Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 16, 2014 18:57:03 GMT
Falcons WR Roddy White knows he's not being Roddy White
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Roddy White didn't make any excuses. Instead, the veteran Atlanta Falcons wide receiver pointed the finger at himself.
White knows he hasn't been the same player so far this season. He hasn't gotten into a rhythm. He's had some uncharacteristic drops, including a key one in last Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears.
"I've gotten off to a really slow start," White said. "Not one of my favorable years that I'm having. But I've got to turn my game around for our team to start playing better. I'm a leader on this team, and I haven't been going out there and playing like Roddy White football. I've got to get back to just being myself -- go out there and just cut it loose -- and whatever happens, happens."
White enters Sunday's game against Baltimore with 19 catches in five games for an average of 3.8 receptions per game. Coming into the season, White had averaged 4.8 catches per game or better in every season since becoming a regular starter (2007), with his career low being that 4.8 average last season.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, White has three drops this season on 39 targets. Those three drops are tied for the fourth most in the league among wide receivers. And his 7.7 percent drop percentage is the 10th highest among 88 qualified wide receivers.
White did lead the league with 14 drops in 2011, but he also made the Pro Bowl that season while catching 100 passes.
Some might say his struggles are just a product of being an aging receiver, with White set to turn 33 next month. He has dealt with some injury issues, including having his left knee drained this offseason and not participating in minicamp. He also missed a Week 3 win over Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury.
White, however, hasn't been on the injury report as of late, so he figured to get his timing back with quarterback Matt Ryan once he got back on a regular practice routine. That hasn't been the case.
"When you go out there and practice and execute plays and things come up that way in a game and you don't get it done, it's frustrating on your behalf because all my career I've made those plays," White said. "Right now, I'm just not making them. It's frustrating for me that I feel like I'm letting my team down in those circumstances. I've got to do a better job of just helping everybody else around the offense; just going out there and making the plays that they design for me to make."
White admitted he has been pressing and maybe looking too much for the big play.
"I've just been concentrating this week on just looking every ball in," White said. "That's been my primary focus, just going in there and just executing the plays that are called (and) don't worry about scoring touchdowns or trying to hit a home run or go out there and try to hit 80-yard plays. Just be who I am: go out there and catch balls and move the chains."
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Roddy White didn't make any excuses. Instead, the veteran Atlanta Falcons wide receiver pointed the finger at himself.
White knows he hasn't been the same player so far this season. He hasn't gotten into a rhythm. He's had some uncharacteristic drops, including a key one in last Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears.
"I've gotten off to a really slow start," White said. "Not one of my favorable years that I'm having. But I've got to turn my game around for our team to start playing better. I'm a leader on this team, and I haven't been going out there and playing like Roddy White football. I've got to get back to just being myself -- go out there and just cut it loose -- and whatever happens, happens."
White enters Sunday's game against Baltimore with 19 catches in five games for an average of 3.8 receptions per game. Coming into the season, White had averaged 4.8 catches per game or better in every season since becoming a regular starter (2007), with his career low being that 4.8 average last season.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, White has three drops this season on 39 targets. Those three drops are tied for the fourth most in the league among wide receivers. And his 7.7 percent drop percentage is the 10th highest among 88 qualified wide receivers.
White did lead the league with 14 drops in 2011, but he also made the Pro Bowl that season while catching 100 passes.
Some might say his struggles are just a product of being an aging receiver, with White set to turn 33 next month. He has dealt with some injury issues, including having his left knee drained this offseason and not participating in minicamp. He also missed a Week 3 win over Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury.
White, however, hasn't been on the injury report as of late, so he figured to get his timing back with quarterback Matt Ryan once he got back on a regular practice routine. That hasn't been the case.
"When you go out there and practice and execute plays and things come up that way in a game and you don't get it done, it's frustrating on your behalf because all my career I've made those plays," White said. "Right now, I'm just not making them. It's frustrating for me that I feel like I'm letting my team down in those circumstances. I've got to do a better job of just helping everybody else around the offense; just going out there and making the plays that they design for me to make."
White admitted he has been pressing and maybe looking too much for the big play.
"I've just been concentrating this week on just looking every ball in," White said. "That's been my primary focus, just going in there and just executing the plays that are called (and) don't worry about scoring touchdowns or trying to hit a home run or go out there and try to hit 80-yard plays. Just be who I am: go out there and catch balls and move the chains."