Steelers set to work out CFL OLB Shawn Lemon

[SteelCrazy]

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This certainly wouldn't be the first CFL player to try out with the Steelers. Both native Canadians and American transplants who found themselves playing north of the border have come in for tryouts, without having merited any results.

Different times call for different circumstances. With a new defensive coordinator set to be named (linebacker coach Keith Butler is all but assured to get the job), the Steelers must find ways to improve a pass rush that can only be fairly described as mediocre over the last four seasons.

Will Akron product - the alma mater of James Harrison - Lemon be a guy to help boost it? History would suggest not, considering the lack of CFL players the Steelers have signed, but due diligence is a good thing. Playing for the Calgary Stampeders, Lemon was among the league leaders in sacks, and his film shows he's a sudden, explosive athlete.

One drawback would be the bulk of his clips where he's rushing the passer standing up us coming from a 9-technique spot. He'd be moving in quite a ways, comparatively speaking. He doesn't seem like the strongest player, but with the need for speed rushers in today's NFL, there's a reason the Steelers, Titans and 12 other teams are having him in for a look.


http://youtu.be/ZzOprc6GVGM

[SteelCrazy]

From what I cansee, he is very quick and has that spin move down to a science. However, CFL Tackles seem slow and small

[SteelCrazy]

This also tells me the Steelers know where one of their big problems lie on defense and they are wasting no time trying to fix it.

[Shawn]

NFL tackles will eat that guys lunch.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Dolphins got Cam Wake from the CFL, so you never know...

[Snatch98]

I stopped reading when he said Akron the alma mater of James Harrison. How can people be so lazy with their reporting? Aren't people paid to fact check?

[NorthCoast]

I stopped reading when he said Akron the alma mater of James Harrison. How can people be so lazy with their reporting? Aren't people paid to fact check?

Well Akron is just down the road from Kent.... (JH was born in Akron).

[Snatch98]

Well Akron is just down the road from Kent.... (JH was born in Akron).

They are also hated rivals. Its a pretty big error for a small article like the one written.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

If FA gives you a Lemon...

[hawaiiansteel]

If FA gives you a Lemon...

make a sour face and say no? :D

[Slapstick]

CFL QBs have zero pocket awareness, apparently. But, he seems to have a pretty good nose for the ball, chasing down the misdirection plays and elevating enough to knock down some passes...

[Chadman]

Can't hurt to work him out, but I'm not holding out high hopes.

[SidSmythe]

I have no problem with the Steelers signing a guy as a Specialty Pass Rusher in pass situations.

Bring him in on LONG situations and let him RUSH

[Chadman]

I have no problem with the Steelers signing a guy as a Specialty Pass Rusher in pass situations.

Bring him in on LONG situations and let him RUSH

I was actually thinking this might not be far from the plan- with some 'flexibility' with all those ILB's, and with moats (hopefully) back, there are enough 'every down' type bodies at LB, what they lack is that pure pass rush threat.

That "Elephant" role that GB plays with Peppers is kind of what I'm thinking- stand him up at OLB in some situations, hand in the dirt at 3-4 DE sometimes, or switch to the occasional 4-3 front. Whoever plays that pass rush role need not be that 'solid' in pass protection or run stuffing if there are guys able to cover him.

[hawaiiansteel]

Getting to know reserve/future players: Shawn Lemon

Kirk Larrabee - Mar 25

http://media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/830/510/6_3510830.jpg

The Pittsburgh Steelers have 68 players on their current roster, although some of them you might not know much about. Among those players who many fans might not be as familiar with are the players the Steelers signed to a reserve/future contract after the end of the season.

A reserve/future contract is a way for NFL teams to add players that they want to look at during the offseason or in training camp in advance. Only players who were not on the active roster at the end of the season are eligible for a reserve/future contract. The contract works the same as a normal contract, except it doesn't start to take effect until the beginning of the new league year in March. This allows teams to sign these players in January without having them become free agents once the new league year begins. If the players were previously under contract with the team, then they would become free agents once the new league year starts and free agency begins.

These players are usually signed to the league minimum salary and are commonly players who were on the team's practice squad the previous season. Most of these players wind up not making the team, but some on occasion do make it onto the final roster.

