Kyle Pitts wants to improve mental side of game in Year 2 with Falcons

Kyle Pitts might have led the Atlanta Falcons in receiving yards as a rookie, but he still sees room for improvement. For him, that starts with his mentality by watching film, studying schemes and being active in position/team meetings this offseason in the hopes it will translate to his game on the field.

“Mentally, I’m trying to get better,” he said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There’s always room for improvement. … The mental, trying to dissect coverage faster. … The mental side helps you play faster, just knowing what the defense is going to do.”

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith backed up Pitts’ claims, saying he has seen a difference in the second year tight end not only on the field, but off the field as well and likes the pace he’s progressing at.

“He’s not facing the unknown,” Smith said. “With all these rookies, everything is new to them. New environment, new team, staff, terminology. You see Kyle, you saw him as he progressed through last season. I’ve said it many times, he’s just scratching the surface. You see a different player and mindset. He knows what to expect, what we expect from him. I’ve been really encouraged so far.”

Pitts was one of the most explosive rookies in all of last year’s class. He caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards, which earned 15.1 yards per reception, good for 11th in the entire league. Those stats earned him Pro Bowl status as a rookie in 2021 and at just 21 years old, the best years of Pitts career certainly seem to be ahead of him

He showed that explosiveness and then some while he was at Florida, too. In his final two seasons with the Gators, Pitts compiled 97 receptions for 1,1419 yards and 17 touchdowns en route to being selected in the first round by the Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Now headed into year two, the only thing missing from his rookie stat sheet are touchdowns. It was a rarity of Pitts didn’t find the end zone each Saturday during his college career, but only managed to score once as a rookie.

With a new quarterback in Marcus Mariota under center for Atlanta and Calvin Ridley suspended for the entire season, Pitts will look to be the primary option for Mariota, who’s likely set to be the primary gunslinger for a franchise for the first time since 2018 – though rookie Desmond Ridder might earn a shot if things take a turn south.