Tag: Hunter Luepke

Follow the Money: Breakdown of Cowboys RBs salaries, cap hits

A breakdown of the cap spending at the running back position and how despite the cupboard being bare, there’s a sizable chunk being spent at the spot. | From @ArmyChiefW3

As quarterback takes up an enormous percentage of the Dallas Cowboys salary cap for 2024, something they should hope to reduce before the new league year begins, other positions have taken a back seat in how Stephen Jones’ proverbial pie has been divided. And while recent years have seen a sizable investment in the pasture where the bell cows have grazed, that will likely not be the case for the upcoming season.

The lack of a run game in Dallas is a huge concern, but the problem has a clear path to recovery. And while the solution may reside more along the offensive line and its performance, the club will still need to add additional investments to the running back room as it will more than likely look significantly different come training camp. With the top two backs hitting unrestricted free agency, here’s what the Cowboys currently have under contract to replace Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle’s contributions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboys still searching for optimal roles, identities on offense

How have the Cowboys answered questions regarding their various roles and responsibilities on offense in 2023? From @ReidDHanson

15 games into the 2023 season and the Cowboys are still trying to figure things out on offense. Who’s the optimal short yardage back? Who’s the third down go-to guy? Who’s the linchpin of the offense, are just some of the questions which appear to be up in the air.

In all fairness, it’s not as if the Cowboys don’t have options. They are ranked No. 2 in offensive EPA and No. 2 in points per game. They are a talented bunch with plenty of potential answers to the above questions. But in a win-or-go-home game in the playoffs, when a single mistake can end a season, who are the Cowboys turning to?

Last week in Miami the Cowboys showed the short-yardage situation is still unresolved. Tony Pollard failed to convert a seemingly convertible goal line play and then Hunter Luepke fumbled away a goal line exchange with Dak Prescott. There’s just no clear answer in Dallas.

CeeDee Lamb has been the linchpin the Cowboys can’t quite seem to commit to. The offense hummed when he was fed the ball, but like so many times before, things slowed to a crawl when he was left out. Lamb has proven to be a weapon as a rusher as well as a receiver. He makes it easy to scheme because he can line up anywhere on the field and execute effectively. Yet, he disappears from the gameplan from time to time.

The go-to guy on critical downs has been a timeshare of sorts in Dallas this season. At times it’s Lamb, other times it’s Brandin Cooks, and still other times it’s TE Jake Ferguson. All three have shown the ability to convert in these critical situations.  All three have also dropped easy balls and/or failed to elude that first critical tackler. When the game is on the line and the Cowboys need to convert, who’s the optimal target?

Gifts and Coal: Lamb, Luepke opposite sides of Cowboys’ studs, duds

CeeDee Lamb’s record and Hunter Luepke’s fumble are among the impact events in the Cowboys’ Week 16 loss. | From @BenGrimaldi

Santa Claus wasn’t kind to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 as they fell to the Miami Dolphins, 22-20, on a last-second field goal. The Cowboys spent most of the afternoon trying to crawl their way back into it after being down for much of the contest, but couldn’t hold the lead once they earned it.

This wasn’t the same old story for Mike McCarthy’s team on the road. They had plenty of fight in the Christmas Eve matchup of 10-4 teams. However, they couldn’t get the one thing they wanted for the holiday, a W in the win column.

In defeat, the Cowboys have their first losing streak since 2021 and now they’ve fallen behind in the NFC East race with two weeks remaining. Here’s the Christmas edition of the studs (gifts) and duds (coal) in Dallas’ Week 16 loss.

How Pollard, Cowboys 4 other RBs stack up thus far in 2023

An analysis of the Cowboys different RB options looking at how they’re doing, how they impact the offense and their best role going forward. | From @ReidDHanson

For the better part of the season, the Cowboys’ run offense has been a one-man show. Tony Pollard has carried the lion’s share of the load since taking pole position on the Dallas depth chart. He’s is on pace to set career highs in most categories and up until last week, he was leading the entire NFL in carries and overall touches.

As the season drags on, the Cowboys will feel compelled to divvy out the workload. Pollard’s pace is probably unsustainable, and Dallas will want their top weapon to be in peak form once the postseason arrives.

