Tight end Dennis Pitta is one happy man these days, and it’s evident watching him during the Ravens’ three-day minicamp happening this week.
Pitta, who battled through adversity last season, fighting back from a dislocated/fractured hip which took place during training camp, appears healthy and ready to go for the 2014 season.
“I feel good,” he said after Tuesday’s practice. “I feel like I’m running well, planting well, and I’m not worried about the hip at all. It’s not giving me any issues, so that’s encouraging.”
After inking a new five-year deal earlier this offseason, the four-year veteran will remain a key cog in the Gary Kubiak led offense which heavily favors the tight end position..
“It’s a fun offense to be a part of as a tight end, and it’s still a learning curve for me,” Pitta acknowledged. “I’m still making mistakes and trying to work my way through it and [learn] my assignment, but I think when it all comes together, I think we’re really going to like the final product.”
With the free agent acquisition of Owen Daniels along with the 4th-round draft selection of Crockett Gillmore, the Ravens certainly have a formidable tight end group. Daniels, who spent several years in Kubiak’s offense, is serving as somewhat of a mentor to Pitta and the rookie Gillmore.
“Owen has been a huge complement to what we’re doing here, and,” Pitta went on, “he’s, No. 1, a great football player. He’s had a lot of success in this league and continues to make plays out there. He’s been critical for me to be able to learn from. He’s been in this offense, I think eight or nine years, and done a great job at it. So, I’m able to bounce questions off him, see how he runs certain routes and how he does things. It helps me become better.”
During practice on Tuesday and Wednesday Pitta made several quality catches and showed some explosiveness turning up field after the catch, great signs for one of Joe Flacco’s security nets this fall.
“The hip feels great and it’s nothing I even think about when I’m at practice, so that’s a good sign. I feel like I’m at 100 percent and able to run and do what I need to do.”
Music to the ears of Ravens fans.
