Collaros looking to turn season around

Winnipeg Free Press

a day ago

The pocket has, ironically, been a safe space for Zach Collaros for the last 13 years.
It is a place of comfort where he's expressed his athleticism and elite competitive nature throughout the summer and fall months with moments of brilliance and highlight-reel throws.
Recently, however, the pocket lost its sanctity for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' star quarterback.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
All signs point to Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (left) starting for the club on the road Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders.
Against his better judgment, Collaros admitted Tuesday, he put himself at risk of further damaging the neck injury that knocked him out of the Bombers' Week 7 home contest against the Calgary Stampeders by playing in the club's Week 8 road game against the Toronto Argonauts.
'It was my decision to play in that Toronto game (on July 26), and probably rushed it back there,' said Collaros, who missed last week's rematch with the Argos.
The initial ailment, which plagued him with whiplash-like symptoms, did not keep him from practising the following week, but it prohibited him from finishing the game in Toronto.
Collaros, who mysteriously emerged from the locker room after halftime without pads on, confirmed it was after being hit that he felt the lingering effects of his injury. He knew it wouldn't be wise to continue playing.
'Hindsight is probably perfect,' said head coach Mike O'Shea. 'You're always relying on the players to really verbalize how they're doing and how they're feeling. We have a lot of trust and faith in Zach and, obviously… Al Couture (head athletic therapist) and our medical staff are second to none.'
All signs point to Collaros returning to his post under centre when the Bombers (4-3) face the Stampeders (5-3) at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday (6 p.m.).
There's no doubt the two-time Most Outstanding Player is Winnipeg's best quarterback option to defeat one of the top teams in the CFL, but he's also offered plenty of reason to question whether that is still the case.
In Collaros's five starts this season, he's thrown two interceptions in four of them. His eight interceptions are the second-most among all quarterbacks, which is a troubling stat, considering he matched a career-high 15 interceptions (second most in the CFL) last season.
Meanwhile, the Bombers' offence has collectively recorded 20 giveaways in the last four contests.
'It's something that, for sure, as a locker room, we understand that we need to get better at,' said Collaros. 'It's not a secret, and it's something that we think is a part of our DNA here, so we need to start living up to it.'
Collaros's old-school gunslinger play style has delivered more good moments than bad since arriving in the Manitoba capital.
He's someone who believes he can make any throw on a field — and has proven that on many occasions — but lately, that has gotten him into trouble, as he's bitten off more than he can chew on some attempts. Fitting the ball into tight windows has been a trademark of his game, but that high-risk play style can be equally frustrating for fans when the giveaways equate to losses.
Collaros agreed that it's a balancing act that he must perform, playing the style he's built a Hall of Fame career on without sinking his team.
'I think protecting the ball is one of the most important things in football, right? At the same time, you never want to go into a football game or go into a situation and say, 'I'm afraid to make the throw,' or, 'I don't want to be aggressive here.' There is a dance that you need to kind of have,' he said.
'I think it's just about making sure that the plays that we're running are clear and concise, and I have a great understanding of them and making sure that I'm getting through my reads in a timely fashion. Accuracy, those things matter, of course, as well. It's a 12-man thing, but ultimately, it starts with me and making sure that I don't put the ball in harm's way.'
Indeed, it's imperative to any team's success.
John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea said the club has been thriving in recent years with quarterback Zach Collaros.
And unlike 2023 when he tossed 15 interceptions but made up for it with 33 touchdown passes, Collaros has just seven this year. Simply, the good just hasn't caught up to the bad this year.
Even then, O'Shea said the Bombers are comfortable with Collaros's aggressive nature.
'We're not just living, we've been thriving with Zach Collaros for a long time. We're putting up with greatness, if that's what you want to talk about,' said O'Shea, adding he does not talk to Collaros about reigning in his throws.
'He's as smart as they come,' he added. 'There's not a lot of conversation like that. As a lot of these guys are, they get to this level and they're their own worst critic.'
Perhaps an argument can be made for the Bombers' offensive struggles, and Collaros, in particular.
Consider this: the CFL will effectively reach the halfway point of the season this week, and the Bombers' starting pivot has been on the field for a little more than 15 quarters of it.
An opening-week bye, followed by a suspension in Week 2, another bye in Week 6, consecutive early exits and missing the entirety of the most recent game to injury is a tough deal for anyone to handle.
'I need to get in a rhythm. We all need to get in a rhythm. I think the more reps, the better,' said Collaros.
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'We've obviously had two bye weeks during that time, which, not to make excuses, makes things a little more difficult. At the same time, this is our job. We need to play at a high level, and we hold ourselves to high standards, but I do think more practices, more games, will help level that all out. That's the hope at least.'
As far as the notion that Father Time could be catching up to the 36-year-old, Collaros offered up a brief thought.
'I feel young still. I don't know. I feel alright.'
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Joshua Frey-SamReporter
Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh.
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