Tag: Deommodore Lenoir

Which teams to root for in the NFL Playoffs as an Oregon Ducks fan

Are you a Duck fan looking for some rooting interest in the NFL Playoffs this weekend? Here are the 5 players still playing that you can get behind.

We have now reached the divisional round of the 2021-22 NFL Playoffs, and eight teams remain in the mix to try and make it to a coveted Super Bowl appearance.

For Oregon Duck fans who may not have a rooting interest, there are still several former beloved players from Eugene who are in the mix. We lost a few players along the way in the wild card round last weekend, like Henry Mondeaux (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Marcus Mariota (Las Vegas Raiders), but for the most part, the Oregon contingency is still alive.

So do you want to watch the NFL action this weekend with rooting interests? Here are the Ducks who are still alive to help you make your decisions.

Midseason grades for 49ers 2021 rookie class

Grading this #49ers rookie class through the first half of the year is kind of impossible, so we tweaked it a little.

The 49ers’ 2021 rookie class hasn’t contributed much as the team scuffled through the first half of its season. A 3-5 record falls well short of the expectations San Francisco had entering the year, but not a lot of the slow start can be attributed to anything this year’s draft class is doing on the field.

Part of the reason that group hasn’t contributed much to losing is because most of them haven’t been on the field enough to make an impact in any facet.

Of the 49ers’ eight draft picks – only one is a regular starter, and none of their first six selections see the field with any regularity. Because of the sporadic or minimal playing time, it’s hard to grade the picks through the first eight games.

We went through and issued grades less as a referendum on the player, and more as a way to assess how head coach Kyle Shanahan and the front office did in getting its roster ready to compete for a Super Bowl this year. That was their stated goal. It’s the reason Jimmy Garoppolo has been the starting quarterback since Week 1, and it’s the reason the lack of production from their rookie class has been so minimal.

Here are their grades based on what we know through eight games:

Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers: 5 matchups to watch on offense

Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers: 5 matchups to watch on offense

The Eagles were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises in Week 1, and they’ll need another efficient and dominant performance upfront to defeat the visiting San Francisco 49ers.

With next week’s matchup against Dallas looming, here are five matchups to watch on offense for Week 2.

Deommodore Lenoir is having an impressive start to NFL career

Deommodore Lenoir has been one of the most impressive rookie cornerbacks in the NFL this preseason, allowing a 0.0 passer rating when targeted.

It’s not always a sure bet that someone who is selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft is going to have an instant impact on their team, but anyone who watched Deommodore Lenoir’s career with the Oregon Ducks probably isn’t shocked about what has come from the San Francisco 49ers preseason.

So far this year, Lenoir has been one of the most impressive rookies in the entire league, allowing a 0.0 passer rating when targeted on defense, which is obviously tied for the best in the league among rookie cornerbacks.

The 49ers selected Lenoir with the 172nd pick to try and beef up their secondary after the loss of veteran leader and future Hall of Famer Richard Sherman.

At this point, it seems like a lock that Lenoir makes the 53-man roster cut, and the former Duck will be fighting his way up the depth chart over the final couple of weeks of the preseason.

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49ers officially sign 10 rookies, Trey Lance not among them

The San Francisco 49ers signed 10 rookies, including five draft picks to contracts. Trey Lance was not among them.

The San Francisco 49ers on Thursday made 10 rookie signings official, including five of their eight draft picks and five undrafted free agents.

No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance was not among the players to sign one day before the start of rookie minicamp. Third-round picks RB Trey Sermon and CB Ambry Thomas have also yet to ink their rookie deals.

Given the standardized nature of the NFL’s four-year rookie contracts for draft picks there’s not a ton to iron out and the signings are more of a formality than anything. Players just have to sign before training camp starts or they’ll have to hold out.

There weren’t any surprises among the undrafted players either. San Francisco’s UDFA class is relatively small with four plus their signee via the NFL international pathway program.

Here are the 10 rookies who inked their deals Thursday:

 

49ers select Oregon CB Deommodore Lenoir with 2nd of 3 5th-round picks

The San Francisco 49ers took Oregon CB Deommodore Lenoir in their second of two CB selections.

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The San Francisco 49ers added more help in their secondary with the 172nd pick in the NFL draft. They selected Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir with their second of three fifth-round picks. He’s their second defensive back taken.

Lenoir, is just 5-10 and 199 pounds which indicates he may be tabbed as a potential slot corner option. He’s all over the place on film sticking his nose in the run game and making an impact near the line of scrimmage.

He played four years with the Ducks and intercepted six passes with 21 pass breakups in 45 games.

Lenoir is the second cornerback the 49ers have drafted this year. They also took Michigan’s Ambry Thomas with the 102nd pick.

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Pro Day preview for April 2: Potential Giants targets

A quick breakdown of the Pro Days being held on April 2 and who the New York Giants may be scouting at each.

