Raiders News: Lamarcus Joyner Happy To Shut Down Cardinals ‘Pretty Boy Football’ Offense
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders have been rolling through the NFL preseason. As two games have already been played, the Raiders have happily notched two wins, most recently against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals entered the matchup bolstered by first overall pick Kyler Murray and first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury previously coached at Texas Tech and is bringing his collegiate offense to the NFL.

That offense fell flat on its face against the likes of the Raiders defense and free agent signing Lamarcus Joyner. For Joyner, he was happy to bring the Cardinals young team up to speed, via Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area:

“Well, it’s pretty boy football,” Joyner told ESPN’s Lisa Salters about the college offense during the third quarter. “It don’t allow the defense to play physical like the game was meant to be. So, you know, when you go against offense like that, you have to introduce that physicality to them because they don’t want to do that.”

So, what does Joyner see as his goal as it pertains to offenses like Kingsbury’s?

“Run that kind of offense out of the NFL,” Joyner said with a smile.

The Cardinals did manage to put up 26 points by the time the game was over, but Murray made nearly no difference in the game. He finished with just 12 passing yards on three of eight attempts. Additionally, Joyner managed to contribute on the defensive end in his Raiders debut when he sacked Murray in the second quarter.

Joyner joined the Raiders this summer after spending his first five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He has been tasked with leading the Raiders newly revamped, but young, defense. Head coach Jon Gruden has been pleased with the energy he brings to the team and relies on him to keep a positive attitude.

Joyner is taking that task in stride and hopes it will be enough to turn the team’s defense around:

“I think with the spirit of belief,” Joyner said when asked how he plans to turn the unit around. “You have to positive energy and get the guys in the locker room believing. I mean brotherhood, you can move mountains with that.”

The Raiders defense definitely has room to grow from last year. The team gave up the most points of any team in the NFL during the 2018 season. With the additions of Joyner, No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell and training camp standout Johnathan Abram, the Raiders woes from last season are bound to change.