CSNbbs

R. White starting to win over Mora

By MATT WINKELJOHN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/02/05

For more than a week, the deal with Roddy White was no laughing matter, but it is now that the Falcons have signed their first-round draft pick.

The rookie wide receiver laughs, a lot, actually. He chuckles after answering interviewer's questions. He snorts after a good play. Same thing after a defensive back makes a play against him. Seriously. He laughs.

"Yeah, pretty much. That's my whole game; through the games I laugh," White said. "When I get out on the field, I'm just so happy ... not having to worry."

Team officials are smiling more.

After reaching a contract agreement Sunday morning, White practiced for the second time Monday, making outstanding plays in receiving and goal-line drills.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm impressed by some of the things he does," Falcons coach Jim Mora said. "He's just a happy kid."

The kid has fresh legs after missing the first nine practices of training camp.

On an 18-yard out pattern, cornerback DeAngelo Hall was stuck to White in coverage most of the route, but quarterback Michael Vick threw the ball on time and to a near-perfect spot. It whizzed just past Hall's fingertips, who jumped up and down in mock disgust at the near miss after White caught it at the sideline.

"I compare him to [Cardinals] wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald without all the hype," Hall said.

Moments later, Hall was again glued to White as he made a double move, Hall breaking up a would-be touchdown pass at the goal line.

That prompted gymnastics. Hall did a cartwheel and then several backflips.

And White laughed. Not so seriously.

Hopefully he'll keep up the hard work and earn a starting spot.

Roddy is probably a Top 3 receiver in this year's draft. Going to a CUSA school is what hurt him but it's okay, I think he's in the perfect situation.

more quotes from DeAngelo Hall..

Quote:DeAngelo Hall couldn't believe how quickly Roddy White fooled him into turning the wrong way.

In a one-on-one drill Monday with the Atlanta Falcons, Hall thought he had pinned White against the right sideline when the rookie receiver suddenly turned back inside to catch a perfect spiral from quarterback Michael Vick.

Receivers don't beat Hall often, but the second-year cornerback calls White an exception.

"He's going to be something to reckon with in this league, man," Hall said. "I compare him to Larry Fitzgerald without all the hype. I mean what makes a good receiver a great receiver? A lot of people would say your ability to catch the ball. He opened a lot of eyes when he got here."

Hall thinks the Falcons have another elite young player: himself. He wears jersey No. 21, which Deion Sanders made famous as an Atlanta cornerback from 1989-93, for a reason.

people on the falcons board are already goin gaga over roddy... after watchin him for 2 days at the trainin camp... if roddy keeps this up he has chnace to become a starter soon..... :gun:

Hopefully he will earn a starting spot - but it's up to Jim Mora, Jr., not the fans going "ga ga."

Man... I miss Roddy already. I mean we make a big deal about Hackney being the star last year, but without Roddy, who knows whether his stats would have been so impressive. It's like they had ESP. I hope Reggie Lindsey and Hackney can get something like that going.

Hackney and Roddy are both extremely talented and they worked very hard in the offseason prior to last season.

I know Hackney has been working hard this summer and I'm sure some of the receivers have been right there with him.

Roddy is in a great situation. He went to a very good team, very close to UAB, and it looks like he is going to get some serious PT.

I'm happy for him and love the coverage he's getting because it's long overdue.

Can't wait to go see him play!

Blazer85 Wrote:Man... I miss Roddy already. I mean we make a big deal about Hackney being the star last year, but without Roddy, who knows whether his stats would have been so impressive. It's like they had ESP. I hope Reggie Lindsey and Hackney can get something like that going.

That is a legitimate concern when you consider that Roddy was on the receiving end of 36 percent of Darrell's completions and 47.3 percent of the yards Darrell threw for.

STLouis Blazer Wrote:Hackney and Roddy are both extremely talented and they worked very hard in the offseason prior to last season.

I know Hackney has been working hard this summer and I'm sure some of the receivers have been right there with him.

Roddy is in a great situation. He went to a very good team, very close to UAB, and it looks like he is going to get some serious PT.

I'm happy for him and love the coverage he's getting because it's long overdue.

Can't wait to go see him play!

Looking back, I'm not sure Roddy could have gotten himself in a better situation with another team.

He could have made more money by being drafted earlier, but I think he is quickly establishing himself as a talent for the Falcons.

Lord knows, as a fan for 20-plus years, I've seen VERY FEW receivers for Atlanta with his speed (not to mention his talent). They needed someone who could get down the field and catch the bombs that Vick is capable of throwing - and they found that person (knock on wood) in RoddyWhite.

LJBlazerFan Wrote:

Blazer85 Wrote:Man... I miss Roddy already.  I mean we make a big deal about Hackney being the star last year, but without Roddy, who knows whether his stats would have been so impressive.  It's like they had ESP.  I hope Reggie Lindsey and Hackney can get something like that going.

