Roddy White not in denial: ‘I just have to get better’
Falcons wide receiver Roddy White admits he needs to play better. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons wore their throwback uniforms last Sunday against New Orleans, and some unfortunate symmetry that day was we witnessed a throwback version of Roddy White.
Until two catches in the team’s next to-last possession of the fourth quarter, White had two catches, two drops and two 15-yard penalties. It was a reminder of the young and immature White who looked like a draft mistake for two seasons, not the player who evolved into a three-time Pro Bowler and a difference-maker who commanded a $48 million contract.
White has not had a great season. He openly admits it. There’s something to be said for that, especially given he plays a position that breeds prima donnas. But if the Falcons’ wide receiver doesn’t start resembling something closer to the player who caught 28 touchdown passes in his previous three seasons and had a career-high 115 receptions last year, there is little chance this Falcons’ season will turn into anything special.
When asked if he needs to perform better, White didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely. I have to make significant plays and game-changing plays for us to win.”
It’s a really nice story that Harry Douglas was targeted 14 times and made eight catches against the Saints. But if Douglas is leaving White (seven targets, four catches) in the dust on the stat sheet, something is wrong.
Roddy White said he welcomed the team's addition of Julio Jones, disputing conjecture that he is "pouting." (Curtis Compton/AJC)
There are several theories about why White’s production is down. One involves Julio Jones. There is this theory espoused by White’s critics that when the Falcons invested heavily to draft the Alabama wide receiver, it was a shot to White’s ego and he has been pouting ever since. Honestly, I haven’t seen any evidence to support this, but I felt obliged to ask White, anyway. This all goes back to the wide receivers-can-be-high-maintenance theory.
“I’ve never pouted or cried about the situation,” White said. “Julio makes us more explosive. He’s a great player and he’s going to be a great player for a long time. But I look at my stats and it’s not where I want them to be. I’ve had chances to makes plays. I’ve dropped too many balls this year. I just have to get better. I have to find ways to help our team.”
White has 15 catches in the last four games (3.75 per). He had 32 in the first five (6.4). His nine-game totals — 47 catches for 563 yards and three touchdowns – project to 84 catches, 1001 yards and 5 TDs. The reception total, while down from last year, is right at his career average. But the projected yardage and touchdowns would be his worst since his second season in 2006.
There are several potential reasons for the decline. One is obvious: White just needs to be better. He can’t lose his temper every time something goes wrong. Last Sunday, he jumped a New Orleans player who he felt was “mushing [Douglas's] head into the ground after a play” and was flagged for a personal foul.
White gets into trouble when he lets his lack of production lead to a blown fuse. Quoting: “Sometimes you get frustrated when you’ve had success in this league and suddenly things aren’t going your way.”
The other issue is more big picture: design and play-calling. An offense with White, Jones, Douglas, Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers should rank higher than 12th in yardage and 16th in scoring.
That’s on offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who seemingly is struggling to blend Jones and Rodgers into the offense. White said the offense lacks “chemistry.”
“I feel like we’re really far away from where we need to be,” he said. “We have to figure this thing out. … Last year everything went right for us. We could do no wrong. This year it’s been a whole lot different. Defensive coordinators have found ways to know some of the things we’re doing and they’re dialing up the right coverages for it. … We have to do a better job mixing things up, maybe spread guys out and going to four- and five-wide receiver sets and see what we can do.”
But White knows every scheme requires a playmaker. That’s where he comes in.
By Jeff Schultz
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159 comments Add your comment
bucky
November 15th, 2011
5:09 pm
Trade White & go bring back Megatron “Calvin Johnson” to Atlanta
Matty
November 15th, 2011
5:11 pm
bucky- you are an idiot why would you do that?????
Green Bay Day
November 15th, 2011
5:11 pm
Exactly. He underthrew H.Douglas by 10 yards on one deep throw.
Also Abraham & R.Edwards got zero sacks or pressure on Brees.
ScottBravesFan
November 15th, 2011
5:12 pm
I don’t understand how Mike Mularkey still has a job. Even last year when the offense was going good it was really bland. He never puts more than three wide outs out there and usually it’s just two. Really predictive offense.
