Kirk Cousins' Stern Challenge To Falcons Star Amid Training Camp

The Atlanta Falcons brought in Kirk Cousins this offseason to hopefully change this team's fortunes and get them to the playoffs. There is a plethora of weapons at the quarterback's disposal and that includes fourth-year tight-end Kyle Pitts.

The ex-Florida Gator broke onto the scene in Year 1 with 1,026 catches before struggling with injuries in 2022. Last season, Pitts only reeled in 53 receptions for 667 yards.

Cousins knows the youngster is capable of much more and is using training camp as an opportunity to challenge Pitts in two specific areas.

Via Will McFadden of Falcons.com:

“What I’m encouraging him with is to use that length as much as he can,” Cousins said. “Anytime he lets the ball into his body, I tell him, ‘That wasn’t good enough. You should never let it come into your body. You’re too good to let it come into your body.’.

“And then I challenge him [if] I don’t feel like he’s running as fast as he possibly can. I say, ‘That wasn’t good enough. It was fast enough for a lot of tight ends but, for you, it’s got to be faster.’ . .

“I always say, ‘Did you run as fast as you possibly can and did you snag it with your hands aggressive? Those are the two things I challenge him on. I said, ‘If you do that, the production can’t help but happen."

Pitts is a big man at 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds. He also ran a 4.44 40-yard dash leading up to the draft in 2021, which is very fast for a tight end.

If he takes Cousins' advice to heart, there's no telling just how valuable Pitts could be for the Falcons in '24.

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