Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 29, 2014 21:14:18 GMT
White, Ryan contend offense is ready to win shootouts to cover for weak defense
MINNEAPOLIS — The Falcons’ offensive players are ready to win shootouts the rest of the season if the defense doesn’t improve.
“We are going to have to,” Falcons wide receiver Roddy White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “This team was basically built offensively with all of our players. In games like (the 41-28 loss to Minnesota), we have to find a way to win on offense. Even when it is a shootout and we were able to take the lead, I felt like we need to score another touchdown or two.”
Quarterback Matt Ryan agreed with White.
“Yeah, absolutely we can,” Ryan said after being if the offense could win in shootout or high-scoring games.
If the offense is the carry the team, White knows that he has to play better.
After missing a game, he was targeted on 14 passes and caught just four for 73 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown.
“I don’t think I played very well in the first half,” White said. “ I’ve got to play better and quite possibly we can get more points if I’d hung onto the ball.”
White had at least three drops and had his hands on a few other passes.
“I just didn’t play well today,” White said.
Ryan didn’t want to single out White for the offense, which bogged down after three offensive linemen left the game with injuries.
“That comes down to the (offense) across the board,” Ryan said. “We had opportunities to make plays, but I thought Roddy did a good job for us today. Obviously, he was limited at practice (last) week, coming off the hamstring from the week before. I thought he went out there and played really hard for us.”
Behind big touchdown plays by Devin Hester and Antone Smith, the Falcons battled back to take a 28-27 lead with 1:41 left in the third quarter.
After an exchange of punts, the Vikings went on a game-winning touchdown drive and then added two more field goals.
The offense couldn’t answer.
“We lost like three guys and had a tight end playing tackle for a couple of drives,” White said. “Those guys came after them too. It was hard for us to holdup in the pocket and try to get ball down the field. That was tough.”
Ryan felt the tight ends, Levine Toilolo and Bear Pascoe, who were aligned on the right side next to each other with Toilolo at tackle, played with vigor.
“When you have tight ends in there playing offensive line for you, it limits what you can do,” Ryan said. “But I thought our guys battled. I thought Levine stepped in and did a pretty good job. Bear Pascoe as well. It makes things a little more difficult, but we tried to make the best of a bad situation.”
Moving forward, the offense, which put up 37 and 56 points in wins at home, is ready to press the medal to the pedal and score more points.
“We just have to find a way to get it done,” White said. “Offensively, I felt like we had some opportunities. We kind of let them go. We could have scored some points and help our defense out. But we didn’t get it done. It starts with me, I have to play better.”
Ryan, as a leader of the team, said he’ll make sure that the locker room doesn’t turn into a fractured defense vs. offense situation.
“We are all in it together,” Ryan said. “Win or lose. Different games are going to shake out in different ways. Sometimes, one group is going to be asked to carry the load. But, it’s along year. We’ve got to stay together. Just get back to work and trust in what we are doing. I think we’ve got the locker room to be able to do it.”
MINNEAPOLIS — The Falcons’ offensive players are ready to win shootouts the rest of the season if the defense doesn’t improve.
“We are going to have to,” Falcons wide receiver Roddy White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “This team was basically built offensively with all of our players. In games like (the 41-28 loss to Minnesota), we have to find a way to win on offense. Even when it is a shootout and we were able to take the lead, I felt like we need to score another touchdown or two.”
Quarterback Matt Ryan agreed with White.
“Yeah, absolutely we can,” Ryan said after being if the offense could win in shootout or high-scoring games.
If the offense is the carry the team, White knows that he has to play better.
After missing a game, he was targeted on 14 passes and caught just four for 73 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown.
“I don’t think I played very well in the first half,” White said. “ I’ve got to play better and quite possibly we can get more points if I’d hung onto the ball.”
White had at least three drops and had his hands on a few other passes.
“I just didn’t play well today,” White said.
Ryan didn’t want to single out White for the offense, which bogged down after three offensive linemen left the game with injuries.
“That comes down to the (offense) across the board,” Ryan said. “We had opportunities to make plays, but I thought Roddy did a good job for us today. Obviously, he was limited at practice (last) week, coming off the hamstring from the week before. I thought he went out there and played really hard for us.”
Behind big touchdown plays by Devin Hester and Antone Smith, the Falcons battled back to take a 28-27 lead with 1:41 left in the third quarter.
After an exchange of punts, the Vikings went on a game-winning touchdown drive and then added two more field goals.
The offense couldn’t answer.
“We lost like three guys and had a tight end playing tackle for a couple of drives,” White said. “Those guys came after them too. It was hard for us to holdup in the pocket and try to get ball down the field. That was tough.”
Ryan felt the tight ends, Levine Toilolo and Bear Pascoe, who were aligned on the right side next to each other with Toilolo at tackle, played with vigor.
“When you have tight ends in there playing offensive line for you, it limits what you can do,” Ryan said. “But I thought our guys battled. I thought Levine stepped in and did a pretty good job. Bear Pascoe as well. It makes things a little more difficult, but we tried to make the best of a bad situation.”
Moving forward, the offense, which put up 37 and 56 points in wins at home, is ready to press the medal to the pedal and score more points.
“We just have to find a way to get it done,” White said. “Offensively, I felt like we had some opportunities. We kind of let them go. We could have scored some points and help our defense out. But we didn’t get it done. It starts with me, I have to play better.”
Ryan, as a leader of the team, said he’ll make sure that the locker room doesn’t turn into a fractured defense vs. offense situation.
“We are all in it together,” Ryan said. “Win or lose. Different games are going to shake out in different ways. Sometimes, one group is going to be asked to carry the load. But, it’s along year. We’ve got to stay together. Just get back to work and trust in what we are doing. I think we’ve got the locker room to be able to do it.”