Green Bay Day
November 15th, 2011
5:14 pm
Schultz, why no mention of the lack of pressure put on Brees ?
bucky
November 15th, 2011
5:15 pm
Johnson is the REAL DEAL whereas White is a HEAD CASE with the DROPS!
#84 "THE" DIVA
November 15th, 2011
5:15 pm
What an unprofessional FOOL for ALL to see sunday!!! Not only has this BIG WHINEY BABY let his game slip HE shows his fanny ALL game long by RUNNING HIS BIG FAT MOUTH & LETTING HIS TEAMMATES & FANS DOWN BY MAKING ERROR UPON ERROR BY MISSING IMPORTANT BLOCKS THAT COULD HAVE PROVIDED BIG RUN & PASS PLAYS!!! TRUTH BE TOLD #11 HAS GOT INTO HIS HEAD B/C HE HAS TO SHARE THE BALL & HES NOT “THE” MAN!!! SMITTY………..BEST GET THIS CAT ON BOARD OR YOU’LL BE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE NEXT!!! REMEMBER WHAT GLANVILLE SAID……THIS IS THE NFL WHICH STANDS FOR,NOT FOR LONG,IF THIS CRAP CONTINUES!!!!
SeenThisBFalcon
November 15th, 2011
5:17 pm
It’s quite obvious that the FALCONS as a whole are not playing up to their potential. We can play with any team in the league but when it comes down to making a statement we haven’t this year. The Falcon players don’t seem to want it like the Green Bay’s and New Orleans teams. The Falcons have played asleep all year when they wake up hopefully we will start winning. There is no reason we shouldn’t win 6 out of the 7 last games…
Matty
November 15th, 2011
5:17 pm
Green Bay Day- are we the only two that notices that, the game was over he didnt underthrow him….
Green Bay Day
November 15th, 2011
5:18 pm
Johnson ? You mean Julio Jones ?
Green Bay Day
November 15th, 2011
5:22 pm
The culprits Sunday were Roddy,Ryan,Abraham,& Edwards. Drew Brees jersey was unstained all game.
Gamer
November 15th, 2011
5:24 pm
YES IT FACTUAL TO SAY THAT RODDY WHITE ISN’T HAVING A PRO BOWLER’S SEASON SO FAR…..BUT RODDY IS STILL ON PACE FOR A 1000 YARD SEASON..
RODDY DEFINITELY REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST RECEIVERS IN THE LEAGUE…HE JUST NEED TO PLAY MORE PHYSICAL TO THE BALL BECAUSE HIS DEFENDERS AREATTACKING HIM OR THE BALL FIERCELY.
SO RODDY JUST NEED TO CONCENTRATE AND PLAY MORE AGGRESSIVE TO THE BALL ON EVERY DOWN THEN MORE PASS INTERFERENCE CALLS WILL BE CALL IN HIS FAVOR…HE CAN’T LET UP BECAUSE DEFENDERS ARE PLAYING VERY PHYSICAL ON HIM.
RODDY WHITE IS A STRONG PHYSICAL AND MENTALLY TOUGH RECEIVER WITH GREAT ROUTE RUNNING CAPABILITIES..
EVENTUALLY RODDY WILL TURN ON HIS TURBOS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON…
FALCONS RE-FOCUS..START ANOTHER WIN STREAK.
A Falcon Six-Pack of Questions: Week 11 vs. Titans | Falcons Focus – Atlanta Falcons Blog, Opinion and Analysis
November 15th, 2011
5:34 pm
[...] Will Mularkey figure out how to get the offense in sync before it’s too late? I thought Roddy White’s quote in Tuesday’s edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was awfully telling about the direction [...]
Matty
November 15th, 2011
5:39 pm
Bucky- but when hes on point and in beast mode you praise him, you are rediculous… you’re not a true fan.
Matty
November 15th, 2011
5:45 pm
You so called falcons fans are ridiculous, you all are not true Dirty Birds… Are you all blind to the fact that roddy white is the best receiver EVER to come to us, wheres the loyalty… and you throw under the bus because hes been off as of late, You make me sick….
crackertroy
November 15th, 2011
6:00 pm
I remember telling my buddy on that fourth down call, this is a bad idea. Our defense could have stopped NO. BUT the mistake was well before the fourth down call. The New Orleans defense was gassed out. They could hardly stand up. We should have run Turner up the middle all the way to the touchdown during the first OT drive. The birds gave the game to the Saints after a remarkable 4th quarter comeback. Painful to watch.
