Josh Downs expects big leap in second year with Colts – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Josh Downs shined during the wide receiver footwork drills, making cuts that were on a different level compared to the rest of the group.

He dug his feet through the ladder.

And during training on Saturday, he and Anthony Richardson made a nice pass and catch along the sideline between two defenders.

Downs has been impressive in training camp and has started his freshman year strong, with 68 receptions for 771 yards and two touchdowns. But he expects more this year.

“From year one to year two, it’s always been a big jump for me,” Downs said. “High school, college, it was the same.”

He’s not exaggerating. In his first year at North Carolina, he had seven catches for 119 yards. That jumped to 101 receptions for 1,335 yards in his second year. His touchdown count also jumped from three to eight.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter agrees with Downs’ confidence. He’s been impressed with training camp so far and believes he’s learned a lot from his first year in the league.

“Josh (Downs) is going to maximize that from a route-running perspective from a defensive coverage identification perspective,” Cooter said. “Josh (Downs) is poised and ready to have a big camp here and do some really good things.”

Downs is processing the game better this year. He said he doesn’t think about the route he’s going to take when he lines up at the line of scrimmage. Instead, he analyzes the defense and determines what coverage they’re in.

One person who has helped him do this is cornerback Kenny Moore II. Downs considers Moore II to be the top of his position in the NFL. He said Moore II is very smart and likes to play with Downs when they play against each other, disguising whether he is in man coverage or zone coverage.

Downs says he has the best slot receiver position in the league because he gets to go up against Moore II every day.

Downs has also built his chemistry with Richardson, to the point where they are making plays that aren’t in the playbook.

“We see different plays, it might not be in the script,” Downs said. “He (Richardson) will say, ‘Hey, JD, see this? Do that.’ And I’m like, ‘I thought the same thing.'”

“I know Anthony (Richardson) trusts me. I trust him. We click before training, after training, even off the field. That’s my dog.”

The Colts return to practice Sunday at Grand Park from 4-5:30 p.m.