CAMP BUZZ
Silver & Black Illustrated|September 2020
CAMP BUZZ
CAMP BUZZ

Joyner finding his swagger

In his first season with the Raiders last year Lamarcus Joyner had one job to do. And he didn’t do it well at all.

As the team’s nickel back, Joyner never found a comfort zone in defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s schemes and the uneasiness showed up on a weekly basis.

Joyner had 49 tackles in 14 games (10 starts), his fewest since making 40 as a rookie with the Rams in 2014. He did not have an interception for the first time since 2016 and generally felt out of place most of the time.

A year later, Joyner says he’s a lot more at peace with the defense and his role in it.

“I feel a lot more comfortable,” Joyner said. “I almost feel like it’s my second year again in the league when I went to a complicated system with the Rams under Gregg Williams. It takes a lot to learn with those complicated systems. But I feel much more comfortable, and that’s going to help me with my confidence and making more plays.”

That’s the type of swagger that the Raiders expected from Joyner when they signed him as a free agent. They had banked on his play leading to a leadership role in the locker room. While he made some strides in the second half of that equation, it was a little tougher to do at times because of the struggles he was having on the field.

A truncated offseason made it a little more challenging for Joyner to sharpen his skills in the Raiders defense but he doesn’t feel like that will be an issue once the regular season gets going.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SILVER & BLACK ILLUSTRATEDView all
‘We have to be a much more detailed football team'
Silver & Black Illustrated

‘We have to be a much more detailed football team'

Like so many Raiders fans, coach Jon Gruden found himself searching for answers after the Raiders’ second-half collapse that cost the team a spot in the expanded playoffs.

time-read
7 mins  |
February - March 2021
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Silver & Black Illustrated

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Starting Tackle Kolton Miller is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

time-read
3 mins  |
February - March 2021
Wanted: Defensive coordinator
Silver & Black Illustrated

Wanted: Defensive coordinator

The Raiders didn’t wait long to begin their search for a new defensive coordinator, and it’s becoming clear that Jon Gruden has already narrowed his list down.

time-read
6 mins  |
February - March 2021
Raiders' good, bad, ugly
Silver & Black Illustrated

Raiders' good, bad, ugly

Raiders’ good, bad, ugly

time-read
3 mins  |
February - March 2021
NEWS & NOTES
Silver & Black Illustrated

NEWS & NOTES

The Raiders had one of the easier schedules in 2020 and got only eight wins to show for it. Things won’t get any easier in 2021, either.

time-read
3 mins  |
February - March 2021
Looking back at 2020 season
Silver & Black Illustrated

Looking back at 2020 season

The 2020 season will absolutely be remembered for being one of the strangest and most disappointing in franchise history.

time-read
6 mins  |
February - March 2021
Gruden feeling the heat?
Silver & Black Illustrated

Gruden feeling the heat?

“I know there is a big bull’s-eye on my chest, certainly. If the people want to use that as an incentive, then so be it. I worked for Al Davis in 1998. That was pressure. I was 34 years old. I’ve dealt with pressure before. I don’t really feel pressure. I love the excitement and thrill of competing, and I can’t worry about things I can’t control in that regard. I know people will want to step on me and beat me, and that is just the way this league is.”

time-read
3 mins  |
February - March 2021
From the SILVERANDBLACK.com Message Boards
Silver & Black Illustrated

From the SILVERANDBLACK.com Message Boards

S&BI continually scans the message boards across Raider Nation to see what Raider fans are talking about now that the 2020 season has ended for the Raiders. We chose some of the better posts and present them here.

time-read
6 mins  |
February - March 2021
Checklist for 2021
Silver & Black Illustrated

Checklist for 2021

Now that the 2020 season has been put to rest for Las Vegas, the Raiders have shifted their focus to what figures to be a busy offseason as they prepare for 2021.

time-read
3 mins  |
February - March 2021
AFC WEST ROUNDUP
Silver & Black Illustrated

AFC WEST ROUNDUP

The Chargers fired coach Anthony Lynn after four seasons.

time-read
3 mins  |
February - March 2021