Injury. Small. People are expressing concern about NRC being small...yet not about Joyner who has been as injury prone as Sammy Watkins.
Joyner changed positions. So...I'll give him props. But one season doesn't mean it's fixed. He couldn't stay on the field his first three years as a starter...but more of a nickel back. I didn't have an opinion on Joyner when he was drafted although I was concerned about his size. That is very different that guys like Robinson, Pettis, etc. My opinion Joyner developed as I watched a small player get hurt and not start after being picked at the top of round 2.
Let's see if he stays healthy this year and follows up his first good year.
And by the way, this just follows up my complaint about Snead's drafting. If we have to wait to year 4 before he really contributes as a top of the second round pick, then was it a great pick? I guess maybe. But, we had to tag him this year...what happens next year? If we lose him next year, we had to deal with all the growth years and then watch him walk. Maybe Joyner should have been at safety all along. That was a Fisher call.
But the Rams didn't know what they had either IMO. They moved him to safety because he wasn't working out at CB. And maybe that's a Philips thing. In his first three seasons, Joyner would flash for a couple plays...then be on the bench...often hurt...and often because he hit a guy hard only to hurt himself. The Rams didn't know that Joyner would have the year had...and that threw a huge wrench in the Watkins strategy. While I don't have proof, I would bet large dollars they had no idea they would be using the tag on Joyner.
Since Joyner finally stepped up this year, he really ended up being a developmental player. Snead needs to stop drafting developmental type players at the top to the draft. Those players need immediate contributions.
If Joyner can stay on the field this year and repeat his effort, I'll chalk it up in a very small list of "wrong" category. I'm not 100%...but I'll take my track record.
Most guys who end up being great in this league, show something immediately. Are there exceptions? Certainly. But you don't win Championships having to wait on players to develop in their 4th year.
