theProf Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Falcons fullback Patrick DiMarco welcomes competitionVaughn McClure, ESPN Staff Writer When the Atlanta Falcons signed fullback Collin Mooney a few weeks ago, it didn't take incumbent Patrick DiMarco by surprise.DiMarco understood there would be competition across the board under new coach Dan Quinn."It's just going to push me to be a better player," DiMarco said. "When competition comes to you, you've got to step up to the plate and you've got to play good. That's my whole thing. There's nothing that he's going to do that's going to change me. I've just got to continue to work on my craft and continue to get better every day."DiMarco, with 14 starts over the past two seasons, had a rough end to the 2014 campaign. Remember, he dropped a sure touchdown in the second quarter of a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, a game which decided the NFC South title. Despite the blunder, the Falcons signed DiMarco to a two-year contract extension.Now he has to go out and prove he belongs in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's system. Last year, DiMarco played 209 offensive snaps and outside of blocking, contributed nine catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. He's spent part of the offseason working with a personal trainer to improve his quickness, speed and strength in preparation for the offensive adjustment."It's been good so far," DiMarco said of the new scheme. "Guys have been out there flying around. The tempo and the all-around attitude of everybody is real high."If DiMarco continues to show up on special teams, he should have a place on the roster regardless. Special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong has often singled out DiMarco's contributions."Yes, having Keith on my side is definitely great," DiMarco said. "Being there the last two years, he knows what I'm capable of. So, it's definitely an asset."Surely Mooney, who last played in a regular-season game for Tennessee in 2013, will try to make his mark on special teams as well."He seems like a great dude, a tough kid," DiMarco said of Mooney. "I'm excited to play with him and kind of just feed off each other." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theProf Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 If DiMarco continues to show up on special teams, he should have a place on the roster regardless.I don't think there is any way that the Falcons will carry 2 FBs on its 53-man final roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WOR Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Hopefully he welcomes another teams training camp invite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FentayeJones Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I don't think there is any way that the Falcons will carry 2 FBs on its 53-man final roster.I don't either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndySG Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 He's probably slightly below average in everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common Sense Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Ole "Feet for Hands" is as good as cut..... Or practice squad bound on a good day ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold4425 Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Sometimes it seems that the FO worries more about Special teams then getting real football players. We need great production out of the FB position especially with a ??? OL and the backs we have who can take it to the house. But we have been getting mediocre since O M left and no one seems to care. I was hoping we were going to draft the position or at least bring in several guys to compete. I still wish the TO would give J C Copeland a look. But that won't happen. bBt we have to get better play and STOP letting Keith Armstrong dictate this roster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheeTKOBeatz Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 "Pancake" Dimarco has no chance IMO, sorry, and for the record ive never seen him pancake anyone IJS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uga_falcons_braves Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I was done with him the moment he dropped that TD against the Panthers. Give Mooney a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common Sense Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 He's going up against a Human "Tank" "Wall" for that position, with soft hands at that ! When they're standing side by side, Dimarco is literally, "The Before Guy" !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateDogg1215 Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I was done with him the moment he dropped that TD against the Panthers. Give Mooney a shot.That was so churrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The O.D.B Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Sometimes it seems that the FO worries more about Special teams then getting real football players. We need great production out of the FB position especially with a ??? OL and the backs we have who can take it to the house. But we have been getting mediocre since O M left and no one seems to care. I was hoping we were going to draft the position or at least bring in several guys to compete. I still wish the TO would give J C Copeland a look. But that won't happen. bBt we have to get better play and STOP letting Keith Armstrong dictate this rosterThis type of post drives me crazy. PD has 2 years of NFL footage for coaches to a base a decision on, while a guy like JCC has 0 NFL games to look at. Quinn and Shanny are supposed to be great evaluators of talent but people insist on questioning their choices when they don't like the choice (IE: the player). eeesh! PD has not been on the team because we had/have inept coaches, or because we had no other choice, he's on the team because he earned it. If he gets beat our then fine but, don't take away what he's earned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rwhite84 Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I don't think there is any way that the Falcons will carry 2 FBs on its 53-man final roster.Right, that would be a terrible reason to keep him, he graded -4.0 on special teams, he had 4 ST tackles and missed one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeriver Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Lol everybody's trying to save their *** from getting culled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Cut DiMarco now and save us the time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common Sense Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 So he earned a spot on a team that had 0 Full Backs at the time IIRC ? Under a Head Co-itch like Mike Smith to boot..... That ain't saying much ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaichuFTW Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I believe Collin Mooney can easily take Dimarco spot from him. All Mooney has to is catch one pass from Matt Ryan for 10 or more yards and fan will instantly take note of him and want him to start over Dimarco. Plus Mooney is huge *** dude who can that size advantage to block oncoming sackers probably better than Dimarco ever could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheldon Cooper Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 DiMarco's strengths are catching and ST's but he is only average at both. He is not a threat as a runner or a devastating blocker. I think Mooney's strengths are deceptive speed as a runner in space, good short yardage back, good blocker. You might lose the pass catching and STer, but gain a better run blocker which is the primary objective, and a short yardage runner between the tackles. In short, I think he is more what Shanny is looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lornoth Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 People really need to stop holding a dropped pass against our FB, of all things. It'll be an interesting position to watch over preseason, to be sure. I'm not convinced DiMarco doesn't win his spot though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfsutton Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 So, why hasn't Mooney played since 2013? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 People really need to stop holding a dropped pass against our FB, of all things. It'll be an interesting position to watch over preseason, to be sure. I'm not convinced DiMarco doesn't win his spot though.That's not why he is sub par. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lornoth Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 That's not why he is sub par.It's why a lot of people rag on him though. There's plenty to critique about DiMarco, no doubt. But that's a pretty ridiculous, but common, one that people choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 It's why a lot of people rag on him though. There's plenty to critique about DiMarco, no doubt. But that's a pretty ridiculous, but common, one that people choose.I agree. You and I have spoken. I don't rag for humor, I have my reasons. I do like Mooney from what I have seen, but FB's are difficult. Was hoping for Ripkowski. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lornoth Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 I agree. You and I have spoken. I don't rag for humor, I have my reasons. I do like Mooney from what I have seen, but FB's are difficult. Was hoping for Ripkowski.Yeah I was hoping we'd bring in a clear successor to DiMarco, a couple guys in the draft could have done it. Barring that I would have liked to see John Conner get a shot, he signed for peanuts in Buffalo and can dish out some monster blocks. As it is though... we'll see what happens I guess. Don't know much about Mooney besides what I hear on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Yeah I was hoping we'd bring in a clear successor to DiMarco, a couple guys in the draft could have done it. Barring that I would have liked to see John Conner get a shot, he signed for peanuts in Buffalo and can dish out some monster blocks. As it is though... we'll see what happens I guess. Don't know much about Mooney besides what I hear on here.I watched some college vids and a gif of him flattening Troy P but that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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