Joyner being moved to Free Safety?

[Corbin]

I don't like Joyner in the FS spot tbh. He is to short to cover TE's that come down the seam. Outside of that he does have some skills and decently good ball awareness to him.

 

[LACHAMP46]

If he's too slow for slot corner...and he seems a little too small for FS....Much like G-Rob, this is a last gasp to save a player on this team.

I actually have a new-found respect for this guy as a player....He was the first to give us a hint of the dysfunctional locker room atmosphere...all these guys are worried about their cars...so he's a pro...

but to me...measurables guy....too small, too slow...the angles are just to great to make up for a marginal player. Frankly, I'd rather see Brian Randolph or a rookie at FS in 2017. Or...move Mo or Barron back there.

Another thing, who is this source that claims the Rams want to try him back there?

 

[BonifayRam]

If he's too slow for slot corner...and he seems a little too small for FS....Much like G-Rob, this is a last gasp to save a player on this team.

I actually have a new-found respect for this guy as a player....He was the first to give us a hint of the dysfunctional locker room atmosphere...all these guys are worried about their cars...so he's a pro...

but to me...measurables guy....too small, too slow...the angles are just to great to make up for a marginal player. Frankly, I'd rather see Brian Randolph or a rookie at FS in 2017. Or...move Mo or Barron back there.

Another thing, who is this source that claims the Rams want to try him back there?

Well Champ one good thing here is IF Joyner does move from where he was located last season @ SSLB to Free Deep Safety you & I should have some great discussions in the Chat on game day! You & I have had differing opinions on LJ since his arrival as a Ram & this season either you or I will find out who was right not that means all that much to you & I.

I do agree with you fully about Brain Randolph being a young golden nugget !

 

[WestCoastRam]

Last year's defensive staff needed to choose between getting Alexander on the field or Joyner. That may have played a part in him staying at nickel. We'll see.

I suspect - regardless of his physical limitations - he's already the best FS on the roster. Which might not be saying much...

 

[bubbaramfan]

I'm really high on Brian Randoph. Kid is a football player. Smart, knows the game, and brings the wood. I hope they give him plenty of time on the field. He'll be one I take a good look at when I go to TC practices.

 

[ReddingRam]

Lamarcus Joyner is listed at 5'8", 184.

Tyrann Mathieu is listed at 5'9", 186.

I get the height thing, but if your safety is 1-on-1 with a 6'5" receiver, somebody done goofed anyways.

And who was that ... I forget the name, but that 5'8" FS that played for the Colts a few yrs ago ... he was a damn Pro Bowler

 

[ramfan46]

And who was that ... I forget the name, but that 5'8" FS that played for the Colts a few yrs ago ... he was a damn Pro Bowler

Exactly who I thought of too! Bob Sanders from Iowa. Joyner seems to hold up pretty well for how hard he hits. He will need to wrap up much more as the last line of defense though. He has this habit of launching and using his forearm and elbow to strike. He needs to be sleeping with a juggs machine this spring. He can't catch.

 

[badnews]

If he's too slow for slot corner...and he seems a little too small for FS....Much like G-Rob, this is a last gasp to save a player on this team.

I actually have a new-found respect for this guy as a player....He was the first to give us a hint of the dysfunctional locker room atmosphere...all these guys are worried about their cars...so he's a pro...

but to me...measurables guy....too small, too slow...the angles are just to great to make up for a marginal player. Frankly, I'd rather see Brian Randolph or a rookie at FS in 2017. Or...move Mo or Barron back there.

Another thing, who is this source that claims the Rams want to try him back there?

Its funny to me.
Brian Quick is all measuerables - but he still sucks.
LaMarcus Joyner is all passion - and does not suck.

Imo he was too small for the slot... but he still made some important plays and didnt give up any stupid plays because he didnt know what the hell he was supposed to do, unlike Quick.
As a NB Joyner was always where he needed to be... but often put in a position to fail against guys who simply boxed him out with their size.
As a FS, teams cant just pitch a slant to a big TE right in front of his face.

I think he will continue to improve and could be a + for us at centerfield.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I just think his talents fit as a FS . He is a smart football player who covers a lot of ground. Is a good tackler. His height was the major draw back. He had to cover bigger Wr's & TE's .
He will have beable to watch(read) & react . He can actually Use his atlethic ability to jump in front for picks, or time his hits as the ball floats in to a receiver .
He seems to almost always be in the right place , but chasing does not work well for him because of his size.

I think it suits him better too. He is not great at having to turn and chase. It would be best if they plays stay in front of him.

I don't like Joyner in the FS spot tbh. He is to short to cover TE's that come down the seam. Outside of that he does have some skills and decently good ball awareness to him.

Again he was limited at corner. Free Safety may be his best fit.

There will be changes and people moved around. Like previously mentioned this could just be an attempt to make better use of a guy that either wasn't getting it done or doesn't fit what Phillips likes.

