Mistakes are plaguing the Atlanta Falcons. The team has a lot of problems right now as they are on a three-game losing streak, but mistakes on offense were highlighted against the Chicago Bears when the team lost at home. The talented wide receiving due of Roddy White and Julio Jones committed an unhealthy amount of dropped passes that stalled and ended drives. Vowing not to repeat their mistakes, the Falcons need both players at their best for a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Falcons had seven dropped passes in Week 6 on passes that were a combined 99 yards downfield. Jones was responsible for four while White had three. Jones admits that he simply cannot have that type of performance happen again while the team is struggling to win games.
"I'm supposed to catch everything," Jones said, via The Atlanta Journal Constitution . "We had a few drops last week and we take it upon ourselves, me and Roddy, we hold ourselves accountable for those dropped passes. The defending didn't have nothing to do with it, it was just a lack of focus and concentration by us."
White echoed the words of his teammate. The Falcons are preparing to face a Baltimore Ravens defense that is allowing just 13.0 points per game from their opponents. Atlanta cannot afford a single mistake on either side of the ball and they especially cannot afford drops from their two star wide receivers.
"I've gotten off to a really slow start," White said, per ESPN.com . "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 and Jones will be relied on heavily as Harry Douglas is expected to be out once again. The wide receiver continues to suffer from a foot injury that was once reported as a deep bruise, but obviously must be more than that. Douglas had cleats on catching some passes from Matt Ryan, but did not speak to the media which indicates he could be ruled out for Week 7. White admits the Falcons are really missing Douglas at the moment.
"It just affects us in so many different ways because he's in so many different personnel groupings and some of the stuff he can do," White said. "He's really good at the insides and seam routes. We're missing him a whole lot and his ability to kind of control the middle of the field. Hopefully we can get him back, if not this week, next week. And we'll be a lot better team. I'll tell you that."
