FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Falcons wide receiver Roddy White's career season didn't take shape over the last month of 2007. It grew and matured throughout the year as the three-year veteran developed into a favorite target for all three of Atlanta's quarterbacks and made a name for himself on the national stage.
The crowning achievement for White, of course, was becoming the first Falcons wideout since 1999 to go over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
The former first-round pick out of Alabama-Birmingham finished 2007 with 83 catches for 1,202 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. His 62 receiving yards in the season finale against Seattle also moved him into fifth place on the team's single-season receiving list. He came just 157 yards from breaking the single-season record (1,358 yards), which is held by Alfred Jenkins (1981).
"Getting over 1,000 yards is kind of getting out of my shell," White said just before cracking the yardage mark. "I just want to continue to get better and hopefully increase my totals every year.
"In this league, when you reach over 1,000, you're in a category with just about 12 to 15 players in the league. Getting over that barrier gives you pretty good status."
As it turns out, White already has elite status among comparable NFL players.
The 6-foot, 206-pound receiver finished first among third-year receivers in receptions, beating Cleveland's Braylon Edwards (80) in the category. White finished second to Edwards in receiving yards (1,289). When it came to third-year receivers with at least 30 catches, White finished third in yards-per-catch (14.5), and second in yards per game (75.1), catches of 20 or more yards (19) and first downs (52).
He finished tied for eighth in the league in receiving yards (third in the NFC).
White did a large portion of his damage in a three-game stretch in November and December. Beginning Thanksgiving Night against Indianapolis, White posted 104, 146 and 75 receiving yards. He had at least one catch of 30 or more yards in each game and scored a touchdown in all three contests.
Not bad for a wide receiver that struggled to find a rhythm early in his career in the midst of a run-oriented offense.
Atlanta led the NFL in rushing yards in 2006, 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 toward the middle of the season. "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."
He ended 2007 as a major factor in the offense and plans to make 2008 an even better season.
"Ever since I got here I've been working hard and I'm going to continue to work hard and get better," White said.
