Atlanta Falcons: How good can White-Jones duo be?
Matt Ryan (from left) talks to wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones during a recent training camp practice at Flowery Branch. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Vivlamore reporting on Falcons.
The Falcons are off today but tomorrow I will talk to receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones for a story to run Thursday online/Friday print.
I’m wondering if White and Jones have the potential to be among the greatest wide receiver duos in NFL history and need your help. Below is a list of some of the greatest tandems that I have put together. Let me know what you think. Did I leave a duo out? Have a pair ranked too high or too low?
May they one day be up there with John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, Steelers greats from 1974-82? We posed that question to Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan earlier in training camp.
“We have to win some Super Bowls before we can get compared to those two guys,” Ryan said. “But I think we can be really good. Really, very good. The two of them together are extremely unselfish. They just want to win and want to make plays. They push each other to get better. I think it’s a unique relationship that they have. I think they can be as good as anybody in the league.”
Here is my preliminary list:
1. John Stallworth/Lynn Swann, Steelers
2. Jerry Rice/John Taylor, 49ers
3. Mark Duper/Mark Clayton, Dolphins
4. Isaac Bruce/Torry Holt, Rams
5. Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne, Colts
6. Cliff Branch/Fred Biletnikoff, Raiders
7. Drew Pearson/Tony Hill, Cowboys
8. Art Monk/Gary Clark, Redskins
9. Cris Carter/Randy Moss, Vikings
10. Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin, Cardinals
Honorable mentions: Andre Reed/James Lofton, Bills; Jimmy Smith/Keenan McCardell, Jaguars; Eric Metcalf/Terance Mathis, Falcons
Jeff Schultz has already weighed in. He says Duper/Clayton are too high and Branch/Bilitnekoff are too low.
Let me know what you think and we will “refine.”
- Chris Vivlamore
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142 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
August 1st, 2012
8:01 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/37352/brees-comments-blown-out-of-proportion
Yeah. And the bounty situation was blown out of proportion, too.
All I hear is a bunch of whiny, pi$$ ant people from the same organization, offering up the same lies and lame alibis, now headlined by their famed QB. They’re all the same. Sorry to a fault.
They’d be better off just saying “It wasn’t me, it was the one-armed man”….whiiiiiiine….
Try being accountable for who and what you are, as well as what you say, for once. But I should know better. This is a tribe of scabs, cheaters, and back-biting slags.
New Orleans. What a dump.
Big Ray
August 1st, 2012
8:05 pm
I believe Desean Jackson/Jeremy Maclin better crack that list. They are far more dynamic than Julio/White and they are under 24 years old.
Can’t keep their heads in the game. And besides that…..
Jackson checks in well behind Roddy White last year, and only two spots ahead of then-rookie Julio Jones.
Jones, meanwhile, checks in at #25 on ESPN’s stat list last year, a whole 10 spots ahead of Maclin.
So tell me again just how dynamic they are? I’ll wait.
hiramsaint
August 1st, 2012
8:22 pm
when the season is over for the failclowns and you’ve reached the 0-4 status – you’ll be catching up to the viqueens as the most laughable franchise in the nfl . you’ll also be trying to get a new qb and hire a saints asst, to be your new h,c,
Michael M.
August 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
You can school the students but some just never learn Big Ray, that’s why they have special places for the ones that can’t be educated…………………back to the garbage talk ………….don’t worry about garbage hirmyaint……..the Falcons will take out the trash, if you get the drift…………enough said ! ! !
Bird Brain
August 1st, 2012
8:32 pm
Assuming they won’t drop many passes, they could be really good. Maybe worst hands tandem in the nfl but lots of yards after the catch if they catch.
Me Too
August 1st, 2012
8:32 pm
You are assuming Coach Mike Smith will not continue with his TENDENCY to play “MARTY BALL”.
The real question is “Will Coach Mike Smith and Coach Marty Schottenheimer be the NFL coach duo to win the most regular season games but to never win the big game?”
Marty Ball is a philosophy of football associated with and named after former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. In simple terms, it means a focus on the running game, with passing used only to further the running game.
Schottenheimer emphasizes offensive attacks that work as follows:
First down: a rushing play.
Second down: another rushing play.
Third down: a pass attempt.
Fourth down: punt (or field goal, if within range).
Fans (and critics) refer to this scheme as “Run, Run, Pass, Punt” (R2P2). Schottenheimer is considered to be a conservatively-minded coach with a majority of his focus on defense. The term “Marty Ball” is generally considered a pejorative because, at times, Schottenheimer will steadfastly continue to emphasize this form of offensive attack while attempting to hold on to a thin lead or when playing from behind – often with negative results.
