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Rams’ DB Lamarcus Joyner is hanging tough
By Rich Hammond
[www.dailynews.com]
THOUSAND OAKS >> Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner has nine healthy toes and one strong spirit, and that’s good enough for a secondary that faces another significant test this week.
Joyner is hanging in there, still playing through a broken toe he suffered in the season opener. Not only is Joyner surviving, he’s thriving as the Rams’ nickelback against some teams that aren’t shy about throwing the ball, and the Rams face another one Sunday at Arizona.
The Cardinals are averaging 39 pass attempts per game this season, but if they think they test Joyner, there’s not much evidence that they will succeed. Joyner, whose role on the team was questioned at the start the season, arguably has been the Rams’ top cornerback, even with a sore left foot.
”It’s all mental,” Joyner said after Tuesday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “Once the game starts, the adrenaline starts rushing, so if you’re mentally prepared, your body will follow you.”
Joyner left practice wearing sandals and no indication of a bad toe, but said he expects the recovery process to take two more weeks and that the toe becomes more sore during games, when he runs around at full speed. Joyner’s play, however, hasn’t indicated any discomfort.
A third-year pro out of Florida State, Joyner is a full-time starter for the first time in his career and leads all Rams defensive backs with 21 tackles. He’s thriving after a tumultuous training camp.
Joyner was ejected from the Rams’ second preseason game, then starred in a nationally televised drama when an episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” captured Joyner in the office of Coach Jeff Fisher. Joyner talked about his frustration with his role and how he was prepared to “go work at Walmart.”
Fisher promised Joyner that his role on the team would be significant, and there was no deception.
The Rams primarily have played a nickel defense this season, and Joyner has been on the field for 134 of their 148 defensive snaps (84.5 percent). Joyner was called for defensive holding twice in the season opener but went penalty-free in victories over Seattle and Tampa Bay.
Joyner is in his third season with the Rams and playing more than ever.
“You can never predict what’s going to happen,” Joyner said, “but the coaches said I was going to have a big role, and so far they have fulfilled their words. I’ve been put in positions to help this defense out a lot, so I’ve really been enjoying that this year.”
The Rams have played so much nickel, with only two linebackers on the field, that at times during the Seattle game, adjustments forced Joyner, listed at 5-foot-8, 184 pounds, closer to the line of scrimmage alongside linebackers Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron. And he’s doing it with a sore foot.
“That’s why we drafted him,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “We watched him for a couple of years there at Florida State, and he’s one of those guys. He shows it every day.”
It’s tough to imagine Joyner getting a bigger test than the one he passed last week at Tampa Bay, on a humid, steamy late afternoon when Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston attempted 58 passes.
Now, though, the Rams must face a pass-happy Arizona offense that is looking for a bounce-back effort. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw five touchdowns in his first two games this season, but in last week’s loss to Buffalo, Palmer threw zero touchdowns and four interceptions.
Joyner knows the Cardinals will look to get their passing game back on track.
“It makes it fun for the secondary,” Joyner said. “As a defensive back, you want the quarterback to throw the ball around. It gives you more opportunities. It was fun. Then you have a great quarterback like Jameis Winston, so it can be kind of scaring because he’s a guy who can embarrass you out there. It makes you focus in and play fundamentally strong.”
By Rich Hammond
[www.dailynews.com]
THOUSAND OAKS >> Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner has nine healthy toes and one strong spirit, and that’s good enough for a secondary that faces another significant test this week.
Joyner is hanging in there, still playing through a broken toe he suffered in the season opener. Not only is Joyner surviving, he’s thriving as the Rams’ nickelback against some teams that aren’t shy about throwing the ball, and the Rams face another one Sunday at Arizona.
The Cardinals are averaging 39 pass attempts per game this season, but if they think they test Joyner, there’s not much evidence that they will succeed. Joyner, whose role on the team was questioned at the start the season, arguably has been the Rams’ top cornerback, even with a sore left foot.
”It’s all mental,” Joyner said after Tuesday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “Once the game starts, the adrenaline starts rushing, so if you’re mentally prepared, your body will follow you.”
Joyner left practice wearing sandals and no indication of a bad toe, but said he expects the recovery process to take two more weeks and that the toe becomes more sore during games, when he runs around at full speed. Joyner’s play, however, hasn’t indicated any discomfort.
A third-year pro out of Florida State, Joyner is a full-time starter for the first time in his career and leads all Rams defensive backs with 21 tackles. He’s thriving after a tumultuous training camp.
Joyner was ejected from the Rams’ second preseason game, then starred in a nationally televised drama when an episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” captured Joyner in the office of Coach Jeff Fisher. Joyner talked about his frustration with his role and how he was prepared to “go work at Walmart.”
Fisher promised Joyner that his role on the team would be significant, and there was no deception.
The Rams primarily have played a nickel defense this season, and Joyner has been on the field for 134 of their 148 defensive snaps (84.5 percent). Joyner was called for defensive holding twice in the season opener but went penalty-free in victories over Seattle and Tampa Bay.
Joyner is in his third season with the Rams and playing more than ever.
“You can never predict what’s going to happen,” Joyner said, “but the coaches said I was going to have a big role, and so far they have fulfilled their words. I’ve been put in positions to help this defense out a lot, so I’ve really been enjoying that this year.”
The Rams have played so much nickel, with only two linebackers on the field, that at times during the Seattle game, adjustments forced Joyner, listed at 5-foot-8, 184 pounds, closer to the line of scrimmage alongside linebackers Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron. And he’s doing it with a sore foot.
“That’s why we drafted him,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “We watched him for a couple of years there at Florida State, and he’s one of those guys. He shows it every day.”
It’s tough to imagine Joyner getting a bigger test than the one he passed last week at Tampa Bay, on a humid, steamy late afternoon when Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston attempted 58 passes.
Now, though, the Rams must face a pass-happy Arizona offense that is looking for a bounce-back effort. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw five touchdowns in his first two games this season, but in last week’s loss to Buffalo, Palmer threw zero touchdowns and four interceptions.
Joyner knows the Cardinals will look to get their passing game back on track.
“It makes it fun for the secondary,” Joyner said. “As a defensive back, you want the quarterback to throw the ball around. It gives you more opportunities. It was fun. Then you have a great quarterback like Jameis Winston, so it can be kind of scaring because he’s a guy who can embarrass you out there. It makes you focus in and play fundamentally strong.”
