One victory by Zach Collaros has created a quarterback controversy in the Manitoba capital.
An injured Chris Streveler watched as Collaros engineered a drive in the final two minutes which setup Justin Medlock’s game-winning field goal as the Bombers beat Calgary 29-28. Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea won’t name a starter for the playoffs.
“Those questions will be answered on day three of whatever playoff game that is so we’ll see how everybody is after this one. We got lots of time,” O’Shea said.
Collaros completed 22-of-28 passes for 221 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It was his first game action since Week 1 as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“He had fun, which is a very important thing even though it’s pro sports and you’re getting paid to do your job — it’s really important these guys have a good time doing it. It looked like he had a lot of fun out there,” O’Shea said.
“In terms of the execution, that’s why you want a veteran guy to come in for this scenario to run a fourth quarter, last drive to put you in a field goal position to win, you need a vet to do that.”
Winnipeg sent their third round choice in the 2020 CFL draft to the Argonauts for Collaros and fifth round selection at the CFL trade deadline on October 9. If the Bombers re-sign Collaros, Toronto receives an additional first round pick. The connection between O’Shea and Collaros from spending two years together as Argos (2012 and 2013) helped the deal happen.
“He made a bunch of plays off schedule — that ball to Darvin in the back of the end zone off the scramble, reminds me of his first year in the league when he’d escape out of things you’d never seen him escape from. So he’s still got it,” O’Shea said.
“We made a little adjustment to the play early in the week. I brought my eyes down to the rush…I was able to make a play there. I saw Darvin throw his hand up there, that’s all I saw, I just tried to put it in the back of the end zone. He made a heckuva catch keeping his feet in,” Collaros said.
Winnipeg has to wait for the seedings to shake out in the West before their playoff opponent is decided. Overall Collaros improves his career win-loss record to 35-31. While the Bombers finish the regular season 11-7 and have bye week prior to the post-season.
“He was great tonight, composed, made big throws, made big play with his feet, took some shots and got up and he was solid all around,” Canadian running back Andrew Harris said.
“He’s a guy that’s not afraid to throw those big throws that some other guys might look off or get antsy with.”