Eric C.
November 15th, 2011
6:06 pm
Matty, I’m right there with you…the underthrow to Douglas in OT was the game. Ryan’s mechanics on the play were flawless and it was a beautiful throw…just couldn’t get enough on it. Dimitroff needs to put more weight on arm strength in the future.
Andrew
November 15th, 2011
6:30 pm
Amazing video of a high school player from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team.
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
Seattle Falcons Fan
November 15th, 2011
6:46 pm
All can be forgiven with a trip to the playoffs and a playoff win. This time last year Green Bay wasn’t even making the playoffs.
Atlanta fan
November 15th, 2011
6:51 pm
I wish the Falcons, Braves and Hawks would just do us a favor and LEAVE TEAM. YOU ALL SUCK!
danny
November 15th, 2011
6:57 pm
I, also, am starting to wonder about Matt Ryan. It’s up to the QB to target the wide receivers. Ryan has a weak and inaccurate arm. When he throws a ball further than 20 yards, he has no idea where it’s going. Of course your offense will struggle when you have to bottle up the field for your QB. Not taking all the blame off of Mularkey but can you imagine calling plays against an NFL defense knowing you CANNOT dial one up for longer than 20 yards?
YellowJacket
November 15th, 2011
7:02 pm
Unlike Roddy White, Steve Smith would have made that catch in the endzone that would have would won the Falcons game. That’s pathetic. Roddy’s a whiner, he has to go.
Michael M.
November 15th, 2011
7:06 pm
Mike Smith going for it on a fourth-and-1 in overtime from his own 29-yard-line was the single dumbest, lowest percentage call I’ve ever seen from a coach. It wasn’t like the New Orleans Saints were putting on an offensive clinic. Atlanta made some stops in the fourth quarter. If you fail, you lose, putting the Saints in automatic field-goal range. The Falcons failed. The Falcons lost. It was totally ridiculous and unacceptable.
This is floating around out there…..
#84 "THE" DIVA
November 15th, 2011
7:19 pm
@ Gamer,once upon a time he was ALL THAT,THIS PAST SUNDAY THAT GUY YOU DISCRIBE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!!!!
Mikey
November 15th, 2011
7:25 pm
Wow! I’m glad I never had to play for this bunch of “fans”. All is not lost! There were mistakes made but there were also so many great plays that the Falcons almost won that game. I don’t know whether anyone noticed but the score was so close that they had to go into overtime to determine the outcome. I don’t fault Smitty for taking a shot on fourth and inches but I sure did not like the play nor the amount of time it took to get it off. Had it worked, and had the Falcons won, Smitty and any of those who made mistakes would have been heros. I saw a lot to be proud of in that game and the few mistakes that we saw are all relatively easy to fix. I was very sorry to see the re-emergence of the bonehead penalties again and they sure hurt as they always do. Roddy did serious damage to the team with his big penalties. I know he is better than that and I hope he learns from this. They will get a chance to fix it on every game between now and their next meeting with the Saints. All they have to do is continue to progress and get better every week, winning one week at a time.
Larry
November 15th, 2011
7:30 pm
“The other issue is more big picture: design and play-calling. An offense with White, Jones, Douglas, Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers should rank higher than 12th in yardage and 16th in scoring.
That’s on offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who seemingly is struggling to blend Jones and Rodgers into the offense. White said the offense lacks “chemistry.”
Bingo!
Notice how effective Ryan and the offense was during the last 5 minutes of regulation when Ryan was calling the shots? And notice how ineffective the first 55 minutes of regulation and overtime when Mularkey was sending in the plays?
As Greg Knapp inhibited the effectiveness and limited the skill of Vick, Mularkey has done the same with Ryan…this isn’t rocket science, you know!
SeenThisB4
November 15th, 2011
7:40 pm
As a Thanksgiving gesture and your viewing pleasure, I just want to let y’all know that NFL Network will be replaying the Saints/falcan’ts game on NFL Replay tomorrow night at 8:00pm eastern, 7:00pm Central. Enjoy!
PappyHappy
November 15th, 2011
7:42 pm
Will say this for Roddy. He is not making excuses. He will get better.
take it from me.
November 15th, 2011
7:45 pm
That saints game was the defining moment in this lost season.Tell Roddy and all his freinds,its over!7-9. playoffs, who said playoffs!
Death Watch for UGA IX
November 15th, 2011
7:54 pm
I can’t remember why we signed Ray Edwards. Oh yeah, now I remember. To give us a 2 prong rushing attack. I wonder what ever happened with that.
boby
November 15th, 2011
7:56 pm
MICHEAL H THE FALCONS HAD TO GET RID OF MICHEAL JENKINS HE WAS NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE THE GUY DID NOT HAVE ONE 100 YARD GAME IN HIS CAREER.
Boggs
November 15th, 2011
8:01 pm
How about something on edwards. 2 sacks? Wow might as well line me up and I will work for just 500k a year instread of his 5 million.
whodat70816
November 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
@crockertroy….I love when Falcon fans like yourself say the Falcons just gave the game to the Saints….Well, the Saints defense handed the Falcons their great 4th Quarter comback. Trust me Matty Ice and Douglas aren’t that good.
The Falcons had a choice to go for it on 4th and inches or punt. They chose to go for it and the Saints Defense stuffed them to take that game away from them.
Was it a bad choice or bad play to call….either way the Falcons made their decision and the Saints Defense stood up! or did the RISE UP?
Occupy Losers
November 15th, 2011
8:07 pm
Fannie and Freddie ceo’s set to receive millions in bonuses. Over the past 2 years, they’ve paid out over 100 million. But the occupy idiots only want to go after the private sector. Why? Because they want the feds to distribute more money to them. In other words, they want to reward lazyness and losers. Unless things are changed, we will be greece in 3 years.
falcon fan 24/7
November 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
A win on this Sunday will cure all ailments. Go Falcons.
falcon fan 24/7
November 15th, 2011
8:19 pm
Aint fans get lost. Isn’t your team editor smart enough to design your own blog!
lester
November 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
Roddy is jealous of all the julio talk/He was the main man last year/He thinks we have forgotten him/Please roddy quit the high school behavior/U are still the man
West Coast Falcons Fan
November 15th, 2011
8:57 pm
Am I the only one that’s concerned with Julio pulling both hamstrings a few weeks apart? He needs to train with a track coach or somebody who can strengthen them! I have a feeling that was Mike Smith’s call on the fourth and inches play in overtime. You remember the Lions game when Quizz was out there on a third and goal play from the one and Smith called timeout and took Quizz out. He put Turner in and ran him up the middle and the Lions stopped him and we had to settle for a field goal. I believe Coach Smith overrides Mularkey on some occasions when he tries to get creative. Maybe Coach Smith needs to take the handcuffs of Mularkey and let him be a little creative with all the offensive weapons we have. Just a thought! Go Falcons!!!!!!
Great article on the Falcons
November 15th, 2011
9:08 pm
NOT! The Saints have now won 9 of 11 games in the series against the FAILCANTS under Payton, including five of six at the Georgia Dome. Payton’s Saints now own the Falcons and the GA DOME!!!!
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA….WHO DAT! WE DAT WITH THE SMARTER COACH!!!!
Roddy White is just a thug from nowhere, AL
November 15th, 2011
9:09 pm
FACT!
Saints > FALCLOWNS
November 15th, 2011
9:10 pm
FACT! don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got a ring….man, it must su.ck to not have a SB Championship and to know you nevah will…..rise up….fall down…lmao….
Samuel L. Jackson
November 15th, 2011
9:34 pm
WHAT DO FALCONS DO?????!!!!! LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EGGS!!!!!
Michael M.
November 15th, 2011
9:38 pm
Tomorrow night at 8 we can watch a replay of that dumb run call that cost the Falcons the Win,,,,,,,,,,
Stupid call,,,,,run straight up the middle,grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !
