There are plenty of questions when it comes to the Denver Broncos.
More specifically, the roster and the battle for spots on the field.
As we get closer to training camp (thank goodness), we will look at the story lines for specific position battles. Or in the case of of the third receiver, highlight who has the chance to shine in that role.
Cody Latimer will finally get his chance.
The chance he didn’t get in his rookie season, and when he does, he will become the weapon John Elway envisioned when he drafted the receiver in the second round from Indiana.
Through OTAs (organized team activities) and mini camp, the thought of Latimer in Gary Kubiak’s and Rick Dennison’s offense should get Broncos Country amped up. If there’s a mold for a wide receiver in this offense, it’s Latimer.
“I thought a lot about him coming out (of college),” Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said at the NFL meetings in Phoenix earlier this offseason. “I spent a lot of time with him in Baltimore. We were very interested in him going into the draft, so I knew him very well. It’s funny. I told him in Baltimore, ‘Hey, we might not end up with you, but our paths may cross some day.’ He walked into my office and said, ‘Hell, I didn’t know it would be this quick.’ He’s a fine player. He showed a lot of flashes from me watching him in practice. A lot of times being a rookie can be overwhelming. I think as the year went on he just showed that he’s got a lot of skill.”
Fans didn’t get the chance to see much of Latimer this last season but they will come September. He has the traits of Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey, two receivers who knew their jobs weren’t just about catching passes and running routes. They were both complete receivers who took pride in every aspect of what they did. And they flourished in this offense.
Latimer is the same type of player. The fact he wasn’t developed is another reason why John Fox and most of his staff is no longer in Denver. You can include Sylvester Williams, Michael Schofield, Matt Paradis and so on. The only reason defensive back Bradley Roby got the chance was because he forced Fox to play him.
But that’s neither here nor there. This is about the future, and Latimer will shine in this offense when he’s given the chance. By all accounts, he’s already impressed his teammates and coaches. That should continue come training camp and the preseason.
The play that should have put Latimer in the lineup last season was the block he laid in the preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. That showed he will do what’s needed for the offense and Broncos.
That showed he gives the offense qualities it doesn’t have: toughness and meanness. Latimer will block in the running game, and had he been on the field on that fourth-down run by C.J. Anderson against the Indianapolis Colts, it’s probably a touchdown.
Latimer has already shown the organization glimpses of what he’s capable of. Now is the time when the coaches will work to develop him and give him the chance to take the next step.
“I think it’s time for him to make a big jump, not just a little jump,” Kubiak said. “I think it’s time for him to make a big jump and how we end up being built at receiver — I know that Wes (Welker) is still free and there are some things that still need to pan out — but, obviously, his play time is fixing to pick up and it needs to pick up. We need him to make a big jump.”
In terms of the third receiver for the Denver offense, it’s Latimer’s to lose. There isn’t a “competition” so much as it’s his time to grow and learn.
There are a lot of reasons to feel excitement over the coming season. The development of Latimer is one of the big ones.
If he brings the approach of Smith and McCaffrey, it will only benefit the Broncos. If he can match their output, on top of what Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders will bring, watch out.
At least Latimer will finally get the chance.
Editor’s note: This is a previous BSN story updated for this new series on the roster battles.
