Falcons receivers not piling up the YAC or redzone scores

Roddy White had another 1,000-yard receiving season, but can improve on his YAC and inside the redzone.

FLOWERY BRANCH – Let’s put the Falcons receiving corps under the microscope.

There are 18 players on the roster who play either wide receiver or tight end. Likely only nine — 6 WRS and 3 TEs — will make the final 53-man roster.

One of the keys for the offense will be for the receivers to improve their yards after the catch or YAC. They can also increase their productivity inside the redzone.

Roddy White led the team with 392 yards after the catch last season, followed by Tony Gonzalez‘ 240.  But White averaged just 4.6 after the catch and Gonzalez average just 2.9. Michael Jenkins had 126 yards after the catch, but averaged just 2.5 yards after the catch.

In 2008, Harry Douglas averaged 5.0 yards after the catch as a rookie.

For receivers with more than 50 catches last season, Dallas wide receiver Miles Austin led the league in YAC Average at 7.6 yards. Green Bay’s Greg Jennings was second at 7.1 and Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson was third at 6.8.

For tight ends with more than 50 catches last season, San Diego’s Antonio Gates led the league in YAC average at 6.6. Philadelphia’s Brent Celek was second at 6.0 and Pittsburgh’s Heath Miller was third at 5.8.

The Falcons don’t run the West Coast offense, which is designed in part to stack up yards after the catch. Piling up yards after the catch shows that the receiver is a playmaker with the ball in his hands.

Also, the Falcons can become more lethal in the redzone.

Gonzalez was by far the top target (21 passes)  inside the redzone in 2009, but White (16 passes) had more touchdowns. It would seem that if you line those two guys up on the same side and run some combination routes, that someone else would be open for tons of catches.

Over the last two seasons, White has 10 redzone touchdowns. Jenkins has not scored inside the redzone over the last two seasons.

Here’s a statistical breakdown:

2009 YARDS AFTER THE CATCH BREAKDOWN

Name                  Catches      0         1-10    11-20    21-plus  Yds       YAC     YAC/AVG

*Harry Douglas         23          13           7         2            1               320             115            5.0

Roddy White              85          30        47         4            4            1,153           392            4.6

Justin Peelle              12             4           5          3           0             115              55             4.6

Brian Finneran          11             2          8           1            0            111              49             4.5

Eric Weems                  6             2          3            1           0              50             24              4.0

Tony Gonzalez            83          27         51           5           0             867           240               2.9

Michael Jenkins         50          15          34          1           0             635            126               2.5

2009 REDZONE RECEIVING

Name                          Target                Rec               REC/Pct          Yds         Yds/Avg      TDs

Tony Gonzalez              21                    9                    42.9                  77               8.6                  4

Roddy White                  16                   9                     56.3                 70                7.8                 6

Brian Finneran                7                   3                     42.9                  19                 6.3                0

Michael Jenkins              6                   3                     50.0                    2                 0.7               0

* Harry Douglas              4                   3                     75.0                23                   7.7                1

Justin Peelle                  3                   2                      66.7                   5                   2.5             2

Eric Weems                    1                   1                    100.0                  4                  4.0              1

* 2008 stats for Harry Douglas