Who would you start?

[Blue In BC]

The economics no longer work so it doesn't make sense to re-sign Zach to another contract, I think he realizes this as well.  After that last victory at home against CGY he hung around after the game which he rarely does, hugging his own players and he actually grabbed the game ball.

A significantly reduced contract with games played and performance clauses, no giant signing bonus. A willingness to be designated as # 2 before TC, could make something feasible.

I don't see any other team offering him a chance to be # 1, so what are his options to continue playing?

[tlf]

Then we better hope the D & ST steps up (again), because Dru is a middle-of-the-road QB at best.  And I don't think he'll ever get any better.

Same.  He's backup material..that's it.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Not a fair statement.  Zach is a multiple GC-winning QB who has been as good as Alexander, Rourke and Kelly in the past.  Better, actually, because Zach has the rings (as starter!).

Maybe now Zach is the same odds as Dru.  But I wouldn't even say that, because if Zach can stay upright there's always the chance he finds his old form for a few series.  Dru won't find his old form: he's just Dru.

If Dru wins the game (or cup!) it'll be because he Arbuckled his way through it.  And that's ok, and we'll take it, but we have to understand what it actually means.

Zach is done, Dru is reasonably young and has a lot of room for improvement.  We're probably not going to witness much of that this weekend but at least there is hope he can come in next season and demonstrate he wants to establish himself as a starting QB in the CFL. It's up to him to achieve that.

Meanwhile in the Bombers HQ they need to search behind every bush for an alternate QB solution in case Plan A fails.

[Jesse]

Not a fair statement.  Zach is a multiple GC-winning QB who has been as good as Alexander, Rourke and Kelly in the past.  Better, actually, because Zach has the rings (as starter!).

Maybe now Zach is the same odds as Dru.  But I wouldn't even say that, because if Zach can stay upright there's always the chance he finds his old form for a few series.  Dru won't find his old form: he's just Dru.

If Dru wins the game (or cup!) it'll be because he Arbuckled his way through it.  And that's ok, and we'll take it, but we have to understand what it actually means.

I think it's a completely fair statement for all the reasons you listed. We've seen lots of both Zach and Dru this year and neither has looked better than the other.

[Tecno]

I don't see any other team offering him a chance to be # 1, so what are his options to continue playing?

There will be 2, possibly 3, desperate teams in FA.  OTT didn't score Kelly, so Dinwiddie will be fired if he has another season like this one.  SSK might be without T.Harris.  And we might be without anyone.

You think a team that's facing down starting Coan or Maier wouldn't eyeball Zach with the right contract??  Heck... that might be us.

[Tecno]

Zach is done, Dru is reasonably young and has a lot of room for improvement.

I haven't really seen Dru improve at all since he lit up a few relief games for us as Dru 1.0.  He was pretty competent then, if a bit pedestrian.  And that's exactly what he is now.

He's like a guy that rose very quickly to a low ceiling that can never budge.  I expect we'll see this this week, and in any possible GC.  Could still win, but it won't be on HIS back!

I always thought Dinwiddie's statement that Dru "can't move the ball downfield" was a comment on his arm strength.  But it wasn't: it's purely about Dru's complete lack of accuracy (especially range) when throwing over 35Y.  Either his arm just can't dial it, or his head simply can't do the runner-speed + in-air-timing calculations you need to connect.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I haven't really seen Dru improve at all since he lit up a few relief games for us as Dru 1.0.  He was pretty competent then, if a bit pedestrian.  And that's exactly what he is now.

He's like a guy that rose very quickly to a low ceiling that can never budge.  I expect we'll see this this week, and in any possible GC.  Could still win, but it won't be on HIS back!

I always thought Dinwiddie's statement that Dru "can't move the ball downfield" was a comment on his arm strength.  But it wasn't: it's purely about Dru's complete lack of accuracy (especially range) when throwing over 35Y.  Either his arm just can't dial it, or his head simply can't do the runner-speed + in-air-timing calculations you need to connect.