That is a legitimate concern when you consider that Roddy was on the receiving end of 36 percent of Darrell's completions and 47.3 percent of the yards Darrell threw for.

BUT... is that because Roddy was the only one that could get open or just because Roddy was ALWAYS Hackney's first and primary option. I think it's the latter. In fact, I know that to be the case. There were several cases where that may have even been to our detriment where another receiver would be more wide open than Roddy.

This is what the Falcons' stud cornerback, DeAngelo Hall had to say about Roddy:

Quote:FLOWERY BRANCH - DeAngelo Hall couldn't believe how quickly Roddy White fooled him into turning the wrong way.

In a one-on-one drill Monday with the Atlanta Falcons, Hall thought he had pinned White against the right sideline when the rookie receiver suddenly turned back inside to catch a perfect spiral from quarterback Michael Vick.

Receivers don't beat Hall often, but the second-year cornerback calls White an exception.

"He's going to be something to reckon with in this league, man," Hall said. "I compare him to Larry Fitzgerald without all the hype. I mean what makes a good receiver a great receiver? A lot of people would say your ability to catch the ball. He opened a lot of eyes when he got here."

Blazer85 Wrote:BUT... is that because Roddy was the only one that could get open or just because Roddy was ALWAYS Hackney's first and primary option. I think it's the latter. In fact, I know that to be the case. There were several cases where that may have even been to our detriment where another receiver would be more wide open than Roddy.

It's hard not to look at that guy as your primary option with his ability to get open, make the catch and gain yards.

I can't recall specific instances where other receivers were "more wide open," but there may have been some.

STLouis Blazer Wrote:This is what the Falcons' stud cornerback, DeAngelo Hall had to say about Roddy:

Quote:FLOWERY BRANCH - DeAngelo Hall couldn't believe how quickly Roddy White fooled him into turning the wrong way.

In a one-on-one drill Monday with the Atlanta Falcons, Hall thought he had pinned White against the right sideline when the rookie receiver suddenly turned back inside to catch a perfect spiral from quarterback Michael Vick.

Receivers don't beat Hall often, but the second-year cornerback calls White an exception.

"He's going to be something to reckon with in this league, man," Hall said. "I compare him to Larry Fitzgerald without all the hype. I mean what makes a good receiver a great receiver? A lot of people would say your ability to catch the ball. He opened a lot of eyes when he got here."

That is impressive, considering that Hall typically prefers to talk primarily about himself.

He's a great player - and he fits the #21 "mold" in Atlanta perfectly.

This is funny now that we look back on it and see where he's at now. Who would've thought?

STLouis Blazer Wrote:This is funny now that we look back on it and see where he's at now. Who would've thought?

That is probably one of the few true "mistakes" I remember making.

As I recall, that made the kickoff from the 20, and TCU scored right before the end of the first half.

Oh well...I personally will take that one mental error for all of the great plays he made over the last four years.

I guess the sports talk radio host in Atlanta saw Roddy yesterday and here's what he had to say:

Quote:Dukes said that (as we all know) roddy has been impressing alot of people since he's been in camp. And yesterday he REALLY impressed. As he was locked up with D.Hall (didn't specify the type of route run) and mike just 'threw it up to see if the rookie would make a play on the ball'. With Deangelo draped all over his back? He said roddy went up and snatched the ball out of the air. Even with hall grabbing him trying to break up the pass. He said this kid is as advertised. Big, strong, physical, and great hands.

I think this is good news in two folds. One the reciever is fighting for the ball (unlike last years group) and doesn't shy away from contact. And two, vick is giving his recievers a chance to make a play by 'throwing it up' like that. I hope this will be a trend for us this season.

I cant wait to see what this kid does saturday against live competition.

This was taken from a post on the falcons board.

Jamie Dukes is a former Falcon who does TV/radio commentary on various shows in the Atlanta area (he's on one of those weekly CSS shows as well, I believe).

LJBlazerFan Wrote:

STLouis Blazer Wrote:This is funny now that we look back on it and see where he's at now.  Who would've thought?

That is probably one of the few true "mistakes" I remember making.

As I recall, that made the kickoff from the 20, and TCU scored right before the end of the first half.

Oh well...I personally will take that one mental error for all of the great plays he made over the last four years.

I've got to put this one at the position coach's feet.

Roddy did the same thing against UC the week before and got away with it (home cookin' maybe?).

His position coach should have seen this and told him that it is normally an unsportslike penalty and not to do it again.

That penalty really killed us at TCU in turning the MO and starting their 20 something point run.

Dukes played Center at Atlanta and he played college ball at Florida State. He is from the Bham area originally.