What's the deeeeaaaaaal with Joyner??

[OntarioRam]

I still think he is a good as well as versatile player, which makes him even more valuable. But his play this year has been absolutely awful. I expect him to rebound next year with another team.

 

[OnceARam]

Maybe he wants to stay at a lower number so he's playing himself into 2nd teir safety money?

:rimshot:

 

[BriansRams]

If he is, Wade will see it and act accordingly I'm sure. Can't hide from film.

Yeah at one time I was super happy to have Joyner on the defense.
But this entire season he's literally been BELOW average, perhaps even way BELOW average. It's weird.
I feel like any other safety we can find would be just as good or better.

 

[BonifayRam]

It was interesting to go back to the early of October & read the positive & hopeful comments posted about LJ & the general ideal was he was going to improve. Its sure appears he has let more than a few of us down with his poor overall 2018 performance.

Rams dodged a huge bullet in not signing him. So thankful that didn't get done He was always going to leave in FA though, even if he played well. I think once things went the tag route that was decided. And he did us a huge favor. Joyner will go back to being a nickel corner next season IMO. It's what he's good at. Unfortunately those guys aren't too hard to find in any given draft and so he'll see a much lower payday than what the Rams undoubtedly offered him last year.

Yes the Rams got lucky on this matter with LJ on the long term deal but meanwhile we are heading into the playoffs with a poor starting high safety as our last line of defense. LJ did put on some pounds since his Nickle starting yrs with Williams. Snead does have a proven past record of his scouting operations being able to identify & draft starting safeties in the 3rd & later rounds.

Sadly - NO. He has not shown the coverage or tackling skills this year worthy of a long term contract. I am not sure why he is far less aggressive this year compared to last year but either his skills have diminished or he is not able to adapt to the defensive schemes. Either way - I believe a solid veteran FS can be brought in for $3 - 4 million/year (see Tre Boston) . Earl Thomas will be more expensive but if he's willing to join the Rams train for his final contract and take $5 - 6 million/year - perhaps signing him for 3 years would be a nice add.

@dang I have not been positive towards the conversations of signing Thomas to a high end contract for an over 30 yr old high safety...but after watching LJ weak sorry performance's I am warming up to enjoying some INT's & caused fumbles return to the back end of this secondary.

I feel strongly on the fact this Ram DB unit will need some talent, length & size added overall in this draft. I do not see any current signed reserve Ram DB's that has a future here as a starter. I hope that Snead can manage some serious resupply orders will be on the way very soon by way of the 2019 Draft.

 

[MTRamsFan]

If he is, Wade will see it and act accordingly I'm sure. Can't hide from film.

The film never lies.

IMO, he seems to have been hit and miss so far this season. Make a couple really good plays, and then disappears for a long period of time. If he wants to hit the FA market, other teams are going to see the film and might be hesitant to offer anything. He has had a great gig for the Rams, and I would think he'd want to stick around for a long time, especially due to the success of the team over the past two seasons.

 

[kurtfaulk]

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If he gets more than the vet minimum I'll be surprised.

.

 

[Mikey Ram]

Nobody will give him francise type money, but I'd be willing to bet that somebody will give quite a bit more than I think he's worth...No doubt that he's played (or not played) himself out of a substantial number of $..

 

[OntarioRam]

.

If he gets more than the vet minimum I'll be surprised.

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If he is going to have to sign somewhere for the vet minimum, I'd take him back at that price as long as the problem is not attitude as some have suspected, and as long as the relationship between Joyner and the organization is not damaged (and would not become damaged by a vet minimum contract). Only the coaching staff and Joyner can truly know the answer to those questions. But for the vet minimum, he could add depth at a number of positions given his versatility. He's also still young, knows our system, and as I said before, I do still consider him a good player despite this year's awful showing. You could do far worse at that price.

 

[Rambitious1]

I'm really confused by this thread. Is Joyner playing poorly or something? I haven't heard his name called at all which usually is a good thing on the back-end. I know we've also been playing more man and leaving 7 or 8 in the box to stop the run to help our young LB's.
As far as his contract is concerned Joyner made his own bed and now he has to sleep in it. If we lose him at the end of the season so be it. As others have suggested Safety isn't something that's easily replaced but it's a position that can be easily filled by a player that at least does his job. I do hope we can keep, but for the right price. We have peters to sign.

