When it comes to the Atlanta Falcons this upcoming season, a lot of the football world will see how new quarterback Kirk Cousins is going to do, but some of the focus should be on the weapons around him as well. One being Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, who is coming into a year with lofty expectations, especially after Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris spoke highly of the star and his preparation for the season.
Pitts has had a tumultuous career to say the least. Coming out of the University of Florida, he was a high prospect at the position, but injuries and inconsistency of the offense has severely limited him. However, the 23-year old is more determined than ever as Morris spoke about the star's “personal vendetta” heading into the fall according Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com
“I see a young guy that’s eager to learn, wants more, and his ‘why’ is really him — his personal vendetta to get back,” Morris said. “”And I love that about him, because you gotta have a little edge, and he’s starting to show that a little bit more every day. And the better we can get him, to get him ready to go in training camp, I think the team will be better, I think our city will be better. I think everything will be better.”
Falcons OC talks Pitts' preparation heading into season
Last season, Pitts caught 53 passes for 667 yards and three touchdowns which was up from a limited 2022 season, but nowhere near his rookie season where he recorded over 1,000 yards. However, there has been a drastic upgrade at the quarterback position with Cousins and a new head coach, so a bounce-back season could be in store for the tight end as Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson spoke about the work Pitts has been doing this summer.
“He's learning basically two different positions, because there's some tight end [work] and there's some receiver, and so he's got a lot on his plate and he's handled it really well,” Robinson said. “And so, [I'm] just excited to see him continue to get more comfortable in the system. And the sky's the limit for what kind of season he can have.”
Part of that work is watching film on not just himself and what he can do better, but also various players at his position.
“Just different tight ends and different philosophies and just different things to take into each day to help me be my best and do as much as I can to contribute to the offense,” Pitts said via ESPN.
Kyle Pitts says he's a “super rookie”
Pitts said earlier during Atlanta's offseason activities or OTAs that he considers himself a “super rookie,” explaining that because he got picked up on his fifth-year option plus with a new regime, it is a “fresh” experience.
“I would say I'm a super rookie,” Pitts said. “You know, I'm not a ‘rookie rookie,' but we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. So, we're all in it fresh. But learning a new offense is always fun.”
“Definitely it's a blessing for the upstairs to still have faith in me,” Pitts continued about the Falcons picking up his option. “I'll try to show them I can do something different this year.”
Pitts is fully healthy, which makes him a “dynamic player” per Morris
If there is one aspect to be excited about in terms of Pitts' season, it's that everybody involved with the team claims he is more healthy than he's ever been going into a season. Morris would echo the same sentiments and said that when the Florida product is healthy, it gives the team a “really dynamic player.”
“He's really excited about being healthy, and so are we,” Morris said. “Getting a healthy Kyle Pitts back gives you a really dynamic player that we believe in a lot. … If we can get this guy going, we all know what he could be.”
While injuries are always a part of the game, especially in football, Pitts was arguably unlucky with his issues. He would say that that the preparations for games would amplify his injuries via the team's website.
“It wouldn't say it was so much bad during the game,” Pitts said. “It was more the preparation during the week, just dealing with soreness and tightness all through the week. Then, Sunday is show day, so I figured it out.”
In any sense, the Falcons are looking to improve after finishing 7-10 which put them third in the NFC South. They open this upcoming season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on on Sunday, Sept. 8.
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