FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Wide receiver Roddy White started feeling pressure early in his career. There was just one problem. He and other Falcons wide receivers, didn't get many opportunities to get their hands on the ball.
Atlanta led the NFL in rushing yards last season, running the ball on 56.3 percent of its plays for more than 2,900 yards. As a result, White and fellow veteran Michael Jenkins could sometimes count on one hand how many times the ball came their way.
A dropped pass or imprecise route could sometimes fester in their minds for an entire game as they weren't quite sure if the mighty running game would stumble and a pass would fly their way.
"You know you have to make every play because your chance is limited," said White, who leads the team with 530 receiving yards and nine catches of 20 yards or more. "There was a bit of tightness there trying to get myself going knowing, if I did have a drop, I might not get the ball the rest of the game."
That's not to say they were disappointed or even frustrated with their NFL station. On the contrary, The Falcons powerful running attack paid dividends in other areas.
"It made me a good blocker," White said. "I learned how to block a lot. That was the scheme. We led the NFL in rushing two years in a row. That was our thing. I just played my part in the offense we were running. Basically I just had to do what was asked of me."
He's still doing what's asked of him in 2007... and a whole lot more.
What a difference a year makes.
Now the Falcons are throwing the ball 56.4 percent of the time and White has already surpassed career numbers for receiving yards. Jenkins is also on track to set career marks and has become adept at working the middle of the field from the slot position.
He's also a been a big target on third downs for quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Joey Harrington.
"We've been fortunate enough to make some plays," said Jenkins, who has two touchdown catches on third down this season. "We need to make more to win football games. But it's good from a receivers' standpoint."
"I'm happy," added White, who had a season-high eight catches for 110 yards last week at New Orleans. "I get to go out there and catch eight or nine balls a game... A lot has changed around here and it's more pass oriented. It's kind of got me in the right direction and got my career going in the right direction.
"Ever since I got here I've been working hard and I'm going to continue to work hard and get better and, hopefully, set some career marks this year."
Thirteen-year veteran Joe Horn was added in the offseason to provide some leadership and a savvy presence on the field. He said he, too, ran into situations in his career where receivers were called to go out of their element and block for a power running game.
It comes down to making the most of opportunities, whether one or 100 balls get launched toward a receivers' hands.
"You have to make the most of what you get regardless of where you're at," Horn said. "In this league, you just have to adjust to any situation. The situation you adjust to could be a negative or a positive situation, you have to adjust in this league because, if you don't, you're going to get left standing.
"(Jenkins and White) are getting older and they're getting more mature. I'm not going to take a lot of credit... I try to let them see how it's done and, most of the time, when I do that, guys catch on."
And get their hands on the ball.
