1 on 1 interview with Montreal Alouettes defensive end, Shawn Lemon. Conducted Saturday at Tim Hortons Field ahead of Grey Cup Sunday.
I wanted to kind of circle back a little bit of the off-season. In your journey, it kind of seemed like CFL teams were slow [regarding signing Shawn Lemon], and they were just looking at your age, kind of using that as a shortcut rather than evaluating your play. Could you speak a little bit on what that was like and then what it was like to join Montreal?
“For me, one thing I always pride myself in is I can’t control what other people think of me. Only thing I can control is me, myself as a man, and my preparation that goes in the work that I put in. So I just focus my energy on that, focus my work on what can I do better as a person as well as a player and just work on my game. And I knew when an opportunity come, I’d be ready for it.”
I spoke to Mustafa a little bit about how BC, to me, they set up a blueprint of how to lose to Winnipeg and also how to beat Winnipeg because they did good run-stopping in the second half. What were your takeaways from the film?
“For me, We didn’t really watch much of BC. We kinda focused on ourselves here, and I just more on a couple things that we need to clean up. And, yeah, we don’t really try to use other game plans for other teams. We just focus on what we need to.”
Preparing to play Zach Collaros he’s been so good in the past by extending the play by rolling out of the pocket. How is Montreal preparing to keep him contained, but also apply pressure on him.
“Just play fast. Just play fast. They’re a veteran group that has a very good O-line. Zach Collaros is a very good quarterback. Just gonna come out and play fast and, you know, play like we did last week.”
You’ve been in the league a long time. Are there any players on Winnipeg’s side of the ball that when you watch stand out to you?
“Just, you know, Zach in general, Stanley Bryant. You know, those are 2 veteran guys over there. They started playing when I was playing. So, you know, Stanley’s one of my best friends. So I see the work he puts in.”
How do you describe of the mental preparation of the game with Montreal coming in, as a lot of people consider them underdogs, and Montreal has frequently shown everyone that that they’ve been underestimated?
“We were underdogs last week and I believe we were underdogs the week before that. So we don’t really pay attention to any of that. We know we have in our locker room, And, you know, I’m just excited to, you know, go out and take the field with my brothers.”
Other Interviews ahead of the Grey Cup:
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: K Sergio Castillo, DE Willie Jefferson, QB Dakota Prukop, RB Brady Oliveira
Montreal Alouettes: LB Tyrice Beverette, LB Reggie Stubblefield, DT Mustafa Johnson, K David Côté, DE Shawn Lemon, CB Kabion Ento
Reading Suggestions:
How Montreal Can Beat Winnipeg in the Grey Cup: Eight Keys to Victory
CFL Western Final Film Takeaways
CFL Eastern Final Film Takeaways
Other Articles:
BC Lions’ Tibo Debaillie Interview Ahead of West Division Finals
Reflecting on the CFL West Semi-Finals
Alouettes’ Jeshrun Antwi Interview Ahead of East Finals
East Semi-Finals Reflections
Alouettes’ Reggie Stubblefield Interview Ahead of East Semi-Finals
BC Lions’ Tibo Debaillie Ahead of CFL West Semi-Finals
Predicting the Rest of the CFL Season
CFL 2nd Period All-Star Team (Weeks 8-14)
CFL Midseason All-Star Team, Awards
First Period CFL and Divisional All-Stars
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