Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Creates 'Guessing Game' as Impact Goes Beyond Box Score
The book on Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts appears rather straightforward, but it's intertwined with a dash of complexity that goes far beyond the chapter titles.
In his star-studded 2021 campaign, Pitts caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards and a touchdown across 17 games, earning a Pro Bowl nod and posting the second-most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in league history.
In the 22 games since, Pitts has hauled in 69 receptions for 848 yards and three touchdowns. Among tight ends this season, Pitts ranks seventh in targets (68), ninth in receiving yards (492) and 13th in receptions (41).
Tasked with overcoming the missed time and physical and mental hurdles that arose with his torn MCL in Week 11 last season, Pitts has watched his numbers - and outside perception - decline.
But Falcons coach Arthur Smith remains steadfast in his belief in the player he and general manager Terry Fontenot made the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history.
Smith has long stressed Pitts' ability to impact games beyond the box score, which arose again after last Sunday's 13-8 win over the New York Jets in which Pitts caught four of his eight targets for 51 yards.
Each of his receptions went for first downs, three of which coming on third down, and Smith was quick to praise his mentality as much off the field as on it while explaining the semantics behind his target share.
"He was involved, we just have to continue to work through it," Smith said. "I give Kyle a lot of credit, he really works extremely hard. You guys talk to Kyle and that’s why I enjoy coaching him. They concentrated a lot on Drake (London). There was some optimism there and then Kyle took advantage of it.
"There were some critical third downs in a low scoring game that Kyle was picked on more."
Still, Pitts, who earned the nickname "Unicorn" for his blend of physical traits and talent, hasn't logged a 100-yard receiving game since Dec. 26, 2021. He hasn't eclipsed 87 receiving yards in that time.
This isn't the trajectory it appeared Pitts was on after his rookie season. It's not necessarily due to a drastic lack of opportunities, as he's averaged 5.8 targets per game in the past year and a half after seeing 6.5 as a rookie.
Instead, most of the blame has fallen on quarterback play, with Pitts catching passes from the trio of Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke in that period after spending his rookie season with Matt Ryan.
Pitts led the league in uncatchable target rate in 2022, adding substance to the claim.
And so, for a variety of reasons, be it injuries, quarterbacks or the way coverage dictates throws, Pitts hasn't been as productive the past two years.
But that doesn't mean he's not still playing an integral role in Atlanta's offense and causing headaches for opposing defenses.
How so?
Just ask Tampa Bay Buccaneers run game coordinator and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, who noted Smith's utilization of Pitts and how it varies from most teams around the league, causing disruption to normal operating procedures.
"When we come to play an opponent, we have maybe two or three personnel groupings, but the way they use Pitts, they have eight-to-12 groupings," Rodgers said. "Now, we will get the same plays, but it forces us to make some decisions. Are you going to go nickel versus this? Are you going to play base here?
"They just put you all over the place, and then they're in and out, so they're running people on the field and off the field."
Dec 3, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) gains yards after catch as New York Jets safety Tony Adams (22) pursues during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Perhaps the most frequently used word surrounding Atlanta's offense this summer was "positionless," with Smith envisioning a versatile unit full of playmakers.
Pitts is a strong fit in this regard, with his 6-6, 246-pound frame and 4.44 40-yard dash speed providing him the opportunity to play in-line, in the slot or outside.
Smith has placed Pitts in each of these slots, forcing defenses to adjust and pick their poison when matching the Falcons' personnel packages.
"It just creates a lot of problems with the way they use the personnel and the matchups," Rodgers said. "Now you're worried about the matchups. If you put a corner on him, he's going outside. If you put a linebacker on him, he can't keep up and cover.
"So, you're going to be playing a guessing game."
The last time Atlanta played Tampa Bay, Pitts caught three passes for 47 yards, including a 39-yard gain late in the fourth quarter to set up kicker Younghoe Koo's eventual game-winning field goal in the Falcons' 16-13 victory.
The two sides are set to square off at 1 p.m. EST Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the Falcons (6-6) hoping to extend their lead over the Buccaneers (5-7) in the NFC South.
Pitts is poised to play a major part in the outcome of Sunday's game, whether or not the stats reflect it, largely due to the versatility he provides and his ability to make contested catches.
And between Pitts, London and rookie running back Bijan Robinson, Rodgers knows the Buccaneers have their hands full with Atlanta's weapons.
"We've got to survive the explosive plays because with London out there and Pitts out there, those could be some major problems," Rodgers said. "And now, you've got 7 (Robinson) – who's covering him? They create a lot of problems."
Pitts' first game against Tampa Bay brought him another step closer to breaking out, catching five passes for 73 yards in Week 2 of his rookie year.
This time around, the breakthrough is long in the rearview mirror ... but a statistical bounce-back is there for the taking, and the ball is in Pitts' court to seize the moment, translating his evident underlying impact into statistical production as the Falcons eye their first playoff bid in six years.
