FRISCO, Texas – Third down within the NFL is as vital as is will get.
Coaches across the league stress their significance, and the way groups which have essentially the most success within the later downs usually win the sport. Meaning it takes a number of belief from an offense and a play caller to focus on particular gamers in these essential situations.
The final two weeks, Dallas has not gone to their high vast receivers on third down, nor their high tight ends or working backs. In truth, essentially the most focused and utilized participant throughout these third- and fourth-down snaps in Week 4, was fullback Hunter Luepke.
Out of the 11 potential performs, Luepke was focused on third and fourth down 5 occasions towards New York, three greater than another Cowboys playmaker. He transformed for a contemporary set of downs on three of these 5 events.
“I don't go into any game thinking I'm going to get so many touches or I'm going to be in this many plays,” Luepke mentioned. “It's just kind of how football works. When my number is called, I'm going to go out there and perform to the best of my ability.”
Part of his effectiveness on offense, stems from the flexibility to be positionless. Giving the offensive workers freedom to put him anyplace within the formation, which presents a problem to any protection making an attempt to learn it.
“I'm always staying hungry,” Luepke mentioned. “Being with a tight end group. They push me being with that running back group. They push me being in that special teams group. All those guys are fighting every single day. It's pretty easy to just put your head down and get to work.”
Like a contemporary lineup in basketball, gamers can often be mixed-and-matched to a number of positions on the ground, relying on the state of affairs. Luepke fills an identical function on the soccer area. Only, he finds the inspiration from these earlier than him, not the hardwood.
“Back in college we used to have motivational videos that my position coach would pull up,” Luepke mentioned. “Coach would pull up Mike Alstott pretty much every Friday, if not every other Friday before a game and just watch his film. So yeah, he's a legend.”
Mike Alstott performed all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being chosen within the second spherical of the 1996 NFL Draft. He cemented his legacy as one of the crucial versatile and adorned fullbacks in historical past, tallying three All-Pro picks, six Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl title.
But rising up in Spencer, Wisconsin, Luepke additionally had a front-row seat in watching his present head coach, carve out a task for John Kuhn on the fullback place, who additionally completed his profession with a number of All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, successful two Super Bowls as nicely.
“Kuhn was one of my favorites growing up as well,” Luepke mentioned. “Third and goal on the one-yard line. He comes in, and everybody's just screaming ‘Kuuuuuuhn!' That was awesome.”
Two function fashions that Luepke has been lucky to see in particular person and be taught from on tape to assist additional his sport, and construct expectations for himself, that may assist this offense enhance.
“Teams can use you in different scenarios,” Luepke mentioned. “I'm not always just going to be lined up at the F position, straight fullback. That was my mindset rolling into it. Showing my versatility and be everywhere on the field that I possibly can be to make this team, and now to help this team win games.”
With three totally different third-down conversions, together with one within the remaining minutes, Luepke already helped the Cowboys win one sport final week in New York, with a hope he can proceed that development because the season rolls into October and past.
