Player Profile: Greg Robinson

Height:  6'5
Weight:  332
School:  Auburn
Position:  Offensive Tackle
Ranking:  #2 Offensive Tackle
Projection:  Top 15

Strengths
-Has the size and length that is needed for the left tackle position
-Battled tested.  Played two years in the SEC against some of the top pass rushers.
-Explodes off the line and makes first contact
-Powerful run blocker.  Moves defenders off the ball.  Has the ability to man handle a defensive end
-Delivers a strong punch that can jolt a defender back
-Ability to get out in the screen game and to the second level
-Strong anchor makes him near impossible to move off his spot
-Good footwork that puts him in the right spot.  Also has his feet moving.
-Has the ability to adjust to the defender he is blocking
-Shows the potential to develop into a good pass protector
-Never lets up on blocks.  Always playing to the whistle
-Shows a nasty streak that you want out of an offensive lineman

Weaknesses
-Young and inexperienced.  Only a redshirt sophomore.  Don't see too many come out at this position
-Pass Protection Inexperience.  Played in a run heavy offense.  Rarely asked to do so
-Needs to improve his kick step on drops.  Doesn't get back far enough and speed rushers can burn him
-Balance is an issue in pass pro.  Can be a waist bender
-Could clean up footwork on pass protection.  Seems stuck in the mud.

Summary
Ten years ago when the NFL was more of a running game league Robinson would have been a slam dunk top 5 pick.  He is a dominant run blocker whose the best I've seen at tackle in five years.  He physically dominates defenders with his power and technique.  He fires off the ball gets his hands on a defender and moves them off his spot.  Robinson also shows good agility and the ability to get to the second level and in the screen game.  Add in a nasty streak and he's a running backs best friend.  But the problem is he is still very raw as a pass protector.  Mainly because Auburn doesn't throw the ball much and when they do it's usually play action quick passes or screens.  But the few times they do drop back Robinson shows the potential to develop his pass protection skills.  Look for Robinson to start his NFL career at right tackle or possible guard before transitioning to the left side in a year or two. 

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.

Coaching Carousel (Auburn)

Auburn Tigers

To say that Gene Chizik's tenure at Auburn was a roller coaster is an understatement.  Fans were unhappy that Auburn hired Chizik (who had a 5-19 record at Iowa State) and felt there were better coaches out there.  Chizik answered a lot of critics with a National Championship season in his second year.  Lead by Heisman Trophy winning QB Cam Newton the Tigers went undefeated and beat Oregon in the National Championship Game.  So it's hard to imagine how a coach who won a National Championship two years ago can be fired two years later.

However it was what happened after the National Title season that caused Chizik to be fired.  In year three things started to slide.  Auburn only won 7 games during the regular season, but was dominated by the top teams in the conference.  Without Cam Newton the offense struggled and it was clear there wasn't a lot of talent.  Defensively it wasn't much better.  It was clear that Chizik wasn't brining in the top talent needed to compete in the SEC.
Chizik could have had another year to get things on track, but this year was just flat out awful.  Auburn finished the season with only 3 wins and didn't win a single game in conference.  You can't do that in the SEC and expect the administration to just stand by.  It was a time for a change.

Potential Candidates
Bobby Petrino (Former Arkansas Head Coach)
Remember when Petrino was at Louisville and Auburn tried to hire him before they fired Tommy Tubberville?  Well they wanted him then, they can sure get him now.  For all the crap that Petrino has caused he is a proven winner and would be a great hire for the Tigers.  But do they want to deal with all the headaches associated with that?

Kirby Smart (Alabama Defensive Coordinator)
Smart has been a hot head coaching candidate for the past couple of years.  And Auburn would be wise to kick the tires and see if he is interested.  Smart has coordinated the Crimson Tide defense which has been one of the top defenses in the nation.  But you have to wonder how much of that is him or is it Saban.  Plus you wonder if Smart would be willing to go to Alabama's big time rival and have to compete against Saban.  Doesn't seem to likely.

Charlie Strong (Louisville Head Coach)
Rumor is that Strong has already interviewed for this job.  Don't know if that is true because that usually doesn't take place till after the season.  But Strong would be a great choice.  He has built the Louisville program back up that they are returning to the BCS.  He is a good recruiter and has experience in the SEC.  It's only a matter of time before he gets a better job.

Gus Malzahn (Arkansas State Head Coach)
Another popular name in the coaching search is former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.  It was Malzahn who guided the Tigers offense that won the National Title.  Without Malzhan the Tigers struggled this past season.  Auburn also has a history of hiring defensive minded coaches and may want to bring in an coach whose speciality is offense.  Malzahn also went to Arkansas State to get some head coaching experience which should help when he gets to a BCS job.

Larry Fedora (North Carolina Head Coach)
Fedora has only been at North Carolina for a year, but your sure to hear his name come up in coaching searches.  Mainly because the NCAA is going to be laying down some punishment on the Tar Heels and Fedora may not want to deal with all those sanctions.  He is a very good coach and a proven winner at Southern Miss.  His first year at North Carolina he lead them to the Coastal Division Title, but they can't compete because they are on a bowl ban.