Well like I said, it's up to Dru to show the world what he can do. If he wants to be a starting QB he must know he has to elevate his game pdq as he's about to receive his second chance to become #1 QB and it's with a much better team talentwise than the first one he signed with.

He shouldn't expect a third opportunity to come around again, if he falls short this time he'll be relegated to the backup track, eventually sucking hind tit in Sask. That said VA struck gold with team #5 or 6, hard to keep track.

If Dru was content to roll with the punches wherever they may land, he wouldn't have demanded his release from Ottawa when Dinwiddie demoted him to #2 behind Maier. I guess that hurt his pride and he seems to think he's better than that, time for him to prove it.

[tlf]

Who would you want in the CFL that is a free agent over either?

After this season, I'm unsure we can rely on the defense to bail us out game after game like they did last game. 

Dru got lucky last game with the defense.  I don't see that happening twice, esp vs Mtl.

It's playoffs.  You don't roll with the guy who is reckless with throwing into double coverage over the guy who has won.  Again, esp vs Mtl.

I was quite excited when we got Dru.  That has gone away with his play. Unfortunate.

[Pete]

There will be 2, possibly 3, desperate teams in FA.  OTT didn't score Kelly, so Dinwiddie will be fired if he has another season like this one.  SSK might be without T.Harris.  And we might be without anyone.

You think a team that's facing down starting Coan or Maier wouldn't eyeball Zach with the right contract??  Heck... that might be us.

Any team that did so (including us) is setting themselves up for failure. No way you can tie your teams fate to Zac given his fragility. If anything I see a similar situation to Macleod Bethel Thomas , where partway thru a season a team gets desperate or suffers an injury and Zac would be available

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Any team that did so (including us) is setting themselves up for failure. No way you can tie your teams fate to Zac given his fragility. If anything I see a similar situation to Macleod Bethel Thomas , where partway thru a season a team gets desperate or suffers an injury and Zac would be available

Re-signing Dru asap before FA should be a priority, not as if he can demand high numbers but better to tie him up before they have to compete with other teams for his services. At least with him signed they'd have an established base level QB to work with.

[Blue In BC]

Any team that did so (including us) is setting themselves up for failure. No way you can tie your teams fate to Zac given his fragility. If anything I see a similar situation to Macleod Bethel Thomas , where partway thru a season a team gets desperate or suffers an injury and Zac would be available

Neither Ottawa or Regina will look  towards Collaros as the future even for a single season. Even for the Bombers it's a giant risk even if there don't seem to be an immediate choices for improvement.

[Tecno]

Re-signing Dru asap before FA should be a priority, not as if he can demand high numbers but better to tie him up before they have to compete with other teams for his services. At least with him signed they'd have an established base level QB to work with.

I fully agree.  And I don't think Dru is our future franchise guy if KW can possibly help it!

But we need a solid #2 regardless of who the #1 is.  And we need the bird in the hand vs the 2 QBs in the FA bush.  AND we NEED to get a return on our 1RDP investment.  If we blew that DP for 3W & 6L and then he's gonzo, that will be one tough pill to swallow.  (Of course that changes if he gets us to the cup...)

Dru might make great tradebait for '27 (and possibly beyond) if it turns out we score Alexander or whoever due to some miracle (yes, I know he's not up for FA...).

[tlf]

I fully agree.  And I don't think Dru is our future franchise guy if KW can possibly help it!

But we need a solid #2 regardless of who the #1 is.  And we need the bird in the hand vs the 2 QBs in the FA bush.  AND we NEED to get a return on our 1RDP investment.  If we blew that DP for 3W & 6L and then he's gonzo, that will be one tough pill to swallow.  (Of course that changes if he gets us to the cup...)

Dru might make great tradebait for '27 (and possibly beyond) if it turns out we score Alexander or whoever due to some miracle (yes, I know he's not up for FA...).

Honestly, I'd rather take a run at the backup in Hamilton Harrison Frost, but we won't get him. Hmm is there a FA thread yet? Too soon I know ha.