Confidence abounds as Bombers training camp wraps up

The physical and mental toll of more than a decade of CFL training camps has yet to dull the enthusiasm of Zach Collaros.

Even with the formal stages of training camp now in the rearview mirror, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback is already pining for a chance to fine tune a few things, although he’s also eager for what is on the horizon with the regular season just around the corner.

“It’s tiring being on your feet all day, but towards the end, it’s like, ‘Man, I do enjoy practice,’” Collaros said earlier this week. “You always want more and more reps of certain things and certain looks.

“A lot of those reps that you would get in training camp, you’ve got to figure out ways to visualize and maybe do on your own time because you can’t always rep them during the week. But it was a great training camp, a lot of fun.”

The Bombers will hold a walkthrough on Thursday afternoon and, while it’s unclear how much playing time Collaros might see in Friday’s pre-season finale against the B.C. Lions (7:30 p.m. kickoff), he’s enjoying the process of implementing the new playbook that offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell brought in.

“I just think he’s gotten better and better with his ability to communicate what he wants, to the receivers, to the quarterbacks, to the entire unit,” said Collaros, who worked with Tommy Condell in 2014 and 2015 when he was on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaching staff and the talented pivot was entering the league.

“Not to say he wasn’t good 10 years ago. I’ve always credited him with teaching me this game, because he did. He’s just really sharpened his skills.”

Collaros figures to have some additional offensive weapons at his disposal this season after the club added receivers Tim White and Tommy Nield in free agency to bolster an attack that includes receivers Ontaria Wilson and Nic Demski and running back Brady Oliveira, among others.

“It’s really exciting to be able to go out there with the potential lineup that we’re going to have,” said Collaros.

There was plenty of hype surrounding national quarterback Taylor Elgersma leading into his first CFL training camp and Collaros believes that it’s warranted.

“Obviously, there’s the tangible stuff. He has a really strong arm and he’s accurate,” said Collaros. “I think he’s picked up the offence really well. He’s been in these camps, so he understands the CFL game. He also played Canadian college football, so that gave him an initial leg up on the other guys.

“He’s done a really good job of learning what we’re doing here, asking good questions, and bringing good energy to the room every day. He’s really controlled the huddle really well, too, which is really what you’re looking for. Quarterbacks are here for a reason, you can throw the ball and do all those things, but are you able to command the huddle? He’s done a really good job of that.”

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea is excited to see the way that the opening day roster is beginning to crystallize, but he was quick to point out that there are still some battles being waged at various positions.

“There’s lots of races still,” said O’Shea. “You’re trying to put together an entire group of men that will become a team. That — later on in the season — they’ll develop into that right team. There’s some projection to that with how everybody is going to fit. So, there’s lots of stuff, lots of points to keep your eye on and check out for this next contest, for sure.”

How those final decisions are made will be a combination of what transpired in the two pre-season games, along with what was evident on the field during training camp.

“You want to make the decisions based on facts and less on total projections. You want to look at what’s going on right now. You have to look at some sort of projections, with where you think guys will be as you round out the roster. That’s inevitable,” said O’Shea

Not surprisingly, the Bombers’ bench boss realizes there will be some tough decisions to make before rosters are due late Saturday night.

“I like our guys,” he said. “I think you’d be hard pressed to find me say anything different.”

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