Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn

[bigbuc]

Why has this guy not gotten the love after the freak like numbers he put in Indy? 6 foot 3, 255 and 34 1/2" Arms. The guy ran a 4.6 flat with 10-yard split 1.67.

When you see him play he looks like he's being shot out of a gun. I would want this guy over Cornelius Washington who the hype is getting a little out of control.

[Halsey]

I think part of it that his team wasn't very good and he kind of seems to be getting buried under the talk of so many other SEC front seven defenders.

[K Train]

OLB all day, hes grown on me a whole lot the more ive watched. Initially i thought he was like bruce davis (UCLA bum) but hes so much more explosive

[BallerT1215]

I remember watching his HS film 1000 times because FSU was really going after him in recruiting.

He had a decent impact his first few years, and then I think the combo of Auburn being absolutely horrible/him underperforming this year has made him a forgotten man. I still like him as a player- I think he will make an impact on defense if they use him correctly as a rotational DE/OLB his first year or two. If he continues to improve, he can be a very effective DE in the NFL but that is just my opinion on his raw ability.

[thebow305]

Originally Posted by BallerT1215

I remember watching his HS film 1000 times because FSU was really going after him in recruiting.

He had a decent impact his first few years, and then I think the combo of Auburn being absolutely horrible/him underperforming this year has made him a forgotten man. I still like him as a player- I think he will make an impact on defense if they use him correctly as a rotational DE/OLB his first year or two. If he continues to improve, he can be a very effective DE in the NFL but that is just my opinion on his raw ability.

I'd agree with this. His best fit IMO is as a 3-4 OLB, I think that's the best way to utilize his raw pass-rushing ability. I think he could get swallowed up by bigger NFL OT's if he is stuck as a base 4-3 end.

[Caulibflower]

I like him as a LEO to Seattle. 3rd round would be great.

[rawdawg]

I thought he was a 1st round pick the first half of the season. He was really good in 2011. Lost some talent around him and he was as good a pass rusher as there was the first half of 2012. I don't know if he got more attention from OLs or if he was dealing with some sort of injury, but his play really tailed off the 2nd half of the year.

But someone is going to get a good player. I don't want to compare him as a player to LaMarr Woodley, but I think he's going to be that type of find. Someone's going to get him late 2nd-early 3rd at worst and he's going to end up being a productive rookie for them. Kinda reminds me of an Ahmad Brooks type of player. Maybe won't put up the spectacular sack numbers, but will be a solid player.

[FUNBUNCHER]

Originally Posted by K Train

OLB all day, hes grown on me a whole lot the more ive watched. Initially i thought he was like bruce davis (UCLA bum) but hes so much more explosive

Lemonier is one of those guys the Steelers draft, coach him up for a couple seasons and suddenly he's a pro bowler.

I don't think Lemonier is successful playing 34 OLB for every team, it has to be the right organization IMO.

[BallerT1215]

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

Lemonier is one of those guys the Steelers draft, coach him up for a couple seasons and suddenly he's a pro bowler.

I don't think Lemonier is successful playing 34 OLB for every team, it has to be the right organization IMO.

Soooooo, in other words, my bills should stay away from him?

[thebow305]

Originally Posted by BallerT1215

Soooooo, in other words, my bills should stay away from him?

They should probably stay away from everyone. ;)

[bigbenn]

I think he is an elite DE in this draft.

[metafour]

[ndbigdave]

Originally Posted by rawdawg

I thought he was a 1st round pick the first half of the season. He was really good in 2011. Lost some talent around him and he was as good a pass rusher as there was the first half of 2012. I don't know if he got more attention from OLs or if he was dealing with some sort of injury, but his play really tailed off the 2nd half of the year.

But someone is going to get a good player. I don't want to compare him as a player to LaMarr Woodley, but I think he's going to be that type of find. Someone's going to get him late 2nd-early 3rd at worst and he's going to end up being a productive rookie for them. Kinda reminds me of an Ahmad Brooks type of player. Maybe won't put up the spectacular sack numbers, but will be a solid player.

You honestly took two of my comparisons for him...at the high end I could see him being a 3-4, OLB rush backer on the high end like Woodley, or on the "lower-end" (which admittedly is still solid) like an Ahmad Brooks.

In year one, he could be a pass-rush specialist as he figures out how to cover in space and take on the "other responsibilities" in some ways, maybe used how the 49ers used Aldon Smith - non starter, but with plenty of reps mainly just getting after the QB.

I think RD2 is a really solid value for him.

[Attyla the Hawk]

Originally Posted by ndbigdave

I think RD2 is a really solid value for him.

I have a hard time seeing him lasting past 2.

[K Train]

Originally Posted by bigbenn

I think he is an elite DE in this draft.

one day elite is going to mean absolutely nothing anymore


I like Corey Lemonier 10x more than i like worilds for the steelers, worilds is useless

[JT Jag]

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

I like him as a LEO to Seattle Jacksonville. 3rd round would be great.

Not empty quoting.

[Attyla the Hawk]

Originally Posted by K Train

one day elite is going to mean absolutely nothing anymore

Totally agreed. Elite has to be exclusive. I hate how it's thrown out there for guys not even in the top 5 in their own draft class.

I'd put elite as a best in class over a 5 year period.

About the only two elite prospects in this draft are Warmack and Cooper. Kalil to me was best since Jake Long. I'd put him up there. Luck for sure. I would even add Griffin, because outside of Luck, I think he goes #1 overall in any other draft class over those 5 years. Alex Mack in 2009. Suh and Berry in '10. Von Miller, AJ Green and Patrick Peterson in '11. That's about it since 2008.

