Roddy White’s day shows Falcons the possibilities
This one-handed grab was one of Roddy White's 11 catches, two for TDs. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Nothing like a little drama, right? The Falcons turned a 24-3 lead into a 25-24 deficit and suddenly nobody at the Georgia Dome knew whether they were a Super Bowl contender or a genetic mutation from the Marion Campbell era, returning for a haunting.
But they won, and it’s important to remember how they won. They were aggressive. They attacked. They didn’t run an offense like you would throw a dart. They ran an offense like you would fire a bazooka.
Remember this game. Because if the Falcons go on to make something special of this season, it will be partly because of the lessons learned in Sunday’s frenetic 39-32 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Matt Ryan threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He even passed on third and short. Roddy White had the kind of game Jerry Rice used to have: 11 catches covering 201 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion — those last eight points giving the Falcons the lead back immediately following a third-quarter, 22-point meltdown. He couldn’t be stopped.
“We’ve been doing some good things with the offense but today we took a lot of shots down field,” White said. “We were more aggressive with the play-calling and it paid off.”
Behold, the offense.
Falcons coach Mike Smith is old school. He’s all about physical play on defense and running the ball on offense. That’s fine to a point. The problem here is that the Falcons have weapons that at times haven’t been fully utilized.
It also has seemed that Ryan has been kept under wraps more in season three than he was in season one. Whether that has been the decision of Smith or offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, or just perception, can’t be certain. But there’s little question what we saw Sunday is not what we’ve been seeing lately. In the last three weeks, there were unimpressive victories over San Francisco and Cleveland and an ugly loss at Philadelphia.
Criticism of the offensive philosophy and play-calling grew as loud as it ever had been since the latest regime took over. And, yes, some of it was internal.
When asked jokingly if players had been standing outside coaches’ offices carrying torches, wide receiver Brian Finneran smiled and responded: “No, but I’m sure they heard the rumblings.”
The Falcons didn’t need a completely new offensive identity. They just needed to improve the old one. There’s no reason to be an eight-track offense in a digital world.
How much better does the running game get if a defense knows Ryan is willing to come out firing?
Appropriately, White was the centerpiece Sunday. He should be the centerpiece every week. As Smith conceded: “He’s probably been our best player through the first seven games. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”
The Falcons believe White is an elite receiver. It’s why they gave him a six-year, $48 million contract last year. When there are that many zeroes on a contract, you should expect performances like this.
On the third play from scrimmage, White burned the Bengals for 46 yards on a crossing route. Two plays later, on second and 12, he caught a high bullet from Ryan for 18 yards at the Bengals’ 14, setting up the game’s first touchdown.
White opened the second quarter with his best catch of the day. Going against Adam “Pacman” Jones in single coverage down the right sideline, he made a one-handed grab of a Ryan throw for a 23-yard gain at the Cincinnati 33. Later in the quarter, on third and one from the Bengals’ 43, White again beat Jones in single coverage for a touchdown.
“That was a huddle call [by Ryan],” White said. “We haven’t thrown the ball out of that formation all year. That was our shot.”
White played a role in the blown lead. With the Falcons ahead 24-19, he made a catch but was stripped by Jones, who returned it 59 yards for a score. But Ryan drove the Falcons right back, finishing an eight-play touchdown drive with an 11-yard pass to White. Moments later, White leaped through the ozone for a two-point conversion.
“Hopefully,” center Todd McClure said, “this is a formula for success that we can use every week.”
Now there’s a concept.
♦
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244 comments Add your comment
Mr Charlie
October 24th, 2010
10:04 pm
Ok, Petrino is a better coach than Mora. So is the recievers coach for the Atlanta Colts. Petrino is still a coward.
Stendek
October 24th, 2010
10:05 pm
I’m back. Just was having a chat with Jeff about all my years in journalism leading to my Pulitzer Prize. He mentioned that I was probably taking more than my share of comments on the blog. He, also, said I was basically a bigmouth with a big head and that I really didn’t know what I was talking about, even though I act like I know everything. Further, he likened me to Cliff Clabourn on “Cheers.”
Well, I guess I have some apologizing to do. I’m sorry. Stendek.
Spete bird dawg
October 24th, 2010
10:05 pm
I’m the glad = to many beers–thank you good night
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:06 pm
Oct. 8, 2010
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2010/10/08/roddy-white-learned-how-to-go-hard-in-the-paint/
falconfan 24-7
October 24th, 2010
10:07 pm
We have a bye next week and the Aints have the Steelers. Yes!
Jeff Schultz
October 24th, 2010
10:08 pm
Stendek — If you’re Cliffy, I guess I’m Norm.
