The San Diego Chargers are seeing huge returns from rookie defensive lineman Joey Bosa. Ownership’s stubbornness resulted in a delay getting him into camp, and he missed the first four games as he was getting fully acclimated. Bosa has now played three games, and he is making a huge impact. Pro Football Focus tracks sacks, hits, hurries, and pressures, and Bosa is off to a monster start. They have him down for 20 pressures, which is the most for any defender in their first three games in the past decade.
I bring this up because PFF offered up an interesting look at Bosa’s start. PFF analyst Nathan Jahnke offered up a table of the top ten players over the past decade in terms of pressures through three games. Tied for sixth on the list is Corey Lemonier!
Joey Bosa has 20 pressures after 3 games. That's the most for any defender in their first 3 games in the past decade by a significant amount pic.twitter.com/cZyc9JAi28
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) October 24, 2016
The 49ers spent a third round pick on Lemonier back in 2013. The Auburn pass rusher got off to a strong start as a rookie, but things went south over the next two years. He never seemed to develop a second pass rush move, and he spent a sizable chunk of 2014 and 2015 playing special teams. He got some opportunities due to injuries and ineffectiveness following the release of Aldon Smith, but he never was able to get much going.
The 49ers released Lemonier in September as part of final roster cuts, and the Cleveland Browns claimed him. In six games this season, Lemonier has eight tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble and recovery. His season high in snaps was 33 a few weeks back, and he was a healthy scratch in Week 7.