Zach back to helm Blue and Gold attack

There’s nothing pretty about a 1-4 record.

Last week, however, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers looked like a team that’s capable of digging itself out of a hole with an impressive 25-16 win at home against the Ottawa Redblacks.

The club can further cement that notion Friday against the visiting Calgary Stampeders when the two West Division foes meet at 7:30 p.m.

The Stamps got the best of the Blue and Gold at McMahon Stadium two weeks ago in a 22-19 overtime thriller.

Calgary fell to 2-2 last week after allowing the Montreal Alouettes to score 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to steal a 30-26 win at Molson Stadium and stay undefeated.

“Last week I’d say we put together our most complete game. By no means are we where we need to be yet, but I think it’s about just taking another step forward,” said defensive tackle Jake Thomas after Thursday’s walkthrough.

“Obviously, we didn’t want to start the year 0-4, but the thing about this league is that I don’t think that fully buries you. But, to get on a roll and get two in a row would be a great step.”

The Bombers are hoping for a playoff atmosphere as they’re rocking their road white uniforms and encouraging fans to dress similarly as they’re promoting this week as their ‘Wear White Game.’

With that, here’s another edition of 5 Storylines to get you ready for kickoff.

COLLAROS IS BACK

You can’t talk about the 0-4 start without mentioning Zach Collaros.

Yes, there’s new faces all over the field and a long list of injuries, but the Bombers quarterback hasn’t been good this season.

The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player award winner hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass yet and the offence scored a league worst 18.5 points per game in his four starts.

Despite the ugly passing numbers, head coach Mike O’Shea won’t point the finger at his star pivot.

“I’ve said the quarterback’s in charge of winning. But that looks like different things in different games,” said O’Shea Thursday.

“If the other phases are doing other things, there’s less put on a quarterback’s shoulders. There were a couple of games there where we just stunk the joint out, across the board. So, I don’t know that it was going to matter what the quarterback did.”

A hit to the chest area knocked Collaros out of Week 4’s loss in Calgary at the half and prevented him from taking the field last Friday vs. Ottawa — a game in which backup Chris Streveler provided a bolt of energy by using his legs early and often.

This is the first time Collaros has dropped four straight since August 2017 during his days with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Perhaps a date with the Stamps is exactly what the 35-year-old passer needs as he’s 7-1 against Calgary since arriving in Winnipeg at the 2019 trade deadline.

Collaros said there’s no ill will towards the Stamps or defensive tackle Josiah Coatney — who put him on the sidelines with that helmet-leading hit — but he might want to channel that play for some extra motivation to help him get his groove back. Whether or not Collaros is feeling it, the Bombers need to get running back Brady Oliveira touches. His 129 yards on the ground against the Redblacks is a big reason why they no longer have a zero in the win column.

WHICH MAIER IS IT?

You never know which Jake Maier is going to show up.

In the first two games, Calgary’s quarterback impressed with 591 passing yards and four touchdown passes. His last two starts, however, have been a different story with 345 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions.

The 27-year-old has made 31 consecutive starts — the longest by any Stampeder quarterback since Henry Burris capped off a run of 69 in 2011 — but the jury is still out on whether he’s the guy. He’ll silence a few of his critics if he can earn a win at Princess Auto Stadium — a building he’s never won in. The most recent meeting at McMahon Stadium is the only time Maier has gotten the best of Winnipeg in six attempts and he was mediocre at best in that one.

Now on the road, he’ll need a better showing to keep the Bombers near the bottom of the West Division standings.

The last time Maier was in town — July 7, 2023 — he completed 14-of-25 passes for 122 yards and an interception.

SEASON SERIES ON THE LINE

A game in early July isn’t going to make or break anyone’s season.

This contest does have some potential playoff implications.

Calgary will take the season series with a victory as this is the second and final meeting between the two sides. For Winnipeg to have the tiebreaker in their backpocket, they need to not only win, but win by four or more points.

If recent history repeats itself, Friday night will go down to the wire. In 12 of their last 14 showdowns, the winning points have been scored in the final three minutes with an average margin of victory being 6.2 points.

D-WHAT?

The Bombers defence deserves more praise.

It’s had its fair share of ups and downs, but the unit is holding the opposition to 22.8 points per game which is second to only Montreal (19.8).

The young secondary has led the charge by limiting opponents to an average of 251 passing yards and a 64.3 completion percentage. Its biggest challenge this week is finding an answer for Calgary receiver Marken Michel who caught nine balls for 75 yards and a score the last time they duelled.

The D-line hasn’t enjoyed similar success as it’s been shuffling bodies on a weekly basis. Owen Hubert, a 24-year-old out of McMaster who was selected in the eighth and final round of this year’s draft, will become the fourth player to start opposite of Willie Jefferson at defensive end. The defence ranks eighth in sacks with six — only the Stamps have fewer with two — and it has allowed teams to rush for a league-high 111.6 yards per game.

If the defence can figure it out in the trenches, it will be a force to be reckoned with.

RED HOT KICKERS

Who doesn’t love a good kicker battle?

These two teams boast two of the best legs in the three-down circuit as Sergio Castillo and Rene Paredes have been money in 2024.

After the microchip saga in the season opener, Castillo has gone a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals and seven-for-seven on singles for the Bombers.

Paredes is one of two kickers who haven’t missed a FG yet — B.C.’s Sean Whyte being the other — as he’s drilled all 13 of his attempts for the red and white.

These two played a huge role in the previous tilt as Paredes connected on a 52-yarder in overtime to win the game. Earlier in that contest, Castillo made history by booting a 60-yarder — a franchise record and the second longest kick in CFL history. He’s also fresh off a six-for-six showing against the Redblacks. If Friday comes down to Castillo or Paredes, you can bet they’ll get the job done.

Kicking is not an issue in the CFL as the ball has sailed through the uprights 91.1 per cent of the time this season which is on pace for the highest mark in league history.

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Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.