MWC
October 24th, 2010
10:08 pm
“Seen” alert on Ledbetter blog.
Same old crap.
UGABugKiller
October 24th, 2010
10:09 pm
Jeff, to be fair… no one wants to make any of these blogs a racial issue. These are supposed to be a fun place to come and cheer or complain or debate or bust balls or whatever.
These blogs are supposed to be kind of like the atmosphere you’d get at a sports bar.
HONEST debate about Matt Ryan and Michael Vick is NEVER a problem.
What is the problem are the people whose sole reason for loving Vick and hating Ryan is based on race.
They do not come on the blogs to add any honest debate. They don’t come on the blogs to start a spirited, yet factual argument.
They come on the blogs to spread their hate.
They are NO different than the people whose sole purpose for hating Vick before AND after the truth came out about his sick activities was race.
No different.
Sometimes, you read that crap enough, and you just want to cut through it. So I cut through it. If that offended anyone, or you, my pointing out the reason for their hate, then I apologize.
You just sick of the irrationality and illogical nature of these people’s hate for a guy who’s done nothing but be a major part of the rebirth of this franchise, after THEIR guy napalmed it (with help from The Snake).
So there you go.
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:09 pm
Jeff
Don’t you have to be Frasier to deal will all us Crazies?
Jeff Schultz
October 24th, 2010
10:09 pm
For those who mentioned Paul (not Bobby) Petrino earlier, he’s a very good coach. Falcons wanted to keep him even after his spineless brother’s departure.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:10 pm
They did it against Arizona, you get a big lead and went soft… Come on now,,,
falconfan 2
October 24th, 2010
10:11 pm
What are the chances that Petrino (with the Razorbacks) return to the Ga Dome in this years SEC championship game?
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:11 pm
Norm!!!
Sammy: “Vera’s waiting, give me another beer!”
Chop Buster
October 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
Whatever they did today offense wise, they’d better keep doing. We have too many weapons on our offense to keep running quicksand legs Turner up the middle. That OL has to keep protecting Ryan in order to make those deep throws. Let’s see how they come out against the Bucs, Ravens & Packers after the bye before we anoint this offense back to 2008.
MWC
October 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
Well said BugKiller.
Mr Charlie
October 24th, 2010
10:15 pm
Falconfan 2. None.
falconfan 2
October 24th, 2010
10:16 pm
I concur. Ledbetter blogs are boring and lame.
ryan
October 24th, 2010
10:17 pm
Brock Lesnar and the UnderTaker at the Georgia Dome WrestleMania 27 !
Mr Charlie
October 24th, 2010
10:18 pm
Wrestlemania 27, LOL.
Stendek
October 24th, 2010
10:20 pm
I suck. Stendek.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:24 pm
Sorry, I just stopped laughing… Let me read it again… I’ll be back after I get done changing myself… “You just sick of the irrationality and illogical nature of these people’s hate for a guy who’s done nothing but be a major part of the rebirth of this franchise, after THEIR guy napalmed it.” Just wow!
falconfan 2
October 24th, 2010
10:26 pm
Coach Mike Murlarkey never gets the credit when we win. He only get heat when we lose. Not fair. He called a outstanding game today. That’s a bunch of murlarkey. Geez.
Falcon Jim
October 24th, 2010
10:28 pm
Yup, JSS. I think you pulled out the winner for tonight. DUH. HUH. WHAT?
“I didn’t vote for it after I voted for it……………….or?”
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:29 pm
JSS
what are you having to change yourself over?
MV7=No Moral Compass when he played for the Falcons. Sex,Drugs, Partying, and Blowing Money. Oh, and play a lil football when they made him.
Jeff Schultz
October 24th, 2010
10:29 pm
UGABugKilller — Some of your comments are on the mark. But best thing to do is just ignore the race debate. I’ll take care of the ones who stir it.
falconfan 2
October 24th, 2010
10:30 pm
@ Geno
What do you expect?. Murlarkey is a former NFL tight end.
Jeff Schultz
October 24th, 2010
10:30 pm
5150 — No. Frasier’s a wimpy. I’m definitely Norm. One of funniest characters ever.
Jeff Schultz
October 24th, 2010
10:31 pm
Falconfan2 — Pretty much zero. Auburn or Alabama is winning the SEC West.
Jeff Schultz
October 24th, 2010
10:33 pm
JSS ..
Woody (as Norm enters the bar): “Hey, what’s going on Mr. Peterson?”