The question is to who and to what extent should the carries be split. The Cowboys don’t have a proven entity or obvious answer waiting in the wings. They have a sixth-round pick and a couple undrafted free agents populating the ranks behind Pollard. Each brings a unique skill set to the table so ranking a true hierarchy is hard to do with such specialization. But certain traits have been shown and the numbers indicate some players should be given more chances while others probably deserve a few less.

 

Cowboys must embrace strengths of RBs without becoming too transparent

The Cowboys must be careful in how they deploy their diverse group of RBs because specialization could tip their hand in play-calling, says @ReidDHanson

For the first time in recent memory, the Cowboys are expected to take a committee approach at running back. For years, Dallas has preferred the workhorse and dual models at the position. Ezekiel Elliott was the bell cow for the first half of his career and with the arrival of Tony Pollard, the Dallas RBs started working as a tandem.

With Elliott now in New England and Pollard slated to be the unquestioned RB1, the Cowboys are forced to take a different approach in 2023.

Pollard is expected to take on bigger workload, but he’s never surpassed 200 carries in his career. To remain explosive, he’ll need other RBs to help carry the load.

Who carries the load behind him is a matter of debate heading into the new season. The RB room consists of two rookies and a 25-year-old with seven total carries to his name. There’s no clear answer to replace Elliott in the duo format, so the Cowboys will likely use a full committee approach.

Such a strategy allows the Cowboys to play to their specific players’ strength and let their young runners do what they do best. Deuce Vaughn dropped jaws in the preseason but he’s extraordinarily undersized and may not be able to contribute much in pass-protection or short-yardage runs.

Hunter Luepke looked like a capable runner but seemed best suited to be the short-yardage runner and third down specialist (good in pass-protection and receiving). Rico Dowdle appears to have the most well-rounded skillset behind Pollard but he has an injury history longer than a ballpark bathroom line. Dallas also doesn’t want to overwork this top special teams player.

Taking a committee approach at running back isn’t without its drawbacks, either. While it lets the Cowboys focus their guys on their best tasks, it also tends to tip their hand to opponents.

If Vaughn enters the game on 3rd-and-2, the defense can probably surmise he’s not going to be pounding the ball up the middle. They’ll know to look for the pass and cover the edge and flat.

Similarly, if Luepke enters on 3rd-and-2, they will be more inclined to protect the middle and become less concerned with a run bouncing outside.

The Cowboys will have to find a way to play to their various players’ strengths without tipping their hand in regard to their play call.

Ideally, Pollard would handle 80% of the duties since he can do it all effectively. But that’s probably not a realistic expectation for Pollard since they want him fresh and explosive for all 17+ weeks of the season.

They need a committee but can’t be transparent in how they use it.

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Look: Hunter Luepke has big night in trying to make Cowboys’ 53-man roster

Luepke makes the cutdown day decision much more difficult after a stellar performance against the Las Vegas Raiders. | From @ArmyChiefW3

After not showing much in his first two opportunities, running back Hunter Luepke made a case for a roster spot Saturday night. The undrafted free agent from North Dakota State had himself a game in the Cowboys’ 31-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. He ended his night with 15 carries for 58 yards while also catching 5 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Just before halftime, Luepke used some nifty footwork and picked up 29 yards on a pass from quarterback Will Grier before being tackled at the 15-yard line. He scored on the ensuing play on a 15-yard out route.

Luepke has been sort of a jack-of-all-trades during training camp attempting to show his versatility to the Cowboys coaches and front office. He’s competing for the fourth running back spot behind Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn, all of whom had the night off showing their security for final cuts.

Meanwhile Luepke shared carries with Malik Davis, a 2022 UDFA who saw playing time in the regular season last year, but hasn’t secured a role for 2023 yet. Ronald Jones, Jr. also shares a chance, but injuries kept him out of the entire preseason and he’s facing a two-game suspension to start the year.

While it’s anyone’s guess as to what the final roster and practice squad will look like, Luepke should have a shot at being retained on one or the other. Cuts must be completed no later than Tuesday, August 29 at 3:00 pm Central.

