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Alright you guys want draft content here we go. I'm going to start with the most divisive prospect possible for us, Kyle Pitts. This thread will be mostly film based and I will go over what he does well, what he can improve upon, and theways he could be used by the Bengals
What he does well in order of how much it impresses me:
1. Release off the line
2. Route running
3. Body control
4. Tracking
5. Athleticism
6. Hands
7. Smarts
1. Release off the line
2. Route running
3. Body control
4. Tracking
5. Athleticism
6. Hands
7. Smarts
Most impressive to me is his ability to stay clean on his release off the line. He typically does a swim/arm over move, but uses his feet well too. Here he beats possibly the best CB in the country in Patrick Surtain off of the line and gets wide open for a slant against man.
I’m very impressed by his route running. Not only can he quickly change direction for being as large as he is, but he understands pacing on routes and how to change tempo. On this play he gives a little hesitation to freeze the defender and get behind him.
His body control and ability to turn around at full speed on back shoulder throws is fantastic. On this play he is able to cleanly release off the line and then win with body control against another great CB prospect in Jaycee Horn.
I’m just NOW getting to how athletic he is for being a TE. He shows it off on this play where he gets behind the entire defense. He has to come back to get the ball, but then slingshots himself with a little stiff arm and is gone.
I think he had 0 drops on the year and he has very good hands. He constantly catches the ball outside of his frame and is able to hang on through contact. Watch this play where he is able to fully extend his arms for the catch and then bring it back inside to secure it.
When defenders spot drop in zone against him he has the football IQ to know where to go to be open. On this play he gets behind the linebackers and sits right at the sticks for a clutch 1st down on 3rd and 17.
Onto my one concern with him: blocking. He needs to get bigger and work on his technique to become effective. He constantly plays too far forward over his toes leading to balance problems, he doesn’t roll his hips into the block, and he lacks the strength to move players.
So how could we use the big boy? There are loads of ways he fits our scheme from running sneaks, TE screens, YY verts, and switch verts. He gives us the ability to run 12P more empty effectively as well to go with some of the less sexy stuff like stick concepts.
I would add some 1x3 or nub sets with him which just means he would be on the 1 side of a 3x1. This would have him most likely manned up against someone, because defenses tend to lock the backside of 3x1. He can win vs CBs, Ss, and LBs.
Not a true “sneak” route here, but this is a good example of what he could provide us on naked boots. Here he releases inside to make the defense think he is run blocking, but then quickly sprints back outside and catches a TD on the naked boot.
I didn’t see him run any screens at Florida, but it’s something we should absolutely do with him. He has great ability to run after the catch and athleticism. You can fit it into our offense pretty easily from play action both under center and from shotgun.
Pitts gives us a great TE receiving option and that doesn’t mean Sample and Uzomah are done playing. Getting into 12P empty sets and YY sets will help our struggling pass protection and lets us run creative plays like this YY verts play. https://streamable.com/bqhfh0
Another play we could add into our arsenal would be switch verts. This has the outside WR work inside and the vertically and the TE working outside and vertically. The “switch” puts a strain on the defense's rules and can lead to big plays.
12P empty helps us by not allowing defenses to assume we will be stuck in 50/5-0/Hawaii (thx Peyton)/BOB protection. The Ravens constantly took advantage of our empty sets by attacking the 50 protection (man). If there is a TE or TWO on the line the protection calls can change.
Overall I get the push back against taking a TE so high, because of the bad track record, but I think Pitts is a legit elite talent in this draft who could become an unguardable force like an Antonio Gates or Shannon Sharpe. Not my first choice, but definitely a fun one.
