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Davin Joseph jumps into starting role
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11346/davin-joseph-jumps-into-starting-role
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- From the moment soft-spoken guard Davin Joseph signed with the St. Louis Rams he began going about his business as he always does: in the most professional way possible.
Joseph signed with the Rams on May 28 after his original team, Tampa Bay, released him during the offseason. At the time, Joseph said he weighed his options and ultimately believed St. Louis would be the right place to get a fresh start after eight years with the Buccaneers.
Upon arrival in St. Louis, Joseph sounded like a man content to do whatever the Rams asked of him, and though he wanted to prove he still has some gas in the tank, he looked poised to be the team's only veteran backup option.
As it turns out, Joseph did much more than offer some experience behind the starters. Heading in to Sunday's season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Joseph is to start for the Rams at his familiar right guard position.
"The goal was to make the football team, and then of course make an impact," Joseph said. "So whatever that may be, however I can help, that’s what I’m here for."
To open the season, how Joseph can help is by providing a steady presence on an offensive line that seems to be in a perpetual state of flux. Throughout the preseason the Rams went stretches of time without the services of left tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and left guard Rodger Saffold. With rookie Greg Robinson struggling to settle in and bouncing between left guard and left tackle, Joseph joined right tackle Joe Barksdale in providing some semblance of stability on the right side.
Unexpected though it might have been, Joseph's ascent probably shouldn't surprise. After all, aside from Long he is the most accomplished lineman on the roster. Once considered one of the league's premiere guards, the 6-foot-3, 313-pound Joseph has played in 100 games and earned a pair of trips to the Pro Bowl.
The past two seasons have been a nightmare for Joseph as he has dealt with a serious knee injury and a staph infection. The former cost Joseph the entire 2012 season, and the latter kept him from returning to form in 2013.
As the difficulties of those two seasons piled up, the Bucs decided to part ways with Joseph, who also believed it best to start over. In St. Louis, Joseph said he has found exactly what he was looking for.
"I think being a Ram has been the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time, so it’s strange how things happen," Joseph said. "When you get released by one team and picked up by another team, you don’t quite know what your role is, you just come to work, shut up and do your job. You just learn every day. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve arrived here. I’ve really enjoyed the journey so far."
Joseph played 70 snaps in the preseason as the Rams reconfigured things based on who was available each week. It became apparent when he started the third preseason game against Cleveland that he was in line to nail down a starting spot. His experience certainly works in his favor, even if he has struggled the past two years.
"I think last year he was kind of coming back of some bumps and bruises things like that," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. "Wow, what a pro. Comes to work every day, probably one of the strongest guys we have up front in terms of just the sets he uses and getting his hands on people, things like that. But consummate pro.”
At just 30 years old, Joseph believes he has plenty of football in him and is out to prove he can still perform at a high level. In the Rams' run-heavy offense, they will need him to at least become a reasonable facsimile of the player he once was for the group to have success.
"When you enjoy going to work, it’s a lot better than just going to work," Joseph said. "When you actually look forward to going to work every day, there’s a lot of positive energy. So that’s been a major difference is that since I’ve been in St. Louis, I’ve really looked forward to going to work every day. That’s been a lot different than some of my years in Tampa, not all, but some, where it wasn’t really that enjoyable experience."
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11346/davin-joseph-jumps-into-starting-role
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- From the moment soft-spoken guard Davin Joseph signed with the St. Louis Rams he began going about his business as he always does: in the most professional way possible.
Joseph signed with the Rams on May 28 after his original team, Tampa Bay, released him during the offseason. At the time, Joseph said he weighed his options and ultimately believed St. Louis would be the right place to get a fresh start after eight years with the Buccaneers.
Upon arrival in St. Louis, Joseph sounded like a man content to do whatever the Rams asked of him, and though he wanted to prove he still has some gas in the tank, he looked poised to be the team's only veteran backup option.
As it turns out, Joseph did much more than offer some experience behind the starters. Heading in to Sunday's season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Joseph is to start for the Rams at his familiar right guard position.
"The goal was to make the football team, and then of course make an impact," Joseph said. "So whatever that may be, however I can help, that’s what I’m here for."
To open the season, how Joseph can help is by providing a steady presence on an offensive line that seems to be in a perpetual state of flux. Throughout the preseason the Rams went stretches of time without the services of left tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and left guard Rodger Saffold. With rookie Greg Robinson struggling to settle in and bouncing between left guard and left tackle, Joseph joined right tackle Joe Barksdale in providing some semblance of stability on the right side.
Unexpected though it might have been, Joseph's ascent probably shouldn't surprise. After all, aside from Long he is the most accomplished lineman on the roster. Once considered one of the league's premiere guards, the 6-foot-3, 313-pound Joseph has played in 100 games and earned a pair of trips to the Pro Bowl.
The past two seasons have been a nightmare for Joseph as he has dealt with a serious knee injury and a staph infection. The former cost Joseph the entire 2012 season, and the latter kept him from returning to form in 2013.
As the difficulties of those two seasons piled up, the Bucs decided to part ways with Joseph, who also believed it best to start over. In St. Louis, Joseph said he has found exactly what he was looking for.
"I think being a Ram has been the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time, so it’s strange how things happen," Joseph said. "When you get released by one team and picked up by another team, you don’t quite know what your role is, you just come to work, shut up and do your job. You just learn every day. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve arrived here. I’ve really enjoyed the journey so far."
Joseph played 70 snaps in the preseason as the Rams reconfigured things based on who was available each week. It became apparent when he started the third preseason game against Cleveland that he was in line to nail down a starting spot. His experience certainly works in his favor, even if he has struggled the past two years.
"I think last year he was kind of coming back of some bumps and bruises things like that," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. "Wow, what a pro. Comes to work every day, probably one of the strongest guys we have up front in terms of just the sets he uses and getting his hands on people, things like that. But consummate pro.”
At just 30 years old, Joseph believes he has plenty of football in him and is out to prove he can still perform at a high level. In the Rams' run-heavy offense, they will need him to at least become a reasonable facsimile of the player he once was for the group to have success.
"When you enjoy going to work, it’s a lot better than just going to work," Joseph said. "When you actually look forward to going to work every day, there’s a lot of positive energy. So that’s been a major difference is that since I’ve been in St. Louis, I’ve really looked forward to going to work every day. That’s been a lot different than some of my years in Tampa, not all, but some, where it wasn’t really that enjoyable experience."
