FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons are hoping to add some power to the offense through the fullback and tight end positions in 2015.
New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is determined to get the rushing attack moving forward and has used double tight ends in the past to run the ball and create mismatches. Last season the Falcons averaged 93.6 yards rushing per game, which ranked 24th in the league.
The fullback in Shanahan's attack has been used mainly as a lead blocker and as an outlet pass receiver.
Wade Harman, a holdover from coach Mike Smith’s staff, moved over from his assistant offensive line position to take over as tight ends coach in his second season with the team. He was the Ravens tight ends coach from 1999 to 2013 and has two Super Bowl rings.
Harman’s former players include Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and two-time Pro Bowler Todd Heap.
Levine Toilolo started at tight end for the Falcons last season. Second-string tight end Bear Pascoe was not re-signed. Tight end Kyle Miller, who was on the practice squad in 2014, was released on May 3.
The Falcons added Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki in free agency on March 19. Tamme signed a two-year, $2.1 million deal and received a $400,000 signing bonus. Moeaki received a no-frills one-year, $745,000 contract.
The Falcons also re-signed Mickey Shuler and undrafted rookie Beau Gardner.
Toilolo will have to earn his skins as a blocker.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
“It’s all about pad level for him,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “He’s been ready to work. I’ve been anxiously awaiting to see what he can do. It will be great fun to see him and the other guys.”
Quarterback Matt Ryan was impressed with how the tight ends performed over the offseason.
“Those guys have done a really good job,” Ryan said. “It’s a different scheme and we are going to use the tight ends differently than we have in the past.”
Here's a look at the fullbacks and tight ends:
FULLBACKS
Patrick DiMarco, South Carolina, 6-1, 234: DiMarco played 214 snaps last season and was the 17th rated fullback by profootballfocus.com. The former South Carolina Gamecock was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL draft. He played with Kansas City in 2012 before being signed to the Falcons practice squad in 2013. In two seasons in Atlanta, DiMarco has played in 30 games with 14 starts while logging 17 receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown.
Collin Mooney, Army, 5-10, 238: He was signed after spending two seasons with Tennessee. He was out of the league last year. He was signed by the Titans as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2012 draft. Mooney set a school record with 1,339 rushing yards during his senior season with the Black Knights. He has played in 14 NFL games with four starts. He appears to be a longshot to unseat DiMarco. After graduating he spent three years fulfilling his commitment to the U.S. Army. He was commissioned in the field artillery branch of the U.S. Army.
TIGHT ENDS
Beau Gardner, North Arizona, 6-4, 240: He made some nice catches during the offseason. He caught 28 passes for 412 yards with five touchdowns in his final season with the Lumberjacks. Prior to transferring to NAU, he spent time at Mesa Community College. Gardner is a native of Mesa, Arizona and attended Mesa High School.
Tony Moeaki, Iowa, 6-3, 252: He had a monster rookie season with 47 catches and appeared headed for
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
stardom in 2010. But injuries have stalled his career. Moeaki had a knee surgery and then later suffered a season-ending torn ACL during the 2011 exhibition season. He bounced back in 2012 with a 33-catch season. But after suffering a fractured shoulder, Moeaki was no longer in the plans for 2013 when a new regime took over. In 2013, after signing a two-year deal with Buffalo he suffered a major hamstring injury in training camp. He was placed on reserve/injured list on August 29th and was released from after reaching an injury settlement on Sept. 1. Last season, he played with Seattle for six games as he battled calf and shoulder injuries. He flashed his play-making ability on a 63-yard catch-and-run against the 49ers on Nov. 27. The only question is can he stay healthy enough to win the starting position.
Mickey Shuler, Penn State, 6-4, 247: He was a seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2010 and has been with seven teams. He is getting his second shot with the Falcons. Shuler might be ready for a NFL breakthrough. "(Shuler) has come back in, and he looks strong," Quinn said. "We'll get a better evaluation of him when we get into camp. I have a sense that he may really thrive as a blocker in this system. It will be interesting to see what he can do."
Jacob Tamme, Kentucky, 6-2, 230: He was signed to a two-year $4 million contract in free agency and is trying to revive his career after two down seasons with the Denver Broncos. Tamme, 30, is considered a pass-catching tight end, but only caught 14 and 20 passes over the past two seasons. In 2012, Tamme caught 52 passes for 555 yards. Tamme was a fourth-round pick (127th overall) of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2008 draft. He had his best season in 2010 when he caught 67 of 93 targets (72 percent) for 631 yards and four touchdowns with the Colts. He has played in 107 games and made 23 starters. Over his career he's caught 178 of 277 targets (64.2 percent) for 1,703 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Levine Toilolo, Stanford, 6-9, 265: He has been a willing leaner since being drafted in the fourth-round (133rd overall) of the 2013 draft. He started last season, but has not developed into the red zone threat that the Falcons envisioned when he was selected. Former tight end coach Chris Scelfo lauded Toilolo's development as a blocker after he struggled with drops last season. Toilolo played 958 snaps last season. He was the 32nd ranked (out of 35) tight ends who played more than 50 percent of his teams snaps in 2014, according to profootballfocus.com. He caught 31 of 54 targets (57.4 percent) for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Will his blocking be enough to earn a roster spot?
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ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 COUNTDOWN TO CAMP: We started our countdown to training camp 11 days out of Monday. We started with the wide receivers followed by the quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks/tight ends and the offensive line today. Links are below if you missed one.
Here’s the schedule:
Thursday – Fullbacks/Tight ends
TODAY – Offensive line
Saturday – Defensive line
Sunday – Linebackers
Mon., July 27 – Cornerbacks
Tue., July 28 – Safeties
Wed., July 29 – Special teams
Thur., July 30 -- Assistant coaches (non coordinators)
Friday, July 31 – First day of practice.
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE: The Falcons will hold their training camp at the team's headquarters for the 11th consecutive year and will have select practices open to the public from July 31 – August 19.
On Friday, August 7, the Falcons will hold their “Friday Night Lights” controlled scrimmage at Buford High School.
Here’s the training camp schedule:
Friday, July 31 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, August 1 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 2 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 3 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 4 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Wednesday, August 5 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 6 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 7 – “Friday Night Lights” (Buford High School – open to the public)
Saturday, August 8 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Sunday, August 9 – Practice 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 10 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 11 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 12 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 13 – Practice 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 14 – Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans, Georgia Dome, 7:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, August 15 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Sunday, August 16 – Walkthrough (closed to the public)
Monday, August 17 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 18 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 19 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
ROOKIE MINICAMP VIDEOS
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 2nd round pick CB Jalen Collins
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 3rd round pick RB Tevin Coleman
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick CB Akeem King
AJC's 2015 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
Falcons pick Vic Beasley, pass on Todd Gurley
Scouting report: Vic Beasley the next DeMarcus Ware or a one-trick pony?
Grady Jarrett escapes fire before Falcons draft him
MARK BRADLEY COLUMN: Vic Beasley: The right pick at the right time
JEFF SCHULTZ COLUMN: Falcons' Quinn determined to fix pass rush in draft
STEVE HUMMER feature on first-round pick Vic Beasley
Falcons add CB Jalen Collins in the second round
Falcons add RB Tevin Coleman in the third round
Falcons' draft bios round 2 through 7
PHOTO GALLERY: Meet the Falcons draft class
VIDEO
Vic Beasley plans to be a double-digit sack guy
Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn on the first round of the draft
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
Dimitroff and Quinn on 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
Quinn on 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
