Ottawa REDBLACKS
When life gives you a lemon you make lemonade and that’s what the Ottawa REDBLACKS did to sweeten their pass rush.
Upon returning from the NFL, Shawn Lemon had a number of teams north of the border competing for his services. The 27-year-old defensive lineman took his time and made an informed decision about where to continue his professional football career.
To help with that process, Lemon leaned on his old Calgary locker mate and REDBLACKS defensive lineman Justin Phillips.
“He did a really good job of going through the pros and cons with me. He understood the teams that were after me and he said positive things about a lot of them as well, he wasn’t just one-sided,” Lemon says. “He helped me a lot so he might have a little sports agent in his background.”
Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell has known Lemon since 2013 when they worked together with the Stampeders.
“I knew Shawn from coaching him in Calgary and we stayed in touch while he was down in the NFL. So when it came time when he was going to make a decision on coming back here, we had a relationship,” Campbell says.
“In Ottawa we’ve made a point of wanting to treat people right here. We want to make this an attractive place to work where people want to come every day, and we’re hoping in the long run that pays off for us.”
Campbell knew Lemon would do his homework on the REDBLACKS.
“He talked to our players and people in the league to find out what it was going to be like in Ottawa and how it was going to be working here everyday,” Campbell says.
“I look at it like our players are our best salesmen. The players are going to talk to each other and trust each other’s word. I know that he talked to several of our players to make sure he knew exactly what type of situation he was getting in to.”
Lemon talked to Maurce Price, Jon Gott, J’Micheal Deane, Damaso Munoz, Defensive Coordinator Mark Nelson and Defensive Line Coach Leroy Blugh to find out what playing for the REDBLACKS would be like.
“They were telling me about the atmosphere here and what the city of Ottawa has to offer. They gave me the inside scoop on Coach Campbell being the same guy as a head coach as compared to when he was a defensive coordinator. He’s the same good dude he’s always been.”
“They sold it pretty well to me – I felt very wanted,” Lemon says.
A strong rapport between Campbell and Lemon really increased Ottawa’s chances of landing the talented d-lineman.
“He’s the guy who brought me to Calgary. He reached out to me maybe an hour and a half after I got cut from Edmonton, so we’ve been very close since 2013,” Lemon says. “He likes Shawn Lemon the person better than Shawn Lemon the football player, I can’t say that about a lot of people.”
After Lemon went back over the pros and cons of each team he felt like Ottawa was the best fit. The REDBLACKS remind Lemon of himself: Up-and-coming people trying to make a name for themselves.
“There were just too many positives. Me being from Maryland it’s a bout a 10-hour drive and an hour and a half flight for my parents to come to my games, so it’s closer to home,” Lemon explains.
“The fan base here, they’re selling out – I went back and looked and they’ve sold out all their home games except one so far.”
Ottawa’s coaching staff had distance and atmosphere on their side, and Lemon liked what the REDBLACKS were doing on defence, too.
“I found it very interesting to see that they’ve been having a lot of success up front as far as leading the league in sacks (34 heading into Week 12) and I liked the way they get after the quarterback.”
The 6-foot-2, 251-pound sack artist will play boundary or short-side end for Ottawa, the same position he played in Calgary in 2014 when he produced 14 sacks, tied for second most in the league, and a CFL-record-tying eight forced fumbles.
“It worked out real well for me with rushing the passer from the backside and creating forced fumbles and turnovers,” Lemon says.
“I was at peace with my decision.”
Adding Lemon to the mix boosts Ottawa’s chances of reaching its stated goal for 2015: Find a way to get into the playoffs. The REDBLACKS have a 5-4 record halfway through their 2015 schedule and sit in a playoff spot in the East Division.
“If you do that then you never know what’s going to happen. So far we’ve put ourselves in position to do that,” Campbell says.
Lemon won the 102nd Grey Cup with the Stampeders so he knows what it takes to make a run to the CFL title game and capture a championship.
“These last nine weeks of the season is where you want to start peaking as a team. I understand the setup of the CFL and when you want to get hot as a team is around the time right now.”
