Marcus Mariota on how Kyle Pitts ‘makes it easy on us’ running routes

That’s especially true on third down, or anytime an offense is trying to move the chains. Pitts set out to be better in that area. He set out to dissect defenses better, finding soft spots in coverage where he can comfortably receive a pass. He’s also working to be better against double teams or safeties and linebackers shading toward him

“Running good routes is really important, especially when you’re trying to get first downs,” Pitts said last week. “That’s definitely a focus for me.”

Mariota can tell. He has been impressed by Pitts as a route runner, especially for a second-year pro.

“Everyone has a skill set and everyone can get better at some things,” Mariota said. “For Kyle, it’s about continuing to push some of those things so he can run anything on the field. That allows him to get into different situations and different matchups.”

Mariota had a tough time finding a comparison for Pitts from his past, which is no shock for a player nicknamed “The Unicorn.“

“I wouldn’t compare Kyle to anybody else,” Mariota said. “He has a very unique skill set, one that benefits us. We just have to find ways to get him the ball.”