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
dan
November 16th, 2011
3:33 pm
This team is just lacking something mentally. I don’t know what it is. I was worried that subconsciously, that blowout loss to Green Bay last year might have a lay over effect into this year; and I kind of think that is what is happening with this team a bit. To have your face shattered like that in such a public way does things to your psyche, and it can make you gun shy. Those games against Green Bay and New Orleans this year were very winnable, but I could just tell the focus wasn’t there. Its almost like these guys don’t believe that they DESERVE to win, whereas last year they did.It feels like this team is in a mental fog and doesn’t know how to get out of it.
It’s too bad, because athletically the Birds can match up with most teams in this league, they really can. I think the first thing they need to do it just get back to fundamentals. Often times the best way to get out of a slump is to go back to what made you successful. I think the Falcons have a good locker room of guys that are capable of overcoming adversity. The focus needs to be on what each player can do individually. This team isn’t going to go 13-3. But who cares as long as they make the playoffs? Worse teams than this one have gotten hot at the right moment and rode that momentum to the Super Bowl. Despite last week’s win, I haven’t been particularly blown away by the Saints: they’re a good team but not a dominant one. And the Bucs have shown a lot of immaturity in some of their losses. The Falcons have their work cut out for them, but that’s not always a bad thing. The playoffs as well as the division is still there for the taking at this point.
Kno
November 16th, 2011
3:58 pm
Oh, hey look — it’s a bunch of cornball Vick fans calling for Matt Ryan’s head and licking Aaron Rodger’s chode. This seems to be a weekly theme here in Atlanta…kill yourselves. You are the sole reason this fanbase is ridiculed incessantly throughout the league.
Tom Pridemore
November 16th, 2011
4:07 pm
Lets face Matt Ryan is just not an accurate passer. Yeah, yeah I know he is completing 60% of his passes but look at the effort our receivers have to make just to catch the ball. Matt doesn’t hit our guy in stride. I think Matt’s arm is strong enough. I think he’s capable of throwing the ball about 60yds and that’s plenty. I think Matt’s biggest problem is the timing of his throws. Matt has the timing of a qb that can throw it 75yds. If you don’t believe me just go back and watch all of the games this year.
Oh and for those that will say the receivers drop too many balls, the Falcons have 12 drop passes as a team in 328 pass attempts. White leads the league with 7 drop passes.
Matt work on getting rid of the ball quicker and letting your receivers run under the ball. Also, work on throwing the screen ball too.
Frank Taylor
November 16th, 2011
5:06 pm
a comment in letting Finneran and Jenkins go, I felt that they could have used Finneran As a corner back as he played with the kick off unit and is 6′5″. He is probably a step or two slow, but his height would make up for the difference. I played QB for a sandlot team against a man who was 6”4. and was never able to get it over him because he could jump very well, and he never tried to intercept the ball all the time. but he just tried to knock the ball down if he could not intercept it. The Falcon conerbacks have not always tried to do this. For example, Brent Grimes got beat by GB last year in the end zone when he was up against a GB wide receiver who was 6′4″. He should have tried just to knock the ball down. I realize that he has tried more of this in 2011. It does take a lot of smarts to figure this out..
showmebetr
November 16th, 2011
9:45 pm
Roddy you are letting this team down. For whatever reason with dropped passes, missed blocking assignments were we could have gained good yardage..it’s pathetic.. it was a mistake to let Finneran go. Julio has got to stay healthy..what kinda trainers are this team using don’t they have conditioning or what? TG, HD, JS all class acts… Get your head in the game Roddy or you need to go..
Big Mike
November 17th, 2011
10:09 am
White needs to look at Jerry Rice , Harrison and other great receivers who understood their job as play makers not linebackers .
LawDawg
November 17th, 2011
10:22 am
The only thing I have learned about the NFL the last three weeks is that there is basically a 0% chance of an NFL South team being in the conference championship. I have no idea how three teams have all regressed so badly (though TB was expected due to youth and a tougher schedule, but they are also getting blown out like D-II college programs), but they have.
CAD
November 18th, 2011
2:58 pm
Get rid of the quarterback coach. Get rid of the offensive coordinator. Get Matt to focus on ACCURACY. Be the Falcons. Quit trying to be Green Bay or New England. Get coaches who can implement a type of West Coast Offense. That way Matt doesn’t have to worry about being accurate beyond 25-30 yards. We already have big enough receivers who can get YAC. Falcon fans gonna have to be patient though. Tony, McClure, John Abraham and even White are getting older. Replacing any of those guys is going to be down right tough. So Get It done NOW Falcons.
Lames: Slow your roll, even an active Vick a risky pick in NYC | Happy Harbor Blog 2
November 18th, 2011
10:09 pm
[...] analysts have tossed out theories ranging from a hidden injury to the impact of Julio Jones. But, according to the not-so-Hot Roddy, “dropped balls” and a collective lack of “chemi… a true bunch of Mularkey. Both assessments are accurate. White has one less botched pass through [...]