wouldn't quite write off Vaughn yet with his college OC now in the building. It's an interesting group and also think we could end up keeping 4 as well. I just hope hope if we see similar performance from Sanders, Williams, Mafah, and Vaughn we don't just opt to keep Sanders and Williams. I'm all for keeping 1 of the veteran guys, but if it's a close battle I rather keep the younger backs.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Yep I see no scenario where he isn’t practice squad.

Remember rojo got cut before the season started I'm just saying lol

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Remember rojo got cut before the season started I'm just saying lol

I expected the same for Miles but it seems he may not be as bad as we thought.

 

[Acceptablename]

I think we end up keeping 4 backs.

My best runners are Sanders, Blue, Williams and Mafah.

But special teams will also play a role in who makes the 53.

In an emergency, Mafah or Luepke, if he makes it, can play TE. I think we only end up keeping 4 TEs.

Williams not certain about but I agree with 4 backs.Mafah may be.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Luepke essentially could be counted as a fourth TE, though, and I think he is a roster lock. Not sure why anyone thinks he might be on the bubble. The team has had nothing but praise for him and he's been among the players who've gotten snaps with the starting offense.

My suspicion is Luepke is getting snaps because they are trying to figure out how he can fit into the offensive future of the team.

He is a guy on the bubble IMO and they need to run him there this camp and pre-season to make sure they make the right decision on him.

These aren't practice reps he is getting. He is playing for his roster spot.

 

[exciter]

I think we end up keeping 4 backs.

My best runners are Sanders, Blue, Williams and Mafah.

But special teams will also play a role in who makes the 53.

In an emergency, Mafah or Luepke, if he makes it, can play TE. I think we only end up keeping 4 TEs.

Why?
Outside of Blue any one of them can easily be stashed on the practice squad!
Chances are good that after this years draft class, comparable if not better backs are going to be available at cutdown with a lot of previously #2 backs finding themselves on practice squads for the beginning of next season.
There just isn’t a player there that’s says “oh, we got to protect this player with a roster spot at the expense of going short at another position”!

 

[beware_d-ware]

I agree. Most NFL teams carry 3 backs, but I think we'll keep 4. This is clearly a backfield by committee situation, and I don't think that committee is going to resolve itself very neatly.

If anyone misses the cut, I think it's Sanders. Not a good pass blocker, not a good inside runner, and his outside running and receiving skills are somewhat redundant with Blue. He's a vet with much more NFL playbook experience than Blue, but that's his only leg up that I see. There is a decent chance that a 5th round rookie with like 3 months of NFL practice won't be ready, and if he isn't, Sanders will probably get a spot.

Williams is sadly washed as a runner, but he can still pass block, and Blue and Sanders really can't. And dead legs never stopped the Joneses from feeding Zeke 100 gut runs.

Luepke opens up I-formation wrinkles and is good at STs. That should be enough to earn his keep.

 

[gimmesix]

My suspicion is Luepke is getting snaps because they are trying to figure out how he can fit into the offensive future of the team.

He is a guy on the bubble IMO and they need to run him there this camp and pre-season to make sure they make the right decision on him.

These aren't practice reps he is getting. He is playing for his roster spot.

I don't agree with you. This does not sound like a player on the bubble.

"I’d be remiss for not talking about Hunter Luepke," Schottenheimer told reporters this week. "He’s playing some (running back) for us, he’s playing some fullback, he’s playing some tight end, and all he does is do everything well."

 

[gimmesix]

Yep. I think you may be onto something here.

I think they go 3 RB only and 3 TE only roster spots but with Luepke serving as a swing guy to both the RB and TE positions.

If I had to guess, I think it will be three regular RBs as well, but I'm counting Luepke in with the TEs/FB so I think it could be four. I think we'll keep one vet (either Williams or Sanders) and the two rookies. I think Vaughn will go to the practice squad. Now, maybe Sanders convinces us to keep two vets or this coaching staff figures out how to use Vaughn and wants to keep him on the 53.

With Luepke, I really want to see him get more playing time, but it would come at the expense of the second tight end. I like having a point of attack player who can be handed the ball on dives or run routes like a tight end. I don't think Luepke is a great blocker, but I do think he can be a good-enough blocker.

 

[Mr_437]

To think Luepke is isn't making the team or is in some type of competition with Mafah is out of touch with the roster and team building.