Atlanta Falcons: Patrick DiMarco is the Best of a dying breed
By Adnan Ikic
It is in the nature of professional sports leagues to evolve.
Major League Baseball has fully embraced the analytical movement, as every general manager in that sport tries to emulate what Oakland Athletics’ GM Billie Bean did with the 2002 A’s through the innovative Moneyball process.
The NBA has taken on a finesse movement: teams now embrace the 3-pointer more than ever. And the biggest star in that sport, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, has made his name off the long ball.
Then we have the NFL, which has turned into a bona-fide passing league, as seven of the league’s eight all-time 5000-yard passing seasons have come since 2008, and six have come since 2011. With the NFL’s evolution away from the ground and pound running games of yesterday, the fullback position has become all but forgotten.
Atlanta Falcons’ very own Patrick DiMarco is the one proudly holding the torch for the fullback position, as the most exceptional athlete of this endangered species.
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DiMarco will participate in this year’s pro bowl, as an alternate for Carolina’s Mike Tolbert, who is going to the super bowl. However, it was a borderline travesty that the South Carolina product had to get in as an alternate, and that he wasn’t an original starter in the first place.
Behind the exceptional blocking of “Pancake” DiMarco, running back Devonta Freeman was one of just seven players to rush for over 1000 yards this season. Freeman was also tied for first in the category of rushing touchdowns, thanks to his fullback’s uncanny ability as a lead blocker in the red zone.
DiMarco was also responsible for rookie running back Tevin Coleman’s lone touchdown that came way back in week 2 against the New York Giants.
Pro Football Focus ranks DiMarco head-and-shoulders above every other fullback in the league. He finished this season with a grade of +14, while no other fullback had a rating of above +7.
Naturally, he was also voted to the PFF all-pro team. They had this to say about him.
“It wasn’t hard picking DiMarco, a true fullback who has a real knack for generating movement.”
While the South Carolina man is primarily known for his blocking, in Atlanta’s week 10 match-up against the Indianapolis Colts, it was his hands that were on display. DiMarco had three receptions for 21 yards, two of which were touchdowns.
Overall he had 13 receptions for 110 yards and those two aforementioned touchdowns. His 13 catches were second most among all fullbacks in the NFC (and fourth among all FBs in the NFL).
It was nice to see DiMarco have such a successful season as a receiver out of the backfield; because it was a catch he didn’t make the year prior, which scorned him in the eyes of many Falcon fans.
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Atlanta had a week 17 showdown in the Georgia Dome against the Carolina Panthers to close out the 2014 season, with division supremacy on the line. The Falcons, down 7-0, were on Carolina’s goal line facing a 3rd and goal when DiMarco dropped what would have been the easiest touchdown catch of his life. He ultimately cost Atlanta four early points and momentum.
While the Panthers ended up steamrolling the birds, 34-3, many fans were still furious at the fullback for dropping that touchdown and starting Atlanta’s disrepair, in that match.
Things didn’t really get better immediately after that for the South Carolina man, as it was in question whether or not he would even win the starting fullback job in the preseason.
His competition, former Army running back Collin Mooney, burst onto the scene with a great preseason (including a 60 yard catch week 2 against the Jets), and looked poised to take the job from DiMarco, until an unfortunate injury took him out of the race.
Mooney’s misfortune ended up being DiMarco’s second chance, as the fullback from South Carolina capitalized on his opportunity.
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So through all of the adversity, Patrick DiMarco has emerged from the fire as the best fullback in the league, following a season of absolute redemption, culminated by his first trip to the pro bowl.