Zach will be our QB in 2027(?)

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Junkie, the point isn't so much what current qbs are elite, it's that half the starters are retiring soon. And there aren't any star quality new guys or backups to replace them.

Trevor
Zach
Vaj
Cody
Bo

Will mostly be gone in 1 to 3 years. 2 for sure in the next 2 years. All of them in the next 5.

The CFL overall has been crap at finding new stars. We hit about 1 every 2 seasons, with none in the last 2.

And I see no indication that this year's crop will produce any.

This is concerning since we are one of the teams with a retiring star.

The CFL has been terrible at retaining QB's the last 5 years and they're about to pay for it. Every team is looking for the instant fix, 100's of QB's have passed through the doors only to be disposed of within a year or two of their arrival. They used to give QB's 3 years to develop into starters, now they're judged on their potential and given a few brief appearances to show if they have it or not. 

[dd]

I really just see Zach retiring after this year, and maybe BLM, Harris the year after. Arbuckle is capable of replacing Zach and maybe even Powell will get the chance to step into a starting role , brown will flounder, crum has been bidding his time as backup and may get a shot on a Qb depleted team. Cody and Adam's have 2-4 years left in them

[RebusRankin]

Zach needs to retire for his own health.

I'd say Adams and Fajardo each have 4-5 years left.

Rourke, Alexander and Kelly are still young.

Honestly while its a concern its not that much different than it has been in the 35+ years I've been following the CFL.

[Jesse]

Zach needs to retire for his own health.

I'd say Adams and Fajardo each have 4-5 years left.

Rourke, Alexander and Kelly are still young.

Honestly while its a concern its not that much different than it has been in the 35+ years I've been following the CFL.

Agreed. Same story as always.

[Tecno]

The CFL has been terrible at retaining QB's the last 5 years and they're about to pay for it. Every team is looking for the instant fix, 100's of QB's have passed through the doors only to be disposed of within a year or two of their arrival. They used to give QB's 3 years to develop into starters, now they're judged on their potential and given a few brief appearances to show if they have it or not.

Then maybe the CFL needs to change the way teams handle QBs.  Maybe expand the QB roster to 4 to 6, maybe with 2-3 of those on dedicated PR spots.  i.e. force the teams to have more QBs.  Maybe add more SMS for it, or a dedicated SMS space for dev QBs.

We're getting to the point that most teams don't want a year 1-2 no-name guy as their #2 because they know they'll lose if their #1 goes down.  Teams want a Dru, Maier, Arbuckle, Ford, Crum, Powell as the #2 so they can maybe win .500.  That leaves zero room for having a dev QB because you have #1, SY, and legit #2.

Ya, teams usually carry 1 QB on the PR.  But it's not enough.  If it was, we wouldn't find ourselves in this "the CFL doesn't have enough #1 QBs to go around" situation every few years.

[Tecno]

Honestly while its a concern its not that much different than it has been in the 35+ years I've been following the CFL.

The last few years it was only 1, maybe 2, teams that didn't have a legit #1 that could win.  It's been a while since 3-4 teams had Brice / Love / Frost level guys as #1.  And that's what I see happening sometime around '27-'29.

The league needs more clearly "it" guys to show up like Rourke, Alexander, and Kelly did most recently.  Since then it's been nothing.  That's been a couple/few seasons already.  We're overdue to find the next "it" guy.

Maybe next year's crop of rookies will find the next "it" guy; although they usually still need 1-3 seasons on the PR or as #2 before they are ready to take over.

Maybe with expanded QB rosters we could find more "it" guys faster.

[markf]

Delet

[Waffler]

Then maybe the CFL needs to change the way teams handle QBs.  Maybe expand the QB roster to 4 to 6, maybe with 2-3 of those on dedicated PR spots.  i.e. force the teams to have more QBs. 

If you go to practice you will see how few reps the 3rd guy gets already. The 3rd guy is a short yardage specialist and probably never going to start.