The Steelers signed 19 players to reserve/future contracts this year: TE Rob Blanchflower, WR Brelan Chancellor, DE Matt Conrath, FB Jordan Dangerfield, DB Alden Darby, TE Michael Egnew, DB Kevin Fogg, WR C.J. Goodwin, DE Ethan Hemer, LB Howard Jones, P Richie Leone, LB Shawn Lemon, DB Isaiah Lewis, DE Joe Kruger, RB Roosevelt Nix, OT Mitchell Van Dyk, OT Alejandro Villanueva, WR L’Damian Washington, and DB Ian Wild.

Who are these players, and do they have a chance at making the team this year? Many of them might be long shots, but also don't be surprised if a couple do wind up on the final roster. Some of these players have intriguing backgrounds and credentials that could make them interesting to follow as the season approaches.

We're going to take some time get to know these players a little more in the days to come. We'll start off with a player to watch in the pass rushing department, linebacker Shawn Lemon.

Name: Shawn Lemon

Age: 26

Height, Weight: 6-2, 250

College: Akron

NFL Draft: Undrafted in 2011.

Playing History: Has bounced around between teams in the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, Indoor Football League. Most recently with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.

Story: Lemon played with seven teams in four years in the aforementioned leagues before having a big year for the Stampeders in 2014, during which he posted 13 sacks in 18 games, 31 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and tied a league record with eight forced fumbles. The Stampeders won the CFL's Grey Cup in 2014.

The Steelers gave Lemon a three-year deal in January worth $1,582,500. The Stampeders granted Lemon his release so he could sign with the Steelers.

“A dream come true,’’ Lemon said, via the Calgary Herald. “A blessing. Since I was five years old what I wanted to was play in the NFL. I haven’t missed a year of football in 21 years, and I’m there now, so it’s nice to know that hard work still pays off. That you can get to your desired destination."

Lemon said he was a Dallas Cowboys fan as a child, but things have changed since then.

"I’m grown up now," Lemon said. "Now my favorite team is the team that pays me."

Stampeders defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks said Lemon is a good match for the Steelers.

"He’s a good fit (in Pittsburgh) because they only have one linebacker under contract there as of now (January), he’ll be able to rush off the edge and he’s accustomed to dropping into pass coverage," Claybrooks said. “Their system will be conducive to him being successful, which is very important."

Chances of making the roster? Given the need at outside linebacker, Lemon is certainly worth keeping an eye on. He does come into a good situation given the depth chart and a veteran presence to watch and learn from in James Harrison. He could have a better chance of making some noise with the Steelers than most of the reserve/future players.

http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Getting-to-know-reservefuture-players-Shawn-Lemon-36400786

[SidSmythe]

I think this guy's gives the Steelers consideration when it comes to the draft. Especially since he comes from WORILDS side

[hawaiiansteel]

Shawn Lemon grateful, but ready, for his chance with the Pittsburgh Steelers

By Dale Grdnic on May 9, 2015

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Shawn Lemon had a successful career in the CFL, and although grateful for his chance in the NFL, he is ready to prove his worth to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PITTSBURGH -- Outside linebacker Shawn Lemon knows all too well that a football career is difficult to get and even more fleeting once it's obtained.

So, as a 26-year-old in his first NFL camp after going undrafted from Akron in 2011, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Lemon had some advice for the younger players attended rookie mini-camp this weekend with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"If you ever want to get into the NFL, play football somewhere,'' Lemon said. "Go to Canada, an indoor league, anywhere professionally to work on your game. Someone will notice you and hopefully take a chance on you. An opportunity is all you need. Then, it's up to you to do something with it.''

Lemon must heed his own advice with the Steelers, who signed Lemon to a reserve-future contract after this past season and will give him a chance to make their roster after bouncing around between seven teams in the Canadian and Arena football leagues.

to read rest of article:

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2015/5/9/8578285/shawn-lemon-grateful-but-ready-for-his-chance-with-the-pittsburgh

[SidSmythe]

This guy could make things interesting if he can play Special Teams.

[Slapstick]

That piece lists him at 235, which may have been true when he graduated, but CFL has him at 251. That's good.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers' Lemon hopes to put squeeze on opposing QBs

By Mark Kaboly
Thursday, May 14, 2015

http://triblive.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=LAzCw rlZnuSTLaXb2dZemc$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYsCAIiilPct5nk _6_lYaQOAWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4 uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_C ryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

Linebacker Shawn Lemon visited 14 teams after the CFL season ended before choosing to join the Steelers.

