By Nic Sgaggi
Stampeders.com

In his very first pre-season game with the Stampeders, he was fifth in line for the starting right end position.

One short year later, Shawn Lemon has found himself at the exact opposite end of the depth chart as he is expected to start at defensive end for the second consecutive pre-season game.

“I’m very excited,” Lemon said. “It’s been a blessing to come here in the situation that I’m in. I have to hit the ground running with it and continue to work hard.”

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Lemon to get where he is now.

A prominent player with Edmonton, he was admittedly taken aback after hearing that he had been released by the Eskimos despite leading the team with six sacks in 2012.

“It’s a humbling process because you just never know the business side of it,” he said. “With me being cut there, I was very surprised, but you have to tuck your head and go back to the drawing board and look at the things you need to get better at as a player. I’m always motivated every off-season to get that much better the next season.”

He refused to let the setback define his Canadian Football League career and, as a result, Lemon found himself in Calgary.

“I’ve never been the type of player that’s been down or unconfident in my ability. I know what my ability is and, with the right opportunity, I will take advantage,” he said.

Lemon went on to collect 18 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery last season despite spending the majority of 2013 backing up Charleston Hughes and Cordarro Law. He’ll look to prove himself as a legitimate starter in 2014 following Law’s departure to the NFL.

“Every day, I have a new goal,” he said. “I set short-term goals and I also set long-term goals. One (short-term) personal goal l have is just to be a better defensive end in this upcoming pre-season game than I was in the last pre-season game.”

When it comes to the long-term, Lemon is looking to become the best defensive lineman he can be. He believes he can achieve that under the guidance of defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks and defensive coordinator Rich Stubler.

“It’s important to continue to accept the coaching from Coach Stubler and Coach Claybrooks in order to get better every day,” Lemon said.

Claybrooks has been impressed with Lemon’s development over the past year.

“I expect him to be a game-changer,” Claybrooks said. “He’s developed leaps and bounds and he’s taken his game to a whole new level. He’s been able to do the things that we’ve needed him to do in that position. We think he can excel and the sky is the limit.”

Lemon and the Stamps’ defence hope to set the pace for the 2014 regular season with a road win at BC Place on Friday against the Lions.