Atlanta Falcons: Three players who must improve in week two

The Atlanta Falcons will need TE Kyle Pitts to step up in week two

The Atlanta Falcons used the fourth-overall pick last year on the most talented tight end in NFL history, and he did not disappoint in his first season.

However, in his first game in his second year in the pros, he did disappoint if we are being perfectly honest.

We need to preface something first though, Arthur Smith did not help the young tight end out at all. Pitts was used pretty poorly to open the season and that needs to change. He should not be used as a pass blocker and needs to be the main target in the red zone.

Arthur Smith had a lot to do with Kyle’s struggles but the blame also lands on Kyle’s shoulders as well.

The first, and most obvious thing is that he just needs to get open for Marcus Mariota. Mariota targetted Pitts and Drake London seven times each, and it was a tale of two stories as London caught five of those passes compared to Pitts’ two.

The other thing is that he needs to be able to absorb hits. He had the ball in his hands for the first down on third down but then the defender blasted him and he dropped the ball. That is the type of play you need your star tight end to make, no questions about it.