He’s playing horrendous.

At the end of the year, the way he’s been playing, it will not be a case of us “losing him” rather a case of the Rams saying “don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out.”

 

[dang]

There are 4 regular season games and playoffs to turn it around. I am rooting for Joyner, Barron and Peters to all show well for the good of the Rams and these talented players. I trust in Coach Wade to help make it happen. Ramit Damit!!

 

[badnews]

Here is the thing -
- sometimes athletes hit slumps.

Joyner isnt old or broken.
He has been a plus player through college and every season in the NFL before this one.

Even as recently as last season in Wade Phillips Defense, Joyner was an asset, not a liability.

There is every reason to believe he can get it together in time for the playoffs. He might not, but I choose to stay positive and hopeful that he gets his groove back.

 

[SteezyEndo]

People have their ups n downs. This season he is down. Some may say bad timing due to it being a contract year he should be ecstatic and play even better. Those who have served in the military know that the minimum isn’t enough, especially PT, always have to give it your all...1 for the Corps, 1 for Chesty Puller. Joyner should be in that mode of maxing out. Hopefully his issue isn’t permanent.

 

[Merlin]

He’s playing horrendous.

Yep. He simply doesn't have the instincts to play deep. Doesn't have the size to play SS. He's been exposed and exposed and exposed and would be on the bench if they liked what they had behind him. I still think he might well be benched by end of the season too tbh.

IMO Wade would get better production from Christian at SS & Johnson ranging deep middle.

 

[So Ram]

Maybe he wants to stay at a lower number so he's playing himself into 2nd teir safety money?

Just wondering how the comp pick will work ? He was franchised after all. He sure as heck won’t see a pay check again like that !! The Rams were in desperation when they signed him . No DB’s.

 

[badnews]

Still, he wasnt exposed last year, he just wasnt asked to be Eric Berry either.

 

[nighttrain]

He’s playing horrendous.

At the end of the year, the way he’s been playing, it will not be a case of us “losing him” rather a case of the Rams saying “don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out.”

22 million reasons you are spot on.
train

 

[OnceARam]

Just wondering how the comp pick will work ? He was franchised after all. He sure as heck won’t see a pay check again like that !! The Rams were in desperation when they signed him . No DB’s.

That's a good point. Someone will pay him those FA dollars, especially after we win the Superbowl. Maybe we get a 3rd, but even a 5th could provide a productive player with the way our front office has been drafting.

 

[gabriel18]

The deal is NO DEAL for him next year . He's lost when it comes to coverage

 

[RamWoodie]

I see lots of variables here when it comes to Joyner...so I'm just gonna leave the question out there and let folks speculate.

The same questions have been asked about Barron's play also.

The only thing I want is every player on this team to be "ALL IN" for the sake of "TEAM SUCCESS"! That's what it takes to hoist the SB trophy!

 

[BonifayRam]

Yep. He simply doesn't have the instincts to play deep. Doesn't have the size to play SS. He's been exposed and exposed and exposed and would be on the bench if they liked what they had behind him. I still think he might well be benched by end of the season too tbh.IMO Wade would get better production from Christian at SS & Johnson ranging deep middle.

On this agree ( Again) JJIII came into college as a corner, play corner & did play some SS. In his best 2 final seasons he played & started @ High/Free Safety. That's why Snead drafted him. JJ III put up some solid numbers at the combine in a few areas, namely his vertical jump (37.0 inches, 4th among safeties), three cone drill (6.72, 2nd among safeties) and 20 yard shuttle (4.18, 4th among safeties).The big negative on JJ III is that a 4.61 forty yard dash in the combine but that was nearly 2 years ago. I say let him star again back there & he is a smart kid!

Wade has been utilizing Strong Safety Christian all season in the weak side interior LB Barron post in relief. MC has been improving & his play this season indicates this. I think that MC handle the SS post for the remainder of this season if JJ III was moved to the high safety.

So where does Joyner go? I still recall years ago where LJ played OLB'er in the Williams Defense up near the LOS. So if MC takes up the SS post then Wade can give Christian's former relief of LB Mark Barron to LJ, who is far better up close to the LOS.

If the Rams face Seattle or Dallas after the bye having this change above in our secondary IMO....will improve the run defense in a big way.