Some I heard say we need to get Terrell Owens, some I heard say we need to get Randy Moss…………….maybe we can get Bret Favre also in a deal !
We got our own T. O. ( White) , Moss ( Jones) and Favre ( Ryan) . What we need is some level-headed coaching on all sides of the Team and you would see results !
Michael M.
November 15th, 2011
9:42 pm
I left this out of that
They even let the Saints call a time out to get set up for that stupid run up the middle with their run prevent.
Good call though…..no guts,no glory on going for it on 4th.
Michael M.
November 15th, 2011
10:02 pm
Speak of the Devil………..new webpage site out fellas, about Houston
check it out
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/942584-why-the-houston-texans-should-give-brett-favre-a-call
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
November 15th, 2011
10:03 pm
Face Realily – 2004 will be the last playoff win until the new regime takes over
Dan
November 16th, 2011
12:16 am
Roddy grow up sad to say that someone who has been in the league this long actually needs to look up to Julio Jones and see how to be mature and act. I mean yea your a good player but man your costing the Falcons with your baby attitude. How many weeks now is it that your getting penalties because the cornerback said something about your mommy. Ok look your job is a WR and a WR job is to catch the ball? Why is there suppose to be a big production and act over I caught the ball for something that you are paid to do. There is also a result with your actions first is we can lose the game, not make the playoffs, cost a coach a job, not have home field advanatage which cost hotels, food places, rent a cars, Delta flights for customers because Roddy has to get up after catching the ball and let everyone know he did it? I didn see Roddy jawing when he dropped the ball twice once costing us a TD to beat the Saints. Roddy F’n grow up! I really dont undertand why this behavior is excepted now in the NFL? All I know if Vince Lombardi was our coach Roddy and Vince would be in the hospital for same operation. They would have to remove Vince’s foot from Roddy’s Ass.
TheAntiMe
November 16th, 2011
1:43 am
Dan pretty much touched on a key part of what I had to say as to Roddy and his knack this season for committing big penalties at the worst times – he can really start helping the team if he would stop hurting the team with his well-intentioned but totally foolish penalties. They have been killers for the Falcons this year and no doubt his boss has let him know about it.
Also, we can live with some dropped passes here and there. Lord knows, we survived the Michael Jenkins years but another problem with Roddy – and maybe it is just part of an overall offensive problem – but Roddy has always been a very good blocker on plays that are designed for another player to either go outside or upfield and he just isn’t executing his blocks as effectively as he had been doing for the past few seasons. It was more noticeable during the Saints game this week but I think Roddy would tell you himself that he could be doing a better job this season of executing on plays that are designed for him to block as well as the plays where he is an option at receiver.
Mr Charlie
November 16th, 2011
1:54 am
Choke! There ya are….Did you mean to post that on the Philly blog?
trademark
November 16th, 2011
3:30 am
Thanks Jeff, great column. I have been dying all week to hear something tangible regarding the situation with White, the crap coming out of Mike Smith’s mouth was intolerable, it sounded like Jim Mora Jr….or maybe it was “suggested” for him to say from A Blank. I dunno, it seems the only link to me. At White…thank you for manning up. You are a great competitor of Pro-Bowl caliber. Not everyone can do what you do, let alone at this level. And the fact that you realize that there is something somewhere to be fixed is a very positive step in the right direction. Probably this is the best thing I’ve heard from the whole team this year. No excuses, just moving forward. Thank you Roddy, you will get there.
On the rest of the situation, I hate to say it, but it has a very “LA Dodgers” feel to it. Remember what happened there? A divorce, a battle, the owner goes bat-sh§(`” crazy, and the mangers, coaches and team suffers. A Blank, go home and sulk, you might be the owner of the team, but damn, man, you of all people should understand to treat an investment like this better than this. Heavy handed management is never a good idea, especially in the NFL. The people that YOU selected to run this team CAN do it. LET THEM and take your personal anger somewhere else, please, for the sake of the team.
And at everyone that has the same dumb-a$§( comment about Ryan’s arm….read the news. The only people questioning it is a bunch of morons, every expert and analyst on the planet has dismissed this as unfounded. You are just still pissed that the Falcons did so well in finding a replacement for Vick. Admit it, move on and get a life.