Shawn Lemon is a big fan of Cameron Wake.

Wake wasn't drafted out of college and spent two years in the Canadian Football League, collecting 39 sacks. Wake, a former Penn State linebacker, was then signed by the Dolphins and made four Pro Bowls in six seasons.

“He has opened a lot of doors for us,” Lemon said. “I watch a lot of film on Cameron Wake, and I try to do some of the things that he does and some of the things I do and put it into one. What keeps you motivated every year in the CFL is knowing the NFL is looking for pass rushers.”

For Lemon, that door swung open in January when the Steelers signed the former Calgary Stampeders pass-rushing specialist to a 3-year deal worth $1.582 million. This after a breakout season in Canada in which Lemon had 13 sacks and a team-record seven forced fumbles.

Just like Wake, Lemon was in demand.

Lemon, who will turn 27 in August and who never has participated in an NFL camp, visited 14 teams in the month after the end of the CFL season.

Lemon (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) ultimately chose the Steelers because of the opportunity. At the time, the only experienced linebacker the Steelers had under contract was Jarvis Jones. Since, they re-signed Arthur Moats and James Harrison and used their first-round pick on Bud Dupree, but that hasn't changed Lemon's mindset.

“If you are a young guy, you are kind of looking at the numbers,” Lemon said. “I know that if you go out and produce, that you are going to be on the field.

“Playing over there for three years and being second in the league in sacks, I know what I bring to the table.”

It wasn't all success for Lemon since his days at Akron.

After going undrafted in 2011 despite being a three-year starter and named to the All-MAC team as a senior, Lemon went to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. However, he was released after only three days with the team.

Lemon caught on with Saskatchewan three weeks later and spent 32 days on the roster before being released.

Lemon tried the Arena Football League in 2012, spending a month with San Jose before getting traded to Orlando, which cut him three weeks after acquiring him.

A stint with Sioux Falls of the Indoor Football League led to a year with Edmonton back in the CFL. Then, Lemon played the past two seasons with Calgary where he enjoyed his first taste of success.

Lemon started all 18 games for the Stampeders in 2014, recording 13 sacks, five tackles for losses and eight forced fumbles.

“The CFL is a very good league. It prepares you, and it has prepared me for this,” Lemon said.

The Steelers are in dire need of improving their pass rush. For the second consecutive year, the Steelers finished in the bottom third in the NFL with 33 sacks, their fewest in 26 years.

“The one thing I learned (in the CFL) was how to be a pass rusher,” Lemon said. “I am very confident. The CFL is a league where we play a yard off the ball. Having the good background that I had up there, I am confident and I want to go out there and prove what I know I can do.”

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8364354-74/lemon-cfl-steelers#ixzz3aBP5WwtN

[hawaiiansteel]

Alex Kozora @Alex_Kozora -

Shawn Lemon has worn a lot of jerseys. He's hoping Pittsburgh is his last. #Steelers

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/05/well-traveled-shawn-lemon-hopes-to-find-home-in-pittsburgh/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Pittsburgh Steelers waive LB Shawn Lemon, sign DB Jordan Sullen

By Dani Bostick@danibostick on Jul 29, 2015, 9:30p 27

Changes are in the air.

Shawn Lemon's NFL dreams came to an end today after the Steelers released him from the physically unable to perform list. The linebacker had been suffering from a strained Achilles tendon.

Lemon seemed to be a promising prospect. After a few successful years in the Canadian Football League, there was hope the 26-year-old linebacker could make a smooth transition to the NFL. Lemon himself had high hopes when he first was signed by the Steelers saying in May, "I'm so grateful to the Steelers for this opportunity but now it's up to me to take advantage of it."

In his place, the Steelers picked up DB Jordan Sullen whose history in the NFL includes a short stint on the Steelers practice squad in 2014, as well as time with both the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. The 6'0" 200-lb 25-year-old went undrafted out of Tulane.

At Tulane, Sullen played cornerback where he had 96 tackles, 20 pass break-ups, three interceptions and one forced fumble. Though the Steelers released Sullen from their practice squad, something about him must have impressed the organization since he got the call today to fill the void Lemon has left.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2015/7/29/9071495/pittsburgh-steelers-waive-lb-shawn-lemon-sign-db-jordan-sullen