Sleeveless Drake: Falcons Rookie WR London’s ‘Last Straw’ vs. Ravens

Atlanta Falcons receiver Drake London carries the burden – and privilege – of being his workforce’s clear No. 1 goal as a rookie.

And for essentially the most half, London’s delivered, as he leads the Falcons in targets (101), receptions (61), yards (699), touchdowns (4), yards after catch (186) and receiving first downs (40).

However there’s additionally one other stat London leads Atlanta’s offensive playmakers in by a hefty margin: fumbles.

The No. 8 total decide in April’s draft, London’s misplaced the ball thrice this 12 months and twice in as many video games – on back-to-back fourth down catches, his final towards the New Orleans Saints and first in Saturday’s 17-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens … which he later defined.

“He punched it out,” London stated. “I imply, I assumed I did all the pieces I might probably do to safe the catch. Tried to place two arms on it, like I am coached to, however that is Marlon Humphrey, one of many higher cornerbacks within the league, and he simply punched it out.”

Every of London’s first two fumbles got here because the Falcons have been driving down the sphere late in shut video games, and his one towards Baltimore stalled an early scoring alternative and led to 1 on the opposite finish.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith stated London has to “proceed to work on ball safety” – and the 21-year-old tried to take action mid-game with a easy change: eradicating his sleeves within the 10-degree Baltimore air.

“That (fumble) was simply the final straw with the sleeves,” London stated. “I did all the pieces I probably might, and it nonetheless slipped out. So, I acquired to take some sort of indicators. Did not fumble the remainder of the sport. That is a constructive signal.”

And thus, Baltimore was launched to “Sleeveless Drake” … who proved to be an issue for the Ravens protection all day.

London completed the day with seven receptions for 96 yards on 9 targets, repeatedly making tough catches, be it a leaping seize by the sideline on third and lengthy or skying above a bunch of Baltimore defenders to push Atlanta into the purple zone.

Fumble apart, it was one other robust outing from London, who’s accounted for 52 p.c of Atlanta’s receiving yards in rookie Desmond Ridder’s first two begins.

The chemistry that London and Ridder have is “apparent,” per Smith … and has solely enhanced the problem for opposing defenses in the case of protecting the previous USC Trojan.

“(Humphrey) acquired the powerful project; he acquired London,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated. “He was following him everywhere in the discipline, and that is a troublesome job. The dude’s 6-foot-5, and he is actually good and the quarterback and he have a connection.”

Humphrey, 26, was simply voted to his third profession Professional Bowl. Baltimore having him shadow London speaks volumes as to how extremely they view his recreation … and that was earlier than the sleeves got here off.

Finally, Humphrey and the Ravens acquired the final chortle, strolling away victorious with the fumble looming giant at recreation’s finish.

However London, within the coldest residence recreation in Ravens historical past, despatched a transparent assertion about the place his recreation is at and the kind of participant he may be.

So, the legend of “Sleeveless Drake” solely grows … and so long as the fumbles cease, it solely guarantees to intensify from right here.

You possibly can observe Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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