Just having more arms is not the answer. You need to develop also. It's said that Buono gave all 3 guys equal reps and that was why Calgary was a QB factory for a while.

[VictorRomano]

I think Collaros not playing this week suggests he isn't playing again in 2026. I'm ok with that. I don't think one more concussion happening is worth that risk.

I may be wrong with the game against the Stamps deciding whether we have a chance at the crossover. If he doesn't play and we get eliminated, why would we dress him for a couple of meaningless games?

He may have been a good choice as an OC eventually but wonder how quickly he processes decisions due to impact of the concussions. Dunigan had difficulty at times as a TSN analyst. His speech was impaired.

Wouldn't that be a crazy end to his legacy if the Bombers were to get to the GC (not likely, I realize) and then we trot out ZC for the big game and he retires with one last ring?

[Blue In BC]

Wouldn't that be a crazy end to his legacy if the Bombers were to get to the GC (not likely, I realize) and then we trot out ZC for the big game and he retires with one last ring?

It would be a good legacy for him and the Bombers getting to the Grey Cup would be a bonus not expected.

I am waiting to see if he practises this week, which I don't expect. If he does and starts this week or beyond it will be a nightmare waiting to see if he gets up again after another hit.

How can any fan want to see something like that?

Anybody at practice today?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

If you go to practice you will see how few reps the 3rd guy gets already. The 3rd guy is a short yardage specialist and probably never going to start.

Just having more arms is not the answer. You need to develop also. It's said that Buono gave all 3 guys equal reps and that was why Calgary was a QB factory for a while.

Agree, PR QB's currently go to meetings watch film and listen to the discussion, then move to the practice field and watch the starting QB take all the reps, play catch for a bit and go home. Personal coaching is lacking.

Going along with Techno's idea of increasing the number of QB's on the roster the CFL could set up a development QB camp in one location that runs for the first 4 months of every season, each team contributes 2 or 3 young PR QB's which they cover the expense of with the right to recall at anytime if needed.

Hire a QB guru like Trestman to run it and a couple of CFL OC's that are recently retired or between jobs, staff it with recent CFL players that want to stay involved with the CFL, like Bralon Addison and Brandon Alexander. In this scenario each QB could receive indoctrination of CFL basics, personal coaching, and adequate reps to better prepare them when their opportunity to play arises.

Might not seem economically viable but it could have the long-term benefit of improving the competitiveness of many games.  Nothing worse than  watching an inexperienced backup QB that has no chance of beating a good QB, nobody enjoys watching non-competitive games and they hurt the image of the CFL in the stands and broadcast around the world.

[Waffler]

Going along with Techno's idea of increasing the number of QB's on the roster the CFL could set up a development QB camp in one location that runs for the first 4 months of every season, each team contributes 2 or 3 young PR QB's which they cover the expense of with the right to recall at anytime if needed.

Good idea. We need something in addition to the normal 3 practice week which has limits.

[Blue In BC]

Good idea. We need something in addition to the normal 3 practice week which has limits.

Teams watch college Canadian and US games. They watch USFL games. Scouting reports by both Canadian and US teams. References from coaches to pro teams in some cases.

Players go through 4 - 5 years in college as starters and # 2 QB's. There are obstacles turning pro, but I don't see a big advantage in QB development camp even if it could be funded.

[TBURGESS]

If 3rd string QB's get no reps, how many do you think a 4th string one would? 

[Blue In BC]

If 3rd string QB's get no reps, how many do you think a 4th string one would?

The suggestion was for a separate development camp. So that's a bit different but that isn't like participating against CFL players in live reps.

It has some merit but it would be mostly more film work and not directly related to the  assigned team. Teams do have QB / receivers coaches and even though they don't get many reps, they do get post college coaching.

Buck Pierce used to be that guy here and now holds that role among many hats in Vancouver. Dinwiddie as well but that's a lot of work for a HC to deal with and give additional coaching to a # 4 QB that many teams don't have anyway.