Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris offered some encouraging words to reporters on tight end Kyle Pitts at offseason team activities on Tuesday.
Marc Raimondi @marcraimondiCoach Raheem Morris says he's starting to see more of an "edge" with Kyle Pitts and he has a "personal vendetta" to get back to where he was as a rookie. <a href="">#Falcons</a>
Pitts joined the Falcons with great fanfare as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Unfortunately, his career hasn't yet met the expectations brought forth by his draft status.
He showed great promise in 2021 with 68 catches for 1,026 yards (only one touchdown). However, he was held to just 10 games in 2022 after a torn MCL ended his season in November. He finished with just 28 receptions for 356 yards and two scores.
Pitts returned healthy in 2023 and played in all 17 games but had just 53 catches for 667 yards and three scores.
The ex-Florida star has encountered numerous obstacles.
For starters, his ex-head coach Arthur Smith loved running the ball (second in run percentage rate in 2022, fourth in 2023).
Smith also, for reasons unknown, didn't like to feature the clear offensive superstars on the team, namely Pitts, wide receiver Drake London (from 2022 on) and running back Bijan Robinson (in 2023). Atlanta parted ways with Smith after this season.
In addition, the Falcons have had Matt Ryan, Taylor Heinecke, Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder at quarterback over three seasons. The latter three were all benched at some point or another during their tenures, so it's fair to say that Pitts wasn't experiencing great QB play to help him along.
Now four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins (and highly touted rookie Michael Penix Jr.) are in town, as is a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson, who just spent five years coaching under a great mind (and offensive guru) in Sean McVay at the Los Angeles Rams.
The signs are ultimately pointing toward a Pitts resurgence, but we'll find out for sure soon enough when the Falcons' season gets going on September 8 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
