Cowboys mailbag: Questions on the running backs, the bye week, and Tyler Guyton
Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get right into it.
“When will we see the RBs more involved in the passing game. Dowdle & Leupke already have made big plays”
(@Phillynick50 on Twitter)
Mike: Rico Dowdle has made eight receptions and scored two touchdowns in the last three games, so the question is warranted. Why not get him more involved? The running game is very subpar but using Dowdle on screen passes on those “extended” handoff type plays could be the spark this entire running back corps needs right now. If it gets results like we’ve seen recently then why not add it more in the playbook. As for Hunter Luepke, we’ve seen him get targeted on pressure plays and on third-down plays, and Dak has trusted him enough to come through on those plays. The irony here is Luepke was a good receiver in North Dakota State and it was a skill set that not many people talked about during the draft. Most keyed in on his rushing and blocking skills but it was his receiving ability that for myself looked the most intriguing. Now fans are getting to see those skills and Luepke should get more targets, but let’s see what the coaches think.
Dana: As you mentioned, we have seen some good things in the passing game with Dowdle and Luepke so far this season. I would like to see it incorporated more as an extension of the running game. Screen passes or quick passes to the outside to switch it up from just running it between the tackles. Throw in an unexpected wheel route or two and they’ll be cooking! As for when we will see it however, hopefully it will be something that continues to gain traction. Maybe Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer have had time to evaluate and add those to the game plans after the bye.
“In your opinion, was this the correct time of the season for a bye week for the Cowboys?”
(@MrEd315 on Twitter)
Mike: Before the season we got asked this question and it’s one that came up in preseason on a couple of podcasts and I said it back then that having the bye right before San Francisco was a good time have a break. It meant the team would get extra time to prepare to get revenge on a bitter rival. But now add the injuries to the defensive line, and the extra week for the offense to find its rhythm, well all that just makes the timing for the by week more impeccable.
Dana: Absolutely. The timing of the bye week turned out to be perfect for this Cowboys team that is riddled with injuries. That extra time should be helpful in getting some of these injured players healed and ready to play. It also gives the team extra time to prepare for their biggest boogeyman the past few seasons, the San Francisco 49ers. Both the Cowboys and the 49ers are very banged up teams. The one advantage the Cowboys have over the 49ers is rest. Hopefully that will prove itself on Sunday.
“Should they move Tyler Guyton, which was his natural position, and learn next to Zack Martin?”
(@Ian Broad on Facebook)
Mike: Short answer is no. It’s a steep learning curve for rookie offensive linemen and moving him to the opposite side will only stunt his growth. Guyton himself once reported that he prefers playing on the left than the right, and he was the blindside blocker in Oklahoma for a left-handed quarterback. Give him time before completely writing him off at left tackle. Even Tyron Smith was a right tackle in USC and look how that worked out given time.
Dana: After really only five games for Tyler Guyton, moving him from LT now might do more damage in the long run. Confidence and experience are both super important for rookies in this league and moving him now could halt his growth. He had an excellent game in Week 1 against the DPOY so he has proven he is capable. He just needs to build off of that. It was the plan all along to have Guyton at that LT position and only five games shouldn’t be enough to switch the whole thing up.
