The final 53 - FBs

[YardRat]

Yes, another no-brainer for today. I doubt the team spent the FA money to bring in both DiMarco and Tolbert to have them compete for one slot, so both will probably make the team.

The question here really isn't 'who' will make the team, but 'why' bring in both, and 'what' will their roles be with the team?

Is DiMarco the 'starter', getting most of the reps when blocking and receiving may be required? Will Tolbert be 'the runner', a short-yardage specialist that occasionally spells both Shady and DiMarco? Was DiMarco brought in for his skill set, and Tolbert for his leadership?

[Night Train]

Re: The final 53 - FBs

I look at Tolbert as Roosevelt Leaks, Jim Braxton Cookie Gilchrist.

3rd and 1. Everyone in the stadium knows he's getting the ball and he still gets the first down. Love having him.

[Ed]

Re: The final 53 - FBs

It sounds like Tolbert is going to be more of a RB for this offense, which leaves DiMarco as the only true FB, or at least the only one that's going to make the team. I would combine RB and FB as one group for the sake of this discussion since we're probably only talking about 4-5 players making it.

[The Jokeman]

Re: The final 53 - FBs

In Carolina at times Tolbert wasn't the traditional FB he was more of 3rd on the depth chart RB do anything and excelled in short yardage situations. I could see him taking reps inside the red zone like Gillislee did last year etc. Remember before getting DiMarco we almost signed Kyle Juszczyk. So to me DiMarco more of a pure blocking FB/Tom Rathman type that might get some time in two "TE" sets and maybe be a bit of an H-back.