Expect more than one corner to be drafted. If this is true then they are short a slot corner and another man corner. Even if Trumaine does okay at on this defense, it is unlikely that he is signed for a top contract with the Rams. He would have to have an excellent year. The Rams cornerback depth doesn't exactly fit either so we could see a lot of turnover at that position.

 

[jrry32]

If he's too slow for slot corner...and he seems a little too small for FS....Much like G-Rob, this is a last gasp to save a player on this team.

I actually have a new-found respect for this guy as a player....He was the first to give us a hint of the dysfunctional locker room atmosphere...all these guys are worried about their cars...so he's a pro...

but to me...measurables guy....too small, too slow...the angles are just to great to make up for a marginal player. Frankly, I'd rather see Brian Randolph or a rookie at FS in 2017. Or...move Mo or Barron back there.

Another thing, who is this source that claims the Rams want to try him back there?

Joyner ran a 4.55 40. If he's too slow to play safety, there are hell of a lot of good safeties in the NFL who were too slow to play their position. That Eric Weddle guy? He only ran a 4.56 40. Too slow to play safety despite being a five-time All Pro.

As for his size, size doesn't matter at FS. Rodney McLeod was a small guy too. If you have the balls, strength, and instincts, you can play FS. Go ahead and ask Michael Floyd if Joyner is too small:
http://gph.is/2ofhWe1

You can also ask this 220 pound HB:
http://gph.is/2ofCuTX

Joyner was an above average slot CB despite never being a great player with his back to the ball and being a bit too grabby in man coverage. He's always been a much better fit at FS. He's at his best attacking downhill and playing with his eyes to the QB.

You're wrong about the kid.

 

[SteezyEndo]

Joyner ran a 4.55 40. If he's too slow to play safety, there are hell of a lot of good safeties in the NFL who were too slow to play their position. That Eric Weddle guy? He only ran a 4.56 40. Too slow to play safety despite being a five-time All Pro.

As for his size, size doesn't matter at FS. Rodney McLeod was a small guy too. If you have the balls, strength, and instincts, you can play FS. Go ahead and ask Michael Floyd if Joyner is too small:
http://gph.is/2ofhWe1

You can also ask this 220 pound HB:
http://gph.is/2ofCuTX

Joyner was an above average slot CB despite never being a great player with his back to the ball and being a bit too grabby in man coverage. He's always been a much better fit at FS. He's at his best attacking downhill and playing with his eyes to the QB.

You're wrong about the kid.

If talking numbers Barron did a tad better in that aspect. Joyner 4.55 , and Barron 4.54. With Barrons height and weight over Joyner... Barron should get that spot naturally.

 

[jrry32]

If talking numbers Barron did a tad better in that aspect. Joyner 4.55 , and Barron 4.54. With Barrons height and weight over Joyner... Barron should get that spot naturally.

Barron already has a spot at ILB.

 

[Corbin]

I think it suits him better too. He is not great at having to turn and chase. It would be best if they plays stay in front of him.





Again he was limited at corner. Free Safety may be his best fit.

There will be changes and people moved around. Like previously mentioned this could just be an attempt to make better use of a guy that either wasn't getting it done or doesn't fit what Phillips likes.

Expect more than one corner to be drafted. If this is true then they are short a slot corner and another man corner. Even if Trumaine does okay at on this defense, it is unlikely that he is signed for a top contract with the Rams. He would have to have an excellent year. The Rams cornerback depth doesn't exactly fit either so we could see a lot of turnover at that position.

I hear you and think your dead on the position I just honestly don't care for Joyner at safety. Dude is to damn little IMO. We are going to get eaten alive by Sean routes he's supposed to guard vs a 6-5 TE. That's 9 inches of height difference not including difference in wing span. I pray we draft a late round guy that surprises.

 

[jrry32]

I hear you and think your dead on the position I just honestly don't care for Joyner at safety. Dude is to damn little IMO. We are going to get eaten alive by Sean routes he's supposed to guard vs a 6-5 TE. That's 9 inches of height difference not including difference in wing span. I pray we draft a late round guy that surprises.

Did we get eaten alive by seam routes when 5'10" Rodney McLeod was back there? And Rodney wasn't exactly an outlier. Here is a list of great safeties who played in the past decade who were 5'10" or shorter:
Jairus Byrd (5'10")
Mike Brown (5'10")
Bob Sanders (5'8")
Tyrann Mathieu (5'9")
Earl Thomas (5'10")
Antoine Bethea (5'9")
Karl Joseph (5'10")*
Donte Whitner (5'10")
Troy Polamalu (5'10")

* - Not great yet, but I added him because he was a first round pick last year.

If a 6'5" TE comes up the seam, Joyner will either make him pay or he'll have an opportunity to pick the ball off.

