Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › secondary matters: Joyner, Alexander
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August 6, 2015 at 9:23 am #28175
znModeratorSimplification is the Game This Time for Rams CB Lamarcus Joyner
Brandt Dolce
http://www.101sports.com/2015/08/05/rams-cb-lamarcus-joyner-isnt-year-2/
As Lamarcus Joyner enters his second year as a defensive back for the St. Louis Rams, he’s understandably hoping to make more of a name for himself with on-field production.
The keys to accomplishing this goal? Improved mental and physical health and confidence from his teammates and coaches.
Joyner played in 10 games as a rookie in 2015, starting one, and notching 33 solo tackles. He also had three passes defensed and one sack.
Even though Joyner played at Florida State where pressure and expectations are part of the landscape, the transition to the National Football League has been daunting. Factor in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ complex defensive scheme, and a rookie cornerback has a recipe for a spinning head.
Williams made life difficult for Joyner, putting pressure on his rookie to be better through discipline and hard work.
Joyner admits to struggling during the professional transition last season.
“Coach Williams knew that was the problem last year, and he kind of challenged me on that.” Joyner said. “I learned how to take his coaching and his discipline as positive, instead of a negative, because that’s all it was. It was intended to make me a real professional, and it’s really paid dividends.”
Head coach Jeff Fisher referred to Joyner’s mental improvement from last year to this one.
“What a difference a year makes for a young player to come back in year two and finally just get it. He gets it now.” Fisher said.
A healthy and effective Joyner adds an essential layer to the available calls that Williams will have in his arsenal in 2015.
At 5’8” and 185 pounds, Joyner is able to play the slot and be a suitable run supporter, packing a disproportionate punch.
The cornerback already boasts a pick six against Nick Foles in training camp during 11-on-11 drills, a play Joyner says he was able to make by simplifying his approach.
“Pretty much (had to) re-route the seam and get to my landmark, and that’s all I did. Simple as A-B-C. Instead of making life hard for myself, I played it by the book, and I was able to make the play.” Joyner said.
The Rams have a scrimmage at Lindenwood University on Friday at 5:00. The simulated game acts as a litmus test for players and coaches, allowing them to earmark deficiencies and make improvements as the preseason approaches.
As for Joyner’s approach leading up to the scrimmage, he says he’s trying not to look that far down the road.
“To be honest, I’ve been taking it a day at a time. I believe each day counts. It’s good to have foresight, but in order to do well on Friday, I do have to do well today and tomorrow, leading up into that date.” Joyner said. “I just want to continue to do what I’ve been doing daily, and that’s progressing, whether it’s mentally or physically.”
On the physical side, Joyner says he feels great. He’s maintained a body weight of 185, cutting 2.0% off of his body fat composition.
Strength and fitness have long been among Joyner’s assets, with his mental game perhaps bridging the gap from year one.
That’s the hope for Joyner, at least, as he faces stiff competition for playing time if his offseason success doesn’t translate on the field.
August 6, 2015 at 9:24 am #28176znModeratorRams’ Maurice Alexander impressing in camp
Nate Latsch
ST. LOUIS — Maurice Alexander came to Rams training camp a year ago as a fourth-round pick with a compelling story, but failed to make much of an impact as a rookie. Now, the safety impressing the coaching staff with his progress going into his second season.
For Alexander, being healthy has made a world of difference between his rookie season and his second training camp. He feels good now, maybe better than he’s felt since participating in his first organized team activities a year ago.
“It’s a big difference when you’re injured and when you’re not injured,” Alexander said. “We did a good job rehabbing in the offseason. I’ve been here the whole time. I’m from here, so I just stayed here and (worked hard). I feel good. I haven’t been 100 (percent) yet. I’m about 95 percent. I’ve been feeling good.”
The 24-year-old said his injury issues started during OTAs last year.
He would end up having surgeries to fix the meniscus in both of his knees before he would really feel better.
“It started with the left one, OTAs,” Alexander said. “Then I got to training camp, preseason, and I got my right one hit. Docs told me I was going to need surgery one of these days. They could tell there was loose cartilage in there.”
The 6-foot-1 safety, who said he now weighs 212 pounds after weighing in at the 2014 Combine at 220 pounds, said his focus was affected by the injuries throughout his rookie campaign.
“Last year I was more focused on my injuries,” Alexander said. “It’s hard to be injured and then try to think about plays and this and that. It was tough. I was trying my hardest to think last year but my mind would go right back to my leg, if I make this cut I’m going to hurt something, if I make this cut I’m going to hurt something. So this year I’m just focused directly on ball.”
The Eureka (Mo.) High School product’s increased focus has led to him impressing the coaching staff during OTAs and now in training camp. It’s still early in camp, but Alexander has been getting snaps working with the starting defense in place of Rodney McLeod, T.J. McDonald and Mark Barron at times.
No, that doesn’t mean the second-year player is going to steal the spot of one of those veteran safeties. But it does show how the coaching staff regards the youngster at this point.
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams lauded Alexander during OTAs.
“If you want to talk about a guy that’s drastically different than last year, it’s Maurice,’’ Williams said. “He could hardly speak what we’re doing last year. He’d only played one season in college as a DB and now he’s in the NFL as a DB. Holy Cow, he was lost, but we knew he was talented. He’s had a great spring because he’s gotten more reps — next man up — because T.J. and Mark haven’t had as many.”
Rams coach Jeff Fisher called Alexander a “tremendous surprise” early in training camp when he was asked about returning all 11 starters from a year ago.
“We got the 11 (returning starters), but we also got some great competition at the backup spots, so we’ve got some depth,” Fisher said. “So, when you look at Maurice, for example, who’s just a tremendous surprise. You’re OK with him playing safety if you have a problem. That gives us a comfort level.”
Fisher was asked a few days later what, exactly, has made the youngster so impressive in his second training camp.
“You know he is playing really fast right now and that implies that he knows what to do,” the veteran coach said. “I mean he’s sure, he’s decisive. He makes good decisions. He is reacting. He’s very athletic and he’s playing fast. He’s going to make a lot of plays for us.”
Alexander was considered a bit of a project a year ago when the Rams selected him in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) out of Utah State.
He was a defensive lineman and linebacker in high school and played linebacker in college — he spent two years at Arizona Western College before Utah State — before later switching to safety.
He also got into trouble at Utah State. He was kicked off the team and ended up in jail after a fight with a friend and teammate. It was during Alexander’s time away from his college team, back in 2012, that he worked as a janitor at the Edward Jones Dome and cleaned up after Rams games.
It was then that Alexander could only dream of one day playing for the Rams … and it was only a dream at that point.
That’s also why he said he can’t be too disappointed by his rookie season, in which he appeared in just nine games and recorded seven special teams tackles.
“I dealt with way worse adversity than that,” Alexander said. “I always stay positive in everything I do. It’s hard to bring me down. I’m always positive.”
And now he’s making a positive impression on the coaching staff after working hard to bounce back from the injuries and learn the playbook.
“The coaching staff makes it very easy for me,” he said. “We’ve got great coaches. We’ve got Dennard (Wilson). We’ve got Brandon (Fisher). We’ve got Gregg (Williams), Chuck (Cecil), all those guys. They just make it easy. Once you’ve got coaches like that, they make it more simple.”
So far in training camp, it’s been like night and day from a year ago.
“It comes and goes,” Alexander said. “It’s very fast. I’m taking advantage of every moment.”
August 6, 2015 at 9:45 am #28177
AgamemnonParticipantI would like to hear something on Cody, Hagen, and Bryant. I think those guys are fighting for one spot on the roster.
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