Cowboys TE4 battle may oddly be decided by UDFA FB Hunter Luepke

How deep the Cowboys go at the tight end position may be based on the play of a fullback since Hunter Luepke can fill a variety of roles, says @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys generally like to keep four tight ends on their roster. A tight end can be an extra run blocker, an extra pass protector, a receiving threat and, at times, even a lead blocker. It’s a good position in which to go deep because it’s useful in a variety of ways.

But one player could disrupt their ability to keep a fourth TE in 2023; a true wildcard who’s new to the NFL and someone who could provide a wide range of outcomes when he first takes the field in Oxnard. That player is undrafted free agent FB, Hunter Luepke.

Since his signing in May, Luepke has garnered an abnormal amount of attention for a UDFA and it likely is because of the position he plays. The Cowboys haven’t consistently rostered a fullback in quite some time, so to see one with the potential to stick understandably creates a buzz.

Why would Luepke suddenly succeed where so many training camp fullbacks have failed before?

He’s more than just a FB.

Luepke is a lead blocker, a short-yardage runner, a pass-catcher from the backfield or at the line, and more. He’s someone who can fill multiple roles on the offense (and special teams) and isn’t resigned to just lead block like most FBs are.

His ability to play H-back may ultimately decide if he makes the final cut and subsequently how many TEs Dallas decides to keep.

Cowboys UDFA could lead them back to championship-era personnel grouping

The Cowboys haven’t used 21 personnel often in recent years but with the addition of a versatile FB like Hunter Luepke could change that. | From @ReidDHanson

There’s no telling what the Cowboys roster will look like when final cuts are made at the end of training camp. Obviously, a significant chunk of players are all-but-guaranteed to make the club, but a few fringe roster decisions are up in the air and could have major effects on the scheme and strategy of 2023.

The fullback position promises to be one of those. Gone are the glory days of Daryl Johnston. Nowadays, half the teams in the NFL don’t even carry a FB. Dallas hasn’t consistently rostered one and when they have, he’s been a bit part of the offense.

For over a decade, the NFL leaned into the spread offense. 11 personnel (3WR sets) has ruled and 21 personnel (2RBs) has fallen by the wayside. Teams often prefer to keep on an extra TE or extra WR on the team rather than dedicate a roster spot to a FB.

But times are always changing in the NFL and trends are often cyclical. Wait long enough and those bellbottoms in the back of the closet will be cool again. And guess what? Fullbacks might just be cool again too.

As the NFL shifts back to a split safety league where defenses are trying to do everything they can to stop big passing plays downfield, opportunities are opening up in the box. As we discussed previously, the running game is back in the NFL and it’s because defenses are begging for it.

Smart teams like San Francisco recognized this trend shift years ago and have been ahead of the curve. The Cowboys may be finally ready to get on board. Provided, of course, they have a decent fullback.

“There are always cycles,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said in a 2021 interview with SI. “That’s why to me, there’s no absolutes. That’s why I use 21 probably more than anyone in the NFL; we have a fullback in there, not just because that’s our offense, it’s because I believe that’s an advantage. People don’t play base defense very much because the majority of the league doesn’t have a fullback. And so you get people on the field they’re not used to practicing with. You know their menu’s smaller.”

Shanahan’s use of FB Kyle Juszczky is a sight to behold. His FB isn’t just a lead blocker, but also a motion man, a runner, and a pass-catcher. Can the Cowboys get the same out of Hunter Luepke?

As his Cowboys Wire profile states, Luepke is a do-it-all back who can serve many roles on the Dallas offense. He’s well rounded enough to replace a TE4 on the roster and given Mike McCarthy’s past FB usage, he stands a good chance to make the team, even if he is an UDFA from North Dakota State.

“If you’re playing fullback, playing 21, teams won’t have practiced against it and teams really don’t see it much,” said an AFC executive to Albert Brear. “And once you get into the season, it’s hard to practice those things full speed. You won’t have guys coming downhill the same way… and if you’re playing gap scheme, teams just don’t see a lot of that either, and it forces you to control gaps and defeat blocks.”

As KD Drummond outlined earlier in the offseason, new OL coach Mike Solari brings experience from multiple blocking schemes (albeit mostly inside zone) so the Dallas running game could mix and match in 2023.

With today’s defenses hyper-focused on stopping the pass, it’s a good time for the Cowboys to join the “mismatch bandwagon” and deploy a FB in 2023.

