Argos defensive lineman Shawn Lemon is an appreciative witness to his team’s apparent turnaround on defence through three games this season. And when asked about the improvement, he won’t hesitate to mention a family atmosphere.

“Everybody is putting in extra time in watching films and working out and spending time together off the field … so you establish that family feeling that I don’t think we had as much last year,” Lemon said Monday, as the Argos prepared for a Thursday game in Winnipeg.

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There has been some welcome excitement to the 2-1 Argos, including quarterback Ricky Ray’s record yardage in the opening game and the endless variety of catches from receiver S.J. Green, but that has been matched by the performance of the defence. Four of the top 10 tacklers in the CFL are Argos.

“Three games in, we’ve seen a lot of good things from the defence,” said head coach Marc Trestman, warning that there’s “a long ways to go.”

“You work to bring that (family feeling) each and every day. You go through a season to feel what it all means. I think Shawn is right, we’re trying to work towards proving we’re a collective and that we’re all connected — offence, defence, special teams.”

Certainly, that was the goal for co-ordinator Corey Chamblin’s defence, with the line, the linebacking corps, and the secondary working together. But it is a unit that is working in a host of newcomers.

Linebacker Bear Woods joined the Argos in the first week of camp in a move that not only brought the two-time all-star to Toronto but also helped fill a leadership gap created when Cory Greenwood signed with Edmonton in the off-season. Defensive end Victor Butler, who spent last year out of football after bouncing around the NFL, leads the league with seven sacks, four more than anyone else.

And while Toronto lost defensive lineman Ken Bishop to a foot injury against the Redblacks, Jeff Finley stepped in and immediately chipped in with two sacks.

“We’re gelling together because the players all want the same things, and that’s to find that combination of friendship and guys who just want to win,” Chamblin said. “That happens on every other team too, but these guys really know what they want, they bring the right energy every day and they all are on the same page in what they want to accomplish.”

So far, so good for an Argos defence that ranks at or near the top of the CFL in points allowed, and offensive points allowed.

Lemon and safety Marcus Ball saw a defence a year ago that lacked cohesion and results. The Argos allowed the most points in the league. This year, they wanted to start by bonding together.

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“It wasn’t anything forced,” Lemon said. “We have guys from similar backgrounds, guys who work to build this family feeling . . . (the American players are) in another country and we’re away from our families for six months. It’s special when you can have teammates become like family for you.”

NOTE: Bishop was at practice Monday in a walking boot, so he will not play Thursday in Winnipeg. Dylan Wynn is expected to replace him.

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