For this draft, there isn't any other guy at their position that is the best since 2008.

[K Train]

Originally Posted by Attyla the Hawk

Totally agreed. Elite has to be exclusive. I hate how it's thrown out there for guys not even in the top 5 in their own draft class.

I'd put elite as a best in class over a 5 year period.

About the only two elite prospects in this draft are Warmack and Cooper. Kalil to me was best since Jake Long. I'd put him up there. Luck for sure. I would even add Griffin, because outside of Luck, I think he goes #1 overall in any other draft class over those 5 years. Alex Mack in 2009. Suh and Berry in '10. Von Miller, AJ Green and Patrick Peterson in '11. That's about it since 2008.

For this draft, there isn't any other guy at their position that is the best since 2008.

id say aaron curry in 09 (disregarding the fact he sucks), maybe even stafford over mack...but exactly theres 1, maybe 2 elite players in a draft. Id say jarvis jones is the closest thing this year, id like him right up with von as a prospect (many people are going to scoff at that since von was an instant star, but its true)

[BallerT1215]

Lemonier is not elite by any means.

He has potential to be a Pro Bowler. But at the current moment - not elite.

I would agree that the player this year that could be considered elite would be Jarvis Jones.

[bitonti]

Lemonier is really underrated. Made alot of impact plays for Auburn last year, great athlete. Late 1 is where I have him going. Could see BAL at 32 or even as high as PIT at 17.

[VAfy-ya]

Originally Posted by BallerT1215

Lemonier is not elite by any means.

He has potential to be a Pro Bowler. But at the current moment - not elite.

I would agree that the player this year that could be considered elite would be Jarvis Jones.

No prospect is elite, IMO. They all have their issues and reasons they may or may not translate at the next level. Even the consensus guys that have the draftniks drooling aren't flawless. That being said, I really like Lemonier. Probably more than most. I like his combo of size and athleticism. Around 255-260 is where I want my 3-4 OLBs and he fits the build. Has that burst and bend off the edge to compliment Aldon Smith. Needs some work with pad level and using his hands. And his play recongnition isnt where you would like but the tools are there. Has a good aresanls of pass-rush moves and and he never stops working. Aubrun dropped him into coverage frequently so that shouldnt be a problem for him at all. I like him so much I hope Baalke pulls the trigger on him at #31. I wouldnt want to risk him lasting until our pick in the 2nd(pending the Alex Smith trade to KC). I really hope he's wearing a Niner uni next season.

[AntoinCD]

Lemonier is a good athlete who can make plays in the passing game but you may as well have me playing on run downs. I don't like him matched up head on over an OT either. As has been mentioned, get him at OLB and he could be good. He is a little aggressive for moy liking though and that could hurt him in coverage. As a pass rusher he grades out pretty well in this draft though. Solid second rounder IMO

[Lil Quip]

Originally Posted by Attyla the Hawk

Totally agreed. Elite has to be exclusive. I hate how it's thrown out there for guys not even in the top 5 in their own draft class.

I'd put elite as a best in class over a 5 year period.

About the only two elite prospects in this draft are Warmack and Cooper. Kalil to me was best since Jake Long. I'd put him up there. Luck for sure. I would even add Griffin, because outside of Luck, I think he goes #1 overall in any other draft class over those 5 years. Alex Mack in 2009. Suh and Berry in '10. Von Miller, AJ Green and Patrick Peterson in '11. That's about it since 2008.

For this draft, there isn't any other guy at their position that is the best since 2008.

The problem is bemoaning words like elite is that due to their relativistic nature, is that even used correctly, they are irksome.

Elite is just the best of the best of some group. Every one huffs and puffs because of the gigantic difference between elite for THIS draft class and elite for the recent draft in general.

This especially gets highlighted in looking at QB's recently. Luck and RG3 were easily elite in their draft class. Them and Cam were elite in general.

I guess the only change is people specifying what kind of elite they are... but from a country that uses the phrase 'epic fail' I have my doubts.

[Attyla the Hawk]

Originally Posted by K Train

id say aaron curry in 09 (disregarding the fact he sucks), maybe even stafford over mack...but exactly theres 1, maybe 2 elite players in a draft. Id say jarvis jones is the closest thing this year, id like him right up with von as a prospect (many people are going to scoff at that since von was an instant star, but its true)

I specified at their position, rather than in their draft class. Mack is a center and even an elite center isn't getting drafted anywhere near a top 10 quality QB.

Curry is kind of an odd pick. IMO, he's the quintessential cautionary tale for loving a combine warrior over game tape. He was also a stark reminder that players develop at different levels. In his case, he didn't develop at all. He showed inconsistent play in college but his physical gifts at that level masked the reality that he was at all times, the most befuddled/least aware player on the field.

It will be some time I think before a guy with that limited of game productivity gets 'safest pick in the draft' heaped on him.

We take for granted that players will smooth their rough edges once they get 'coached up'. Curry was a guy who physically should have been a beast at getting after the QB. But the tape showed zero ability to actually do that. So it was presumed to be related to scheme. In reality -- he had no idea what he was doing, no ability to figure out what he should be doing and no natural affinity to actually do it.

The reality is all players have varying ability to apply coaching. It's not a linear function at all. It's the one aspect that we amateurs have little to no insight into whatsoever.

[Iamcanadian]

I heard that he gave up on Auburn half way through the season and did little to impress after the half way mark. His motor ran completely cold for half the season and that's why he is getting no love from scouts and GM's.
Talented, yes, but his character is a huge question mark.