Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Calgary, July 3, 2025

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Great receivers can help mask the fact that a QB is in decline. Despite the very obvious fact that ZC mostly throws inaccurate wobblers - his passes still ended up being caught by Lawler and Schoen - they caught 16 of the 33 TDs you mention. But Schoen obviously is not, post-injury, where he was in 22/23 and Lawler is gone and catching passes from BLM. So Collaros's inadequacies are further exposed. Also, Bombers pass pro has looked shaky past couple years. ZC has always tended to take time going through his progressions but, pressured, he then panics and forces the throw which often ends up in the arms of an opponent. Look at his TD/INT ratio last 20 games - I won't even mention the Grey Cup fiascos. Bombers brass seem to have decided they can live with this. But as a fan I have every right to call them out on it.

I totally agree he's not as good as he was in 2019 and 2021. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. And his Grey Cup numbers are pretty bad. Time will always be undefeated. My question is more what do you suggest we do about it? Cut him and go with Streveler and Wilson? Turn things over to an American rookie on the neg list? Try and trade for a QB a CFL team doesn't want. What? Isn't extending him currently the best option out of all the options before us?

[Doublezero]

I totally agree he's not as good as he was in 2019 and 2021. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. And his Grey Cup numbers are pretty bad. Time will always be undefeated. My question is more what do you suggest we do about it? Cut him and go with Streveler and Wilson? Turn things over to an American rookie on the neg list? Try and trade for a QB a CFL team doesn't want. What? Isn't extending him currently the best option out of all the options before us?

Yes, more Streveler and, eventually, Wilson. They need game reps. When Matt Nichols went down in 2019 we turned to Strev and he managed to win a few games. Then, for insurance, we traded for Collaros and Lapolice basically used the 2 QB Streveler-Collaros tandem to take the club through the playoffs to win a Grey Cup. Today, Collaros is older and less effective. But Strev might be better than he was in 2019. We will never know unless he gets more playing time. Let's go 2 QB tandem system. It might be ugly before it gets pretty but having Jarious Jackson around should help.

[blue_gold_84]

Great receivers can help mask the fact that a QB is in decline. Despite the very obvious fact that ZC mostly throws inaccurate wobblers - his passes still ended up being caught by Lawler and Schoen - they caught 16 of the 33 TDs you mention. But Schoen obviously is not, post-injury, where he was in 22/23 and Lawler is gone and catching passes from BLM. So Collaros's inadequacies are further exposed. Also, Bombers pass pro has looked shaky past couple years. ZC has always tended to take time going through his progressions but, pressured, he then panics and forces the throw which often ends up in the arms of an opponent. Look at his TD/INT ratio last 20 games - I won't even mention the Grey Cup fiascos. Bombers brass seem to have decided they can live with this. But as a fan I have every right to call them out on it.

Sure, you have every "right" to call out whatever you'd like as it relates to this team/organization.

Now that we're moving the goalposts, name a QB in this league - past or present - who hasn't relied on his receivers, tailbacks, or O-line in order to succeed on any consistent basis, irrespective of them being star players or not. Pro football is a team sport after all. And I think it's more than fair to say Collaros' contributions continue to be a net positive here.

If my math is accurate - and I apologize if it isn't - his last 20 games played go back to week 1 of last season. He's thrown 23 TDs and 19 INTs, which isn't a good ratio on its own. However, that doesn't take into account the team's numerous key injuries to start 2024, coming out the gate 0-4, and sitting at 3-6 midway through that season. I think there's ample context to be considered here that shouldn't be ignored. It's a team sport.

This most recent loss stings but the sky isn't falling in Bomberland because the starting QB threw a couple of pick sixes.

To your last comment re: Streveler and Wilson getting more playing time, I tend to agree. Especially in blowout games, keeping Collaros in doesn't make sense. And I also agree on your point of Streveler being a more rounded QB now than in 2019. I haven't seen enough of Wilson to have a reasonable opinion one way or another.

In all of this, I can't help but wonder if Dru Brown returns to the fold after 2026.

[Pete]

My question is why did we extend collaros without him playing a down in 2025 when its obvious his performance is on the downturn? Its not like he gave us a bargain.

[Blue In BC]

My question is why did we extend collaros without him playing a down in 2025 when its obvious his performance is on the downturn? Its not like he gave us a bargain.

We don't know the details of the contract. Unless there are some guarantees it's moot. If no guarantees we could potentially release or trade him before TC 2025. I haven't even heard the contact value yet??

We won't know what other QB's might be available going into 2025 until free agency.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

My question is why did we extend collaros without him playing a down in 2025 when its obvious his performance is on the downturn? Its not like he gave us a bargain.

Zach got smart and initiated contract negotiations during the off-season, I'd guess they're paying him aprox. the same as there's not much reason to demand a discounted rate when he's put them in the GC 5 straight years. If I was GM I'd make him wait till the end of this season to see how things shake out, at his age he doesn't have a heck of a lot of bargaining power and I doubt he wants to start again with another team.