Clearly Luepke has to prove he’s worthy of the job. Coming from North Dakota State is an enormous leap. But if scouting reports can be trusted and he lives up to expectations, he could signal a slight philosophical change in Dallas.

McCarthy has stated his desire to have a balanced attack on offense on countless occasions. NFL defenses are practically begging offenses to run on their nickel-heavy personnel. And the Cowboys happen to have a John Kuhn-like (McCarthy’s top FB in Green Bay) prospect on their training camp roster.

The stage is set.

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Cowboys may have their short-yardage solution in UDFA Hunter Luepke

The Cowboys may have found their rushing specialist when they signed the North Dakota State prospect.. here’s how he fits. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys raised some eyebrows when they signed North Dakota State’s Hunter Luepke as UDFA following the draft. Widely regarded as the top FB in the class, Luepke embarks on the difficult task of convincing Dallas the position still has a place in today’s NFL.

Given Mike McCarthy’s respect for the position over the years in Green Bay, and the current state of the Cowboys running back room, this may not be difficult hill to climb for the 230-pound rookie.

The Cowboys are embarking into some unfamiliar territory this coming season. For the first time in seven years they don’t have an obvious answer for short-yardage situations.

Since joining the club in 2016, Ezekiel Elliott had nobly served that role (and more) in Dallas. But after the Cowboys and Elliott decided to part ways this past offseason, the all-important task is up for grabs.

Tony Pollard, the unquestioned RB1 in Dallas, isn’t an ideal option. He’s capable and willing to pick up the tough yards but it doesn’t play to his strengths as Pollard is best utilized in space. Besides, his game-breaking ability could be diminished if asked to take on the wear and tear of high-impact, short-yardage runs.

The Cowboys selection of Deuce Vaughn in the draft’s latter rounds did little to help in that regard. At 5-foot-5, 176 pounds, Vaughn offers many of the same things as Pollard and is not seen as a viable solution for short-yardage.

Free-agent signee Ronald Jones could factor into the equation, as could second-year man Malik Davis. But the best option could be that versatile UDFA Dallas signed after the draft.

Luepke isn’t just a traditional FB, he’s also a lead back. He rushed for 1,665 yards and 24 touchdowns throughout his college career, even winning MVP honors in the FCS Championship Game.

While his skillset may not translate to a traditional RB role in the NFL, his stocky build, physical playing style and ball security (only 1 fumble in the last 269 carries) make him an attractive option in short yardage for the Cowboys.

His versatility is noteworthy because it helps him gain a roster spot and makes his responsibilities on any given play less transparent than a standard short-yardage specialist.

Referred to by draft analysts Dane Brugler as “one of the best pass-catching fullback prospects in recent memory,” Luepke averaged 17.6 yards/reception over his career and has played in the backfield, on the line, and in the slot.

Having a player who can be a lead blocker and short yardage runner is valuable enough to earn a roster spot on a McCarthy offense, his ability to play H-back and take on pass-catching roles downfield just adds to his value on the team.

It was important for the Cowboys to find a RB who could take the tough yards off Pollard’s plate this season. Keeping the RB1 fresh is almost as important as converting the short-yardage. Luepke has the potential to offer all that and more.

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10 more late-round 2023 draft sleepers for Cowboys to consider

Are there any DaRon Bland, Tony Pollard or Dalton Schultz’s in this draft class? Here’s 10 CB/TE/RB contenders for the Cowboys to consider. | From @ProfessorO_NFL

In the first part of our two-part series , we highlighted 10 late-round sleeper prospects the Dallas Cowboys could consider in the 2023 NFL draft. That focus was on defensive line, linebackers and wide receivers. We showcased the importance of finding value in the later rounds and listed some of the Cowboys recent successes as examples of Will McClay’s Day 3 gems.  This article shifts focus to three other position groups the Cowboys could target in the later rounds: cornerback, running back and tight end.

The Cowboys have recently made additions via trade and free agency to bolster the cornerback and running back rooms but will likely still be on the lookout for more depth for both groups. Here are 10 more late-round sleeper prospects who could add depth in areas of need, with the upside to become key contributors in the near future.