The college pro days are winding down with the 2021 NFL draft less than one month away. Friday, April 2 has just three schools on the pro day docket — Indiana, Oregon and Tulsa.

There are several players the New York Giants could be interested in, mainly out in Oregon. Tulsa has one stud player that the league scouts will be eager to see, linebacker Zaven Collins.

Collins is a 6-foot-4, 260-pound unanimous All-American who won the Lombardi, Nagurski and Bednarik awards as well as being named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.

Collins will be heavily sought after in this draft and may not make it to Round 2 (Pick No. 42) when the Giants would likely consider taking him.

Oregon will feature the nation’s top offensive tackle in Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell (6-foot-6, 331 pounds) who is considered a top 5 selection in this draft. There are some mock drafts that have scenarios in which Sewell falls out of the top 10 and is available for the Giants at No. 11. That is unlikely to happen.

Other Ducks to watch are safety Jevon Holland, rated as a Day 2 pick, cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham Jr. and defensive tackles Jordon Scott and Austin Faoliu. All are rated either Day 3 or UDFA talents.

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Panthers have met virtually with at least three 2021 NFL draft prospects so far

On that score, the Panthers have met virtually with at least three 2021 draft prospects, per Justin Melo at the Draft Network.

The NFL will eventually get back to business as usual, perhaps as soon as this summer. Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters earlier this week the league expects stadiums to be full for the 2021 season and wants to see the fans back. For now, a lot of the work is still being done online, though.

On that score, the Panthers have met virtually with at least three 2021 draft prospects, per Justin Melo at the Draft Network.

Oregon CB Deommodore Lenoir

Lenoir (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) can play either the slot or outside corner positions – an obvious plus for the Panthers, who need help at both spots. He’s a willing tackler with some sharp ball skills, notching six interceptions and 21 pass breakups in 45 games with the Ducks.

Here’s a look at his tape against Iowa State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ofcdirzzsM

Lenoir is projected to be picked between rounds 4-6.

Boise State CB/KR Avery Williams

Williams (5-foot-9, 188 pounds) is another corner prospect from the Northwest that Carolina has an eye on. He posted similar numbers compared to Lenoir in college, totaling four picks and 22 passes defensed.

With Williams there’s a huge bonus in the return game, though. Between punts and kickoffs, he racked up almost 2,000 total yards and scored a remarkable nine return touchdowns, tying an NCAA record. Here’s some of Williams’ best work on special teams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfcem-36hU8

Carolina could use a new return specialist and Williams is by far the best in this class.

Charleston WR Mike Strachan

The Panthers have also Zoomed with a local Division II receiver prospect who’s got size and athleticism to spare.

Strachan (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) is a track star who’s broken a number of school receiving records, totaling 2,332 yards and 27 touchdowns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQECTXrevVU

Even after signing tight end Dan Arnold, the Panthers could use another weapon with Strachan’s build. He’s projected to be a Day 3 pick.

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Better know a prospect: 49ers meet with experienced Oregon CB

The San Francisco 49ers and Oregon cornerback prospect Deommodore Lenoir met ahead of the 2021 NFL draft.

The San Francisco 49ers need cornerback help. They’ll likely wind up addressing the position via free agency and the NFL draft as they look to solidify their secondary for the foreseeable future.

One prospect name to know at corner is Deommodore Lenoir, who met virtually with the 49ers according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

Lenoir, an Oregon product, started 34 consecutive games to close out his career with the Ducks. He’s a superb athlete who in his career racked up 111 solo tackles, 27 pass breakups and six interceptions, including at least one in each of his four college seasons.

One of the things that stands out on Lenoir’s film aside from his fluid athleticism is his ability to tackle in space. He moves well in short areas and makes a lot of sure tackles on the edge to help prevent players from turning the corner.

A physical, aggressive corner with good size (5-11, 195 pounds), athleticism and ball skills could quickly carve out a role in a relatively limited 49ers cornerback group. He isn’t likely to go in Round 1 or 2, but he could be a target for San Francisco late in Day 2 or early in Day 3.

8 Pac-Twelve prospects the Eagles should target in 2021 NFL Draft after the conference cancels season

8 Pac-Twelve prospects the Eagles should target in 2021 NFL Draft after the conference cancels season

Following the lead of the Big Ten Conference, Pac Twelve officials have also announced the cancellation of their 2021 football season.

With a star-packed class of prospects now free to decide if they’ll take their talents to the NFL, here are 11 Pac-12 prospects that the Eagles should do their due diligence on and target in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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1. AMON-RA ST. BROWN, WR, USC

Coming from a family of stud football players, St. Brown attended famed Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.

A five-star recruit, St. Brown committed to the University of Southern California (USC) to play college football with former high school teammate JT Daniels.

The junior wide receiver started 12 of the 13 games last season, catching 77 passes for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns. He was expected to be one of the top wideouts in college football next season.

St. Brown is smooth in pretty much everything he does. He’s a crafty route-runner who’s also sneaky good after the catch. He broke 18 tackles last season.

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