[J5V]

I totally agree he's not as good as he was in 2019 and 2021. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. And his Grey Cup numbers are pretty bad. Time will always be undefeated. My question is more what do you suggest we do about it? Cut him and go with Streveler and Wilson? Turn things over to an American rookie on the neg list? Try and trade for a QB a CFL team doesn't want. What? Isn't extending him currently the best option out of all the options before us?

Although I'm not a big fan of his I do respect Wally Buono and his philosophy on ageing players. What he'd likely have done is started bringing in arms until he found the next Travis Lulay or Nathan Rourke and  traded Zach for a big return while he still had big value. I'm not saying we don't do that ... yeah, I'm saying we don't do that. 

[Blueforlife]

Zach is still good to great.  Bad game, he will have a few of those this year.  We will bounce back.  Forest through the trees.  That was an ugly ball game.  We are better than that.  Back to the drawing board and time to put a few wins together.

I only watched the 1st half closely, had a big party all weekend so didn't get my football time in. 

[ModAdmin]

On average CFL quarterbacks retire in their mid to late 30's. It would be short sighted or downright ludicrous to think the Bombers are not already looking for their next starting QB.

[Pete]

Zach is still good to great.  Bad game, he will have a few of those this year.  We will bounce back.  Forest through the trees.  That was an ugly ball game.  We are better than that.  Back to the drawing board and time to put a few wins together.

I only watched the 1st half closely, had a big party all weekend so didn't get my football time in. 

he's really only had one good game this year and last year it was more bad than good. To anticipate he's gonna get better is likely unrealistic at least without some changes to his game (ie Bo levi)

[Jesse]

My question is why did we extend collaros without him playing a down in 2025 when its obvious his performance is on the downturn? Its not like he gave us a bargain.

 Because he's our best option far and we're lucky to have him locked down.

[Blueforlife]

he's really only had one good game this year and last year it was more bad than good. To anticipate he's gonna get better is likely unrealistic at least without some changes to his game (ie Bo levi)

Disagree all, but yes not the greatest start, fair to good imo
I am confident in him and this team while you have been less so, which is ok.
Last year team started terrible but came around and Zach was more good than bad, a terrible ending
I am not anticipating he will get better but he will continue to play at the level he has for the last few years.  He will have big games, mostly average and a few bad imo.
Bo hurt himself and had to relearn his throwing mechanics, a different situation.  He and Zach have age in common and also have done some amazing things in the past.  I wouldn't count either out.  Both can make bad decisions with hero throws, the best athletes often do and that fine line is what makes them great.  Both need to ego check / throw away at times.
Bo has better arm, always has.  Zach has better accuracy but that a close match.  Didn't watch Bo's last game but looked to be slinging nasty to Kenny.

[dd]

Because he's our best option far and we're lucky to have him locked down.

Exactly.

Complaining about a couple of pick sixes after the fact, i get, nobody likes them, but everybody throws them.

How many Qb's do you know presently playing, have been to 5 Grey Cups, period?? Come up with anyone?? Nope. He's our best option going forward. Is he aging, yes, is his arm not what it used to be , yes. Can we win it with him this year, yes. And besides, what are we going to do at this point in time?? Nothing. MOS has publically stated a number of times, how impressed he is with ZC decision making ability, so he ain't going nowhere, and you can bank on that.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes, more Streveler and, eventually, Wilson. They need game reps. When Matt Nichols went down in 2019 we turned to Strev and he managed to win a few games. Then, for insurance, we traded for Collaros and Lapolice basically used the 2 QB Streveler-Collaros tandem to take the club through the playoffs to win a Grey Cup. Today, Collaros is older and less effective. But Strev might be better than he was in 2019. We will never know unless he gets more playing time. Let's go 2 QB tandem system. It might be ugly before it gets pretty but having Jarious Jackson around should help.

Maybe I don't remember all that well but I believe in the last 2-3 seasons Zach started a trend of ******** the bed badly at least once or twice a year.  I can remember a few games the offence came out totally flat and never mounted a competitive effort the entire game, those contests usually ended in total blowouts. 3 that would qualify, the recent Stamps game, last year's GC and the early season loss to the Lions at home, but I'm sure there's more unexpected disasters. 

Often these games come totally out of the blue and happen at home in front of a stadium full of baffled semi-angry Bomber fans.  Bad trend.

[Blueforlife]

Exactly.

Complaining about a couple of pick sixes after the fact, i get, nobody likes them, but everybody throws them.

How many Qb's do you know presently playing, have been to 5 Grey Cups, period?? Come up with anyone?? Nope. He's our best option going forward. Is he aging, yes, is his arm not what it used to be , yes. Can we win it with him this year, yes. And besides, what are we going to do at this point in time?? Nothing. MOS has publically stated a number of times, how impressed he is with ZC decision making ability, so he ain't going nowhere, and you can bank on that.

Love the attitude and I could agre more