 

[Faceplant]

If he's too slow for slot corner...and he seems a little too small for FS....Much like G-Rob, this is a last gasp to save a player on this team.

I actually have a new-found respect for this guy as a player....He was the first to give us a hint of the dysfunctional locker room atmosphere...all these guys are worried about their cars...so he's a pro...

but to me...measurables guy....too small, too slow...the angles are just to great to make up for a marginal player. Frankly, I'd rather see Brian Randolph or a rookie at FS in 2017. Or...move Mo or Barron back there.

Another thing, who is this source that claims the Rams want to try him back there?

These are my thoughts as well. I really hope Joyner excels wherever he plays, but he is a tweener size wise IMO. As @LACHAMP46 pointed out, his speed is not enough to make up for that in most cases. I trust in Wade that this is the best move, since we are pretty thin in that secondary. Sounds like he will be more of a hybrid FS/Slot CB in the defense anyway.

 

[So Ram]

If he's too slow for slot corner...and he seems a little too small for FS....Much like G-Rob, this is a last gasp to save a player on this team.

I actually have a new-found respect for this guy as a player....He was the first to give us a hint of the dysfunctional locker room atmosphere...all these guys are worried about their cars...so he's a pro...

but to me...measurables guy....too small, too slow...the angles are just to great to make up for a marginal player. Frankly, I'd rather see Brian Randolph or a rookie at FS in 2017. Or...move Mo or Barron back there.

Another thing, who is this source that claims the Rams want to try him back there?

Cody Davies is The Rams starting FS .

Joyner is still as a CB

Barron is a LB now , & will be interesting to see how much weight he puts on ?

 

[Corbin]

Did we get eaten alive by seam routes when 5'10" Rodney McLeod was back there? And Rodney wasn't exactly an outlier. Here is a list of great safeties who played in the past decade who were 5'10" or shorter:
Jairus Byrd (5'10")
Mike Brown (5'10")
Bob Sanders (5'8")
Tyrann Mathieu (5'9")
Earl Thomas (5'10")
Antoine Bethea (5'9")
Karl Joseph (5'10")*
Donte Whitner (5'10")
Troy Polamalu (5'10")

* - Not great yet, but I added him because he was a first round pick last year.

If a 6'5" TE comes up the seam, Joyner will either make him pay or he'll have an opportunity to pick the ball off.

We are talking about a guy that is 5'8 not 5'10. Those two inches along with wingspan means a lot in either tipping, disrupting, or intercepting a ball.

The only player on that list that is 5'8 is Sanders and he was just ok.

 

[Selassie I]

We are talking about a guy that is 5'8 not 5'10. Those two inches along with wingspan means a lot in either tipping, disrupting, or intercepting a ball.

The only player on that list that is 5'8 is Sanders and he was just ok.

Sanders was MUCH MUCH better than "just ok".

 

[LACHAMP46]

LaMarcus Joyner is all passion - and does not suck.

Did you know, Joyner had 5 passes defensed all season? Think he allowed over a 60% completion rate.

Joyner was an above average slot CB...........................You're wrong about the kid.

https://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/passes-defended/2016/
https://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/players/553290/lamarcus-joyner/#Tackles & Assists
Any way you slice it...he's near the bottom. So, above average is clearly the wrong description of his play.

Cody Davies is The Rams starting FS .

Insert laughing gif here>

The only player on that list that is 5'8 is Sanders and he was just ok.

No, no...injury prone, but bullet Bob Sanders could play....
And he definitely ran a 4.4 too...Like a lot of those "small" FS that excelled.

I figured to get a little flack for my LaMarcus Joyner take. It's ok...I got thick skin...from losing for 14 years straight. There is no way that this guy on the field makes us a better team. He's NEVER had a pass interception. He only got his hands on 5 passes all year in 2016, the same amount a AD....So, our DT plays BETTER pass defense than our nickle corner?
https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/player-stat/defense-pass-defenses

 

[BonifayRam]

I thought that Joyner lined up in the Strong Side LB'er post & the Nickle? Are you guys saying that in 2016 Gregg was always playing in the Nickle defense & Joyner did not play the SSLB'er responsibility too?

My point is Joyner, even being way to small for FS lined up close to the LOS on the left side most of the time in the area where SSLB'ers sit. Very rarely did we see SSLB'er Josh Forrest on the field. But when we did see Josh he was lined up in the same area as Joyner. I thought that Joyner was better up close playing the SSLB'er post than when he was covering(trailing) the slot.

So I am trying to follow all this & see where his size would enter into the equation @ free deep safety but it did not ??? when he played & played good in the SSLB spot? I thought that I have seen PFF rating LJ above most all our DB's?

I know this that when I read that Wade said it was a priority to have LJ on the field as much as possible.....well . Wade I You! I believe LJ has a massive size heart to play anywhere.