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Rams' Joyner making progress going into Year 2
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1554589-rams-joyner-making-progress-going-into-year-2
ST. LOUIS — Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner described his rookie season as a “humbling experience” after the team’s OTA session on Thursday.
“Definitely a humbling experience for me, both on the field, off the field — there’s just a lot of things that come with this league,” he said.
The Rams’ second-round pick (No. 41 overall) in 2014 out of Florida State, the diminutive defensive back failed to make much of an impact for the team during his debut season.
Drafted to man the nickel cornerback position in Gregg Williams’ aggressive defense, Joyner finished with 48 tackles, three passes defensed, one sack and one quarterback pressure in 10 games.
Joyner struggled early on, came on after a slow start but was then sidelined by an injury. He returned for the final two games.
What was the hardest part about his rookie campaign?
“Just adapting. Just learning the system. Just coming from a successful year at the college level and you think you know everything and you’re just on the wrong path, you need to get adjusted,” Joyner said. “Coach (Gregg) Williams was a great example of molding me out of that and molding me into the young man I am now.”
What the 5-foot-8, 184-pound defensive back is now is a player who is far more aware of what he is doing in the Rams’ defensive scheme, a player fighting for snaps among the team’s cornerbacks and a player who has earned some praise for his play so far during OTAs.
“I feel like my approach is different and that’s probably coming from the more understanding I have, the more wisdom I have and just knowing what I’m doing,” Joyner said. “Instead of running out there like a blind dog in a meat house and you don’t know which way to go, I know what I’m doing, so now I can pretty much contribute to the defense.”
How much different does Joyner feel now within the defense than he was a year ago as a rookie second-round pick? Joyner said the coaches have used the words “light years” to describe the difference.
“I feel great, I feel like I’m settled in, I’m there mentally, which is the most important part at this level,” Joyner said. “I’m already blessed with the God-given physical ability, so I’m pretty caught up.”
Joyner said he is now at the point where is able to react to what is unfolding instead of having to think about what he should do.
He’s come a long way over the past year, a period of time with plenty of ups and downs for the second-round pick who helped Florida State win a national championship in his final season with the Seminoles.
Joyner took some time after his rookie season to reflect and refocus.
“I definitely got away and had to refocus and ask myself what it is about this game that makes me want to come to work every day and I came to the realization that I still love football,” he said. “That kind of helped me spark up a new light inside my heart.”
Now Joyner knows that the struggles of his rookie campaign have helped him get to where he is now and preparing him for what’s to come.
“It was very difficult,” Joyner said. “But I never lost hope, my spirit was never broken. I always had trust in the Lord. That’s what brought me here. I just felt like I needed that. Everything happens for a reason. Obviously I wouldn’t be a step ahead the way I am today if that wouldn’t have happened. I wholeheartedly believe that.”
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1554589-rams-joyner-making-progress-going-into-year-2
ST. LOUIS — Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner described his rookie season as a “humbling experience” after the team’s OTA session on Thursday.
“Definitely a humbling experience for me, both on the field, off the field — there’s just a lot of things that come with this league,” he said.
The Rams’ second-round pick (No. 41 overall) in 2014 out of Florida State, the diminutive defensive back failed to make much of an impact for the team during his debut season.
Drafted to man the nickel cornerback position in Gregg Williams’ aggressive defense, Joyner finished with 48 tackles, three passes defensed, one sack and one quarterback pressure in 10 games.
Joyner struggled early on, came on after a slow start but was then sidelined by an injury. He returned for the final two games.
What was the hardest part about his rookie campaign?
“Just adapting. Just learning the system. Just coming from a successful year at the college level and you think you know everything and you’re just on the wrong path, you need to get adjusted,” Joyner said. “Coach (Gregg) Williams was a great example of molding me out of that and molding me into the young man I am now.”
What the 5-foot-8, 184-pound defensive back is now is a player who is far more aware of what he is doing in the Rams’ defensive scheme, a player fighting for snaps among the team’s cornerbacks and a player who has earned some praise for his play so far during OTAs.
“I feel like my approach is different and that’s probably coming from the more understanding I have, the more wisdom I have and just knowing what I’m doing,” Joyner said. “Instead of running out there like a blind dog in a meat house and you don’t know which way to go, I know what I’m doing, so now I can pretty much contribute to the defense.”
How much different does Joyner feel now within the defense than he was a year ago as a rookie second-round pick? Joyner said the coaches have used the words “light years” to describe the difference.
“I feel great, I feel like I’m settled in, I’m there mentally, which is the most important part at this level,” Joyner said. “I’m already blessed with the God-given physical ability, so I’m pretty caught up.”
Joyner said he is now at the point where is able to react to what is unfolding instead of having to think about what he should do.
He’s come a long way over the past year, a period of time with plenty of ups and downs for the second-round pick who helped Florida State win a national championship in his final season with the Seminoles.
Joyner took some time after his rookie season to reflect and refocus.
“I definitely got away and had to refocus and ask myself what it is about this game that makes me want to come to work every day and I came to the realization that I still love football,” he said. “That kind of helped me spark up a new light inside my heart.”
Now Joyner knows that the struggles of his rookie campaign have helped him get to where he is now and preparing him for what’s to come.
“It was very difficult,” Joyner said. “But I never lost hope, my spirit was never broken. I always had trust in the Lord. That’s what brought me here. I just felt like I needed that. Everything happens for a reason. Obviously I wouldn’t be a step ahead the way I am today if that wouldn’t have happened. I wholeheartedly believe that.”
