Dennis Pitta is, arguably, the best tight end in Brigham
Young Cougars history. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in April 2010
following his stellar BYU career. Pitta is the Ravens’ top tight end, and has
45 receptions for 442 yards and 4 touchdowns through the first 12 games this
season.
Pitta was gracious enough to answer a few questions for BLUE
COUGAR FOOTBALL.
In his three year NFL career, Pitta has shown steady improvement each year. In 2012, he has already set new career highs for receptions, yards, and touchdowns. The Ravens are a run-first team, but Pitta’s numbers are still competitive with most tight ends in the NFL. When asked what he thought about his play this season, Pitta was more concerned about improving better than acknowledging what he has already accomplishments.
“This business is a lot of self evaluation,” Pitta
explained. “Each week you look at what you are doing and try to get better. … I
am always trying to get better. I try to work hard and prepare each week to
play the best I can.”
Pitta said his teammates and he were “definitely” aware of the home-field advantage situation, but their first goal is always to win the AFC
North and guarantee a spot in the playoffs.
“The Texans have a really good football team this year,”
Pitta added. “It is critical for us to win as many games as possible. We want
to, at least, have the second seed to have a first round bye.”
At this point, only a complete collapse by the Texans in the final four
games of the season would allow the Ravens to gain home-field advantage in the playoffs. They
would have to lose three of their final four games, and Baltimore
would have to win all four. The Ravens are in the driver seat for the second
seed. They beat the New England Patriots (9-3) earlier this year, and play the
Denver Broncos (10-3) later this month.
Before the Broncos, Pitta and the Ravens will meet the red
hot Washington Redskins. The Redskins recently acquired former BYU linebacker
Bryan Kehl. Although the Redskins aren’t one of the Ravens’ division foes, it
will be the second time this season that the two former BYU teammates will
reunite. The Ravens played the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year when Kehl
played for them.
There are a handful of other former Cougars who play in the
NFL, but there isn’t a very strong fraternity among them, according to Pitta.
He said, “It is fun when I get to see [Kehl and Indianapolis
Colts wide receiver Austin Collie],” who both played at BYU at the same time as
Pitta. Twice a year, Pitta’s Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers where former
BYU Cougar Brett Keisel plays. Pitta said he has talked to Keisel only a few
times.
The Redskins are the first of a tough final four games that
the Ravens have. After playing Washington ,
the Ravens play Denver , which has
three extra days to prepare after playing last night, the New York Giants (7-5),
and the Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) in a game that could determine the division
championship.
The ultimate goal for any team is to win the Super Bowl.
Pitta and the Ravens came very close last year when they lost to the Patriots
in the AFC Championship game. What does Baltimore
have to do to reach the Super Bowl this year?
“Start playing really good football,” Pitta said. “December
and January is when you need things to click. The offense needs to execute at a
high level. We want to get some momentum.”
Pitta stressed the importance of momentum by pointing out
that the last two Super Bowl Champions didn’t have great regular season records
(New York Giants, 9-7; Green Bay Packers, 10-6), but they ended the season with
a lot of momentum.
BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL wishes Pitta and the Ravens best of luck.
BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL wishes Pitta and the Ravens best of luck.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment