It’s a storyline which has instantly become a fascinating study for its potential implications in the moment and with eyes on the future for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Here’s what we know: the club’s quarterback depth chart will feature Zach Collaros at the top and Terry Wilson behind him for this weekend’s West Division showdown in Edmonton against the Elks.
And after that it’s a bit murky because the season-ending knee injury to Chris Streveler suffered in the Banjo Bowl coupled with the CFL’s annual practice roster expansion meant there were three new quarterbacks and five pivots in total on the field during Tuesday’s return-from-bye-week session.
Terry Wilson
Joining Collaros and Wilson at practice were CFL veterans Jake Dolegala and Bryan Scott and rookie Darren Grainger. Dolegala has made 11 career starts with Saskatchewan and, most recently, B.C., while Scott remains an intriguing prospect after spending the last two years in Toronto. Both were made expendable by the return of two marquee pivots — Dolegala was cut by the Lions after the return of Nathan Rourke from the NFL while Scott was released after Chad Kelly returned from suspension.
Grainger, meanwhile, was brought into camp in May but was injured in a preseason game against Calgary.
Jake Dolegala
So two questions are essentially converging here simultaneously for the coaching staff: who suits up for this weekend as the third QB and who does enough to earn invitations to training camp next year, knowing Collaros will be in the final year of his contract, with Wilson untested and Streveler — a free agent this winter — dealing with his knee injury?
Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said Monday that Wilson ‘knows the playbook best, that’s for sure’ and indicated he would likely handle the short-yardage situations with Streveler shelved. As for the arrival of Dolegala and Scott he said they were added because of their experience and the team’s belief once they learn the playbook they could operate the offence.
Asked what would be a realistic time frame on that, he said:
“That’s a great question. That’s what you’re trying to see — who can digest it quickly and still go out there and deliver it, too. You may know it, but you’ve got to be able to produce out there on the field, too.”
All of this is clearly too much of a big-picture take for the three newcomers. They’re all in the grind for right now. The rest will take care of itself with how quickly they can become comfortable with Buck Pierce’s offence and then implementing it in practice.
Bryan Scott
“You try not to think too much into the future, being in my position,” said Scott, who dressed for 27 games for the Argos over the last two years but threw only five passes — completing them all — after stints with several pro teams in the NFL, The Spring League and the USFL. “But when you’re around the organization, when you’re around these people, these coaches, these types of guys, how could you not want to be here?
“That’s ultimately how I go into every day — just trying to be the best I can be that day; work on something that day to get that little bit better. I mean, practising in this stadium and being in this city is special to me and I look forward to adding to it.”
Ditto for Dolegala, who was surprised by his release from the Lions after starting for them in a loss to Edmonton with Vernon Adams, Jr. injured.
“Yeah (it was a surprise),” Dolegala told a media scrum after practice Tuesday. “Having started and then we had a team golf outing and then the very next day I get a call, ‘Hey, Nathan is coming back… we’re going to have to let you go.’
“It’s kind of a shock because I thought I played a decent game. But that’s the business. That’