In terms of regular season play in the NFL, Schottenheimer has run Marty Ball very successfully. During his coaching career with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers, Schottenheimer has compiled an impressive 200-126-1 record. His teams have won 8 division titles (Browns: Thrice. Chiefs: Thrice. Chargers: Twice.), made 13 trips to the NFL Playoffs (Browns: 4 trips. Chiefs: 7 trips. Chargers: Twice.), and have reached the AFC Championship Game 3 times (Browns: Twice. Chiefs: Once.). Unfortunately, he has failed to execute Marty Ball in the postseason, where he has an unimpressive 5-13 record and has never reached the Super Bowl.
Left Coast Dawg
August 1st, 2012
8:40 pm
@Chris V – What about Charlie Joiner & John Jefferson, I mean did you guys forget about the Air Coryell days??
jimcrumbley
August 1st, 2012
8:54 pm
Gotta win a super bowl before greatest ever is even a topic of discussion (though I do agree that they are mighty good!)
jaz
August 1st, 2012
8:56 pm
I suspect we will be the short-yard-specialists unless our line gives Ryan a lot more time in the pocket.
SeenThis B4
August 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
The Saints are focused on their mission: to avenge their coach; be defiant in the face of the NFL’s injustices; and win the Super Bowl. All the Saints haters will just become road splatter along the way.
Michael M.
August 1st, 2012
9:07 pm
@ Seen………….hahahahahaha,…………… thanks for the joke.
SeenThis B4
August 1st, 2012
9:13 pm
Keep laughing Michael, just like you did after both the Saints/falcan’ts games last year. LOL!
This year after those games, you’ll be on your knees with your head in your hands.
lol
August 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
hehehehehehehehehehe
crabapplejoe
August 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
I think the following two tandems will have a better year in 2012:
Green Bay: Jordy Nelson & Greg Jennings
Denver: Damarius Thomas & Eric Decker
tidog
August 1st, 2012
9:27 pm
Paul Warfield and Marlon Briscoe Miami dolphins
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 1st, 2012
9:33 pm
Webster Slaughter and Reggie Langhorne!!!
lol
August 1st, 2012
9:33 pm
SeenThis B4
Saints are focused on their mission: to avenge their coach; be defiant in the face of the NFL’s injustices; and win the Super Bowl.
heheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh
crabapplejoe
August 1st, 2012
9:35 pm
Best tandem all-time: Welker & Moss in 2007…….Welker drew a lot of double teams on third down freeing up Moss to get the glory with 31 TDs…..
How good will this tandem be? Not as good as the Saints...fact..
August 1st, 2012
9:48 pm
FAILCANTS are “me-2’s” aka wanna-be’s….you don’t have the coaching or leadership to maximize your talent….as a Saints fan, I will admit you have talent, but your coaching staff is a joke…you will never win a SB with Little Tommy and Fat Boy Mike…fact…Saints onthe NFC South….and we own you…you’re just not as good….we have beat you the last 8/10 games and after this season,it will be 10/12….it’s just the brutal facts of being a second tier team…who dat, we dat….
Saints troll > Falclowns
old qb
August 1st, 2012
9:57 pm
DOL–Wow, tv must not have reached the sunny south in the old days. Gonzalez, White, and Jones have potential, but the Chargers under Don Coryell had Wes Chandler, Charlie Joiner, and Kellen Winslow. And before Chandler they had JJ Jeferson. They called it “Air Coryell” for a reason. And without being too controversial I’d at the very minimum stack this group in the top three of all those listed.
Michael M.
August 1st, 2012
9:57 pm
This is a little off the duo thing but the best offensive unit as a whole I believe was Kurt Warner and the Rams…………………..nobody could stop them and they would put you in a deep hole playing catch up after the first quarter was over and no team today even compares to how quick that team could put the opponent away. Amazing,incredible ? No words can describe it. It was Warner takes the field and bombs away !
coacht
August 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
Jackson, Jenkins, Johnson
and the Raiders tandem of Fred B and Cliff B should be higher considering their post season success.
coacht
August 1st, 2012
10:19 pm
The Chargers had Lance Alworth (Hall of Famer) teamed with fullback Keith Lincoln who was a primary short target for QB John Hadl……something else watching Alworth tear folks up….he was something else…Could have been pro in three sports. “Bambi” was smoooooth.
old qb
August 1st, 2012
10:56 pm
Hey Coacht. You’re forgetting Paul Lowe. I was at the game they beat the Boston Patriots for the title in San Diego. I think they beat the Pats something like 63-9. And Bambi gets me into all kinds of arguments because he was every bit of Jerry Rice. I’ve never seen a receiver that could go up so high to snag a pass. He made the tallest of cornerbacks look like they were running in cement boots. They called him Bambi for a reason.
