The traits that make an elite playmaker
Pitre isn’t the kind of player you think of when you hear the term “box safety.” At the Senior Bowl, Pitre measured at 5’10 3/4″ and 196 pounds. Off measurements alone, he seems out of position. But when you fire up the tape, you know he’s right where he needs to be.
In 2021, Pitre was a menace for opposing offenses in the STAR or hybrid slot role. He cites his coaching for giving him the freedom to make plays and play fast along the first and second levels. But what truly fuels Pitre’s production is an all-business approach and a brawler’s mentality in the box.
“When I’m in the box, I take my role very seriously — like I’m going to die in my gap if I have to. It’s always important for me to do whatever I need to do to get in my spot. And when I’m in my spot, I’m trying to make a play as well. I’m not going to let anybody put their hands on me and take me where they want me to go. I think when I have that mindset along with the knowledge of the game, it helps me play a lot faster and helps me make the plays that I need to make.”
Pitre’s ability in zone coverage
Pitre plays at 100 miles per hour, all the time. But the most exciting thing about his game is that he also knows when to slow down. Especially in zone coverage on passing downs, there are times when you need to sit back and read the play. Pitre relishes those moments where he has to process, just as much as a tackle in pursuit or a big hit coming downhill.
“When it comes to zone coverage, I look at it as a big puzzle. I’m trying to find pieces to help me solve the whole picture. Whether it’s a short end in front of me, or just feeling a guy behind me, or the quarterback’s eyes, I’m always trying to find hints and tips to give me ideas of where other guys are at on the field. I’ve seen a lot of different things from our team in practice, and I watch a lot of tape. When you do that, you understand where people are going to be, and the things that they’re going to do off of what you do.”
Pitre wants to play more deep safety in the NFL, but his versatility has enabled him to take coverage reps in various different alignments. Pitre says that experience will only help him adjust and make an early impact at the next level. He draws notes from current NFL players like Tyrann Mathieu, Budda Baker, and his good friend Grant Delpit. But he also looks back at some of the greats, like Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed.
In Pitre’s mind, he wants to be able to do everything. So when he’s studying different styles and techniques, no player is truly out of bounds.
Ramping up to the 2022 NFL Draft
Having closed the book on a collegiate career that left no box unchecked, Pitre now aims to conquer the NFL game. It’s already been an eventful offseason, but for Pitre, NFL Combine preparation is currently at the forefront.
“It’s been a pretty tedious process. I’ve been in a facility from eight to five every day, whether it’s doing rehab, working on speed, working on agility. I’m also working on my strength, my forty, making sure that I’m taking big steps. Just a bunch of details that I’ve been working on, but also finding a balance with rehab and recovery as well. So it’s been a fun process. I’m blessed to be in the position that I am right now — to even be considered one of the players entering into the draft. It’s wonderful to be in this position, and I’m thankful for it.”
Those little details, as you quickly learn when talking to Pitre, simply can’t be overlooked. Even for something as small and fleeting as a 40-yard dash, Pitre has an entire process laid out.
“So it starts off making sure your ankles are pointing in the right direction, and making sure you have the right toe placement on the ground, to get the right jump out of your start. After the start, it’s really about those big steps, to make sure you’re covering ground and staying down for 20 yards. Making sure you’re driving as hard as you can, using as much power as you can. And then for the last 20 yards, it’s about standing tall, and making sure that you’re cycling through.”
Dominating at the Reese’s Senior Bowl
Seeing his tape and his drive off the field, it comes as no surprise that Pitre’s stock is steadily climbing through the offseason. He’s trending into top-50 territory as he approaches the Combine, and a strong Senior Bowl showing has no doubt played a role in that. Pitre appreciated the chance to compete, and he knows he made the most of it.
“I was very thankful to be invited to the game. And I think Jim Nagy did a great job, bringing in some good talent. I was able to do some things that I didn’t do in college and it was very fun. Overall, it was a great week for me, and I think I definitely improved my draft stock. It was fun to be out there competing with some of the best. So I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Pitre is lauded for his physicality in the box, but the Baylor safety says his favorite part of the Senior Bowl was proving his mettle in coverage against running backs and tight ends alike.
“Just making sure that my eyes are in the right spot, and I use my leverage when needed, physical at the point of attack. It was fun to go out there and compete with those guys, and kind of showcase that I could play man coverage on anybody. That’s something that we did a lot at Baylor, so it wasn’t really hard for me.”
The next step for Pitre
There isn’t as much free time for Pitre these days. When he has it, he tries to spend time with his family and friends, and he also enjoys basketball. Unsurprisingly, Pitre is versatile there, too. He humbly touts his three-point shot but also has some facilitator traits in his back pocket.
But the doors have long closed for Pitre to become the next great point guard. Instead, he has his sights set on becoming the point man for an NFL secondary, and that vision is well within his reach. But even with that ambition and drive, Pitre knows there’s a process to stay true to. More than anything, Pitre wants to be reliable — no matter what role he plays early on.
“I want to build the trust with my coaches and my teammates. That’s the biggest thing you can do early on as a rookie, to help you play the fastest. I feel like when you have that trust from your teammates and your coaches, it allows you to be free and it allows you to be yourself.”
That freedom is exactly what Pitre needs to be fully unleashed. With a detail-oriented mindset and a destructive playmaking style, he’ll no doubt be able to earn the trust of his teammates — and stoke fear in his opponents.