Norm: “Woody, let’s talk about what’s going in Mr. Peterson.” (Beer)
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:34 pm
No stirring on my part… That is just crazy talk! POAD, I said why, and I’m sticking to it!
PMC
October 24th, 2010
10:34 pm
I kind of expected that out of the defense, after all the two most important defensive players after Lofton are Weatherspoon and Robinson and they also lost Decoud. To have both those guys out and do what they did in the first half is remarkable. I think they came out flat in the second half but part of that was lack of depth too.
To get the win is all that mattered really. But.. to get the win and it be on the offense for once is sweet. Nice job 39 pts!
Roddy White’s game today is why I didn’t understand why he didn’t get the ball last week until 6 minutes were left in the 2nd quarter.
This lets try to pound the run garbage for 2 quarters has been counter productive this season. Roddy White is uncoverable this year. Until teams decide they have to all but mug him get him the ball early and often.
Mularky really did a nice job today on the play calls mixing, but going pass heavy early. They have a good secondary, but it got Matt Ryan hot, Roddy was on fire, and that opened up some for the runners.
Not to mention, they took something from Philly last week, left the TE’s inside more even double TE’s on passes for Max Protect. Worked brilliantly.
Just a really nice scheme from Mularky this week. I hope we see more of this.
UGABugKiller
October 24th, 2010
10:37 pm
By the way, Jeff… if anyone at Cheers is Cliff… that’d be me.
The annoying guy spouting trivial trivia.
Hey, at least I know who I am.
And I’m guessing JSS is very much a Diane.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:38 pm
Norm Peterson, the greatest nare-de-well in TV history next to Uncle Joe on ‘Petticoat Junction.’
PMC
October 24th, 2010
10:38 pm
I mean really, this is still a REALLY YOUNG defense guys. The pass rush is nowhere near elite, secondary is still getting there. With full compliment they are stout against the run and pretty good against the pass. Cincinatti has teriffic talent at WR, TE, RB and QB. Those guys are going to score points.
The Falcons beat a really talented but mistake prone football team today. I’ll take the win.
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:39 pm
Who is pulling for Green Bay? I think I want Minn. but I am not sure the Falcons would match up better against if we had to play them later. I don’t think the Bears win that div. I think I want the Vikes tonight.
falconfan 24-7
October 24th, 2010
10:39 pm
This Blogs is missing something.
Yes, you guessed it, the Aint fans. I need to put out an APB on Hiram Saint. Anyone know of his whereabouts? He was a fun guy.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:41 pm
Sorry there ASA, I’m “Frank Pembleton” on ‘Homicide: Life on the Streets.’
falconfan 24-7
October 24th, 2010
10:41 pm
@ 5150,
The Pack is on our schedule. We play them later in the Dome.
UGABugKiller
October 24th, 2010
10:42 pm
JSS… if you’re referring to crazy because of confusion with subject verb agreement, then I have to say, that’s my fault, as I was crafting what I was trying to say, I deleted passages and added them.
Even though I have a Mac and the awesome Safari that comes with, sometimes I don’t catch all of my mistakes all of the time.
But if you’re saying the implied content of what I was saying is crazy, then you’re no Diane at all.
No… you’re Nick Tortelli, and my dbag reading of you is right on.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:44 pm
I ain’t skinny, I ain’t blonde, I got a career, I already have two degrees, and I only cite the ASA in the APA format…
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:45 pm
Jeff maybe you are Bob Newhart that funny dry witted srink with the Smoking Hot Wife.
I want to be Nick Tortelly. Dumb as a rock with the Hot Bimbo.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:46 pm
No BugKiller…
I said it because it is crazy talk!
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:48 pm
@ PMC, you’re list is good until mentioned QB in Cincinnati…
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:50 pm
@ POAD…
You mean Casey Kasem’s wife?
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:51 pm
JSS yes. Can you believe those 2 are married? What a strange looking couple.
Falcon Jim
October 24th, 2010
10:52 pm
PMC,
As usual, your last two comments were “spot on.” I really enjoy your perspectives and respect your comments. Thanks.
F.J.
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:53 pm
Casey with the Fake Jet Black hair and his voice then her with the Fake Platnium Blonde hair and that voice. I am glad they never released a SEX TAPE. ahahhahahahahhahahahahah
Al Davis
October 24th, 2010
10:53 pm
Just win baby!
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 24th, 2010
10:55 pm
GB turns it over on downs leading by 4. Didn’t make it on 4th and short.
JSS
October 24th, 2010
10:56 pm
Hey, he has the great equalizer, money and a personality… Never underestimate either one of those two assets when it comes to woo! Ain’t that right Jeff Schultz?