Slaw Dawg
August 1st, 2012
11:12 pm
Are you kidding me!!!! What are you smoking?
old qb
August 1st, 2012
11:20 pm
Slaw Dawg. Be careful, you’re showing your ignorance. There wasn’t a cornerback alive that could stop Alworth. He was a once in a lifetime receiver. Rice played longer and rightfully garnered all the awards and is a true hall of famer, but if you never saw Alworth play I think whatever you’re smoking is coming out your butt.
Saints R.E.A.M.
August 1st, 2012
11:21 pm
Probably about as good as Sproles & Graham.”…in your dreams!!!!
Left Coast Dawg
August 1st, 2012
11:29 pm
@old qb – I had you beat on the Air Coryell reference but good to know I wasn’t alone
weetheresearcher
August 2nd, 2012
1:11 am
Honorable mention: Alford Jenkins/ Action Jackson- Falcons
todd
August 2nd, 2012
2:47 am
if u want to prove you know nothing about football, base your opinion on which WR’s are best by going by who had the least dropped balls… By that logic Golden Tate and Jabbar Gaffney are among the NFL’S best. White had more catches than those 2 combined. you see, the system is fundamentally flawed- some drops are worse than others. wes welker dropped a lot of balls. do people say he has bad hands? this statistic is for losers.
usbummer
August 2nd, 2012
8:18 am
Who did “Bullet” Bob Hayes of the Cowboys team up with?
Matt Riddle
August 2nd, 2012
8:20 am
I think if White stays on top of his health he can play at an elite level for at least another 5 years. Just look at Steve Smith now that he has Newton throwing to him. If these two can click with Ryan we will be one of the top offenses for a long time!
RAM265
August 2nd, 2012
8:50 am
As far as the Falcons go…I’m thinking Alfred Jenkins / Alfred Jackson!!!
Brian Rice
August 2nd, 2012
10:15 am
NICE LIST JUST THINK YOUR MISSING MICHEAL IRVIN/ALVIN HARPER
Geemack
August 2nd, 2012
10:42 am
Let them get a 1000 yards receiving each in the same season, win a playoff game, and the Super Bowl. Then we can talk about being a great duo. Until then put this article on Ice. The top 5 duo’s on that list won a Super Bowl. You don’t fail to score in a playoff game behind a great WR tandem.
Nowwehaveasecondary!
August 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
Larry,
I was only referring to the first game played in the Georgia Dome in 1992. The Falcons beat the Jets 20 – 17. The play I am referring to was the first pass play in the Georgia Dome and I think it was the first offensive play in the Georgia Dome. I think it was an 80 yard reception instead of 72 yards also as the Falcons took possession on the 20 after the kick-off.
I think I confused the 72 yard touchdown Michael Haynes had with a play against the Redskins in Washington. Michael Haynes caught a pass with Darrell Green covering him. Michael Haynes at the point of reception had a step on him and I remember thinking this is going to go for a few more yards and Darrell Green will catch him. Not only did Darrell Green not catch him, but Michael Haynes pulled away from him as he ran down the field. Darryl Green was the fastest man in the NFL for many years. Michael Haynes is the only player I ever saw run away from Darrell Green, and Darrell Green is a HOFer.
The Falcons were beyond stupid to let Michael Haynes walk as free agent to the Saints when his contract expired. His size, speed, and hands made him the equal of any elite deep threat receiver of his day.
mike addington
August 2nd, 2012
1:59 pm
Orr/Berry
hiramsaint
August 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
seenthisb4/hiramsaint- best tandem to wreak havoc and turn all failclown blogs into saints blogs.
SeenThis B4
August 2nd, 2012
6:13 pm
GEAUX SAINTS!!!
hiramsaint
August 2nd, 2012
6:23 pm
where ‘yat seen ? hope i wasn’t being to presumptuous with my above post. this is kind of like pre-season for me , you know-whoopin’ up on the lesser fans in preparation of going to real team sites to have some fun !
A season of promise for White-Jones receiving duo | Atlanta Falcons
August 2nd, 2012
10:57 pm
[...] White-Jones dynamic duo was fifth in yards by wideouts in the NFL last season. They combined for 2,255 receiving yards. They trailed only the Giants’ Victor Cruz and Hakeem [...]
Stephen
August 3rd, 2012
2:26 pm
Wow, Roddy looks bigger than Julio in that pic