Regrouped Cody Latimer is "way ahead of last year"

Cody Latimer is an emerging star.

While Demaryius Thomas‘ contract drama played out this summer, Latimer’s stepped up and stepped into the role outside. And on Sunday, which was “Brock Day,” Latimer was Brock Osweiler‘s favorite target.

Latimer showed off his versatility on Sunday by making a ton of different catches. The most impressive one was a low throw by “Oz” early in the practice; the second-year receiver somehow laid out and grabbed the ball, although, upon further review, it may have hit the ground. On one play, he did well on a come-back route while getting hit from behind to secure the ball. And on Osweiler’s best drive of the day – which ended in a touchdown – Latimer’s catch on the sideline while being hit was stellar.

And now in his second year, the former Indiana star revealed he was nervous as a rookie and feels much more prepared this time around.

“Instead of mental reps, I’m actually able to be out on the field and work with Peyton, get a good balance between me and him and me and Brock,” Latimer explained of getting more practice time this training camp. “So, it’s been good. It’s helped me a lot.”

Practice makes perfect. Or, for Latimer, practice makes better.

“I feel like I’m on a great pace right now,” he continued. “There are still a lot of things I do need to work on, but, as of right now in my position this year compared to last year, I’m way ahead.”

But, what besides the increase in reps has helped Latimer turn the corner this year?

“Studying,” he said exuberantly. “I got a head start down in Duke. Now I go home every night and just look over my plays. Even though we’re on Day 8, you have to go back to Day 1. Just make sure you keep mentally getting the reps because you never know what they’re going to call that day.

“It was great,” Latimer said of the Duke trip. “Just getting a head start on the whole new offense and being able to run the routes with Peyton and Emmanuel down there and Bubba, it was a good head start.”

That head start at Duke was key for Latimer, and it likely helped him build chemistry with his quarterback, Manning, who made the rookie nervous he explained.

“I wasn’t on path, I wasn’t focused,” Lattimer said of his rookie campaign. “That’s why I had to regroup myself and come back this year stronger. I just needed to have confidence in myself. Last year I was always nervous in the huddle with Peyton and not wanting to mess up. This year, just go out there and play fast. If you mess up, you mess up. As long as you’re playing fast and keep making plays.”

Latimer’s done nothing but make plays out in training camp this summer and signs are pointing to his possible breakout season coming this year. He’s way ahead of last year in terms of mental preparation and self-confidence; he’ll likely be way ahead in terms of production as well.