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DEL.ICIO.USIs Roddy White coming around?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It could be the fact that it’s the first home game, it could be the arrival of quarterback Byron Leftwich, it could be that the players feel ultra-confident in the game plan for Sunday’s home opener against Carolina.
Whatever is going on, players are more jovial and loose than they’ve been in the days leading up to season-opening losses at Minnesota and Jacksonville, respectively. How that translates on the field is all that matters but the atmosphere is vastly different than it has been.
One of the things that has gone overlooked with all of the Falcons’ offensive woes has been the emergence of wide receiver Roddy White. White has a team-high eight catches for 110 yards, which is more yardage than any player has generated other than quarterback Joey Harrington.
Though his history of drops could prove his quick start to be a mirage, White is playing with confidence for the first time. How can you tell? He’s snatching balls in traffic, he’s attacking his routes and he’s making tough runs after the catch.
Could you say that about him before?
He’s become such a threat that he said Jacksonville and Minnesota threw bracket coverages at him in the second halves, limiting him to just one catch. He said this is the first time since college he’s had to learn to work through double coverages regularly.
In other developments Thursday, free safety Chris Crocker (bone bruise, knee) took the majority of the snaps with the first defense ahead of Jimmy Williams and he resumed his role at nickel back. Tackle Wayne Gandy (hamstring) also took a heavy dose of snaps and coach Bobby Petrino said he’s hopeful Gandy would be ready for Sunday.
Georgia rookie tight end Martrez Milner is going to play a lot at tight end and at H-back since Dwayne Blakley suffered a pectoral injury that is not expected to be healed in time for him to play vs. Carolina.
Comments
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By JJ
September 20, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
yea i noticed roddy started to step it up a little. If he realizes his potential and minimize his drops I will be very happy.
By KD
September 20, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
it’s a mirage. I fell for it once before at the end of his rookie season. He looked liked he’d be all-world. Then he came back for his 2nd season and would not have been all Atlanta much less all-world.
By FALCON4LIFE
September 20, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Roddy has all the tools to be a great receiver physically, he just needs to work on his focus. I think when he is not getting the ball he gets bored. I think he should get checked out for ADD(Attention Deficit Disorder). But otherwise he has been a bright spot this season. The other WR Jenkins is a bust we should have sent him to houston with Schaub and gotten that Andre Johnson guy.
By Dennis
September 20, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
Didn’t I see one bounce off his meat hooks and intercepted in the MN game?…
I’ll wait a lot longer before I go tooting his horn.
By WONK WONK
September 20, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
no Dennis that was Jenkins.Roddy has caught everything this season.
By supporter
September 20, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
that was jenkins white looks better and robinson will take over in jenkins place
By Adam
September 21, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
Jenkins should be charged with stealing money from the Falcons. Maybe the light bulb has finally clicked on for this guy. I hope so. It would be a shame for the Falcons to have to replace both wideouts. The Texans would never go for that trade. Andre Johnson for Michael Jenkins?! Get serious.
By Mike Todd
September 21, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
You need 3 good WR’s in this league and Horn is getting older. In the future, Petrino will be wise to have White, Jenkins (The Ohio State Buckeyes) and Robinson as their WR’s. Jenkins is more slanted for the slot. There’s where he played at The Ohio State Buckeyes. He has good hands and great blocking skills.
By Bird Police
September 23, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
Roddy White is the man. He’ll be much better by season end. On the other hand, Jenkins continues to regress in his developement. He looks like a rookie out there. Missing blocks, dropping passes, and not getting separation on routes. Cut him now.