Player Profile: Corey Lemonier

Corey Lemonier

Height:  6'3
Weight:  255
School:  Auburn
Position:  Defensive End
Ranking:  #10 Defensive End
Projection:  3rd Round

Strengths
-Experienced.  39 games (24 starts) in the SEC
-Good speed (4.60) to bend the corner and get to the quarterback
-Speed shows up in his game.  Plays fast
-Big hands (10 1/8") and long arms (34 3/8") that allow him to keep lineman off his body
-Uses quickness (1.57) to beat lineman off the snap
-Strong upper body.  Benched 27 times at Combine
-Has shown the ability to drop into coverage
-Displays the athletic ability to play the OLB position in the 3-4
-Has a knack for knocking ball out of QBs hands (7 Forced Fumbles)
-Good motor.  Doesn't give up on plays

Weaknesses
-Lacks the bulk needed to play the 4-3 DE
-Tight in his hips when dropping into coverage
-Struggles to set the edge in run support
-Doesn't have any pass rush moves.  Relies solely on athletic ability
-Has trouble disengaging from blockers

Summary
Corey Lemonier has a lot of pure talent that is going to excite a lot of teams.  Lemonier explodes off the ball and uses that quickness and speed to get to the lineman's pads and disrupt the pocket.  He's used this speed to rack up sacks and fumbles when he gets to the QB.  You'd like to see more sacks from him, but playing on some bad Auburn teams the past two years, he hasn't had a lot of talent around him to take the pressure off.  But as good of an athlete as he is, Lemonier has a surprising lack of pass rushing moves and relies on his athletic ability far too often.  His only two moves to to use his speed to the outside or inside to try and beat the defender off the ball.  Once a tackle has got him, he's done.  You'd also like to see Lemonier become a better run defender, but because of his slight frame he struggles to set the edge and then struggles to disengage from blockers.  Lemonier is best served to play in a Wide 9 or 3-4 where his athletic ability and speed can be utilized and his inability to stop the run can be hid.  Because of this look for Lemonier to go anywhere from the late 2nd to the early 3rd.  A team to watch would be the Detroit Lions if they don't draft a defensive end in the first round.  Lemonier would be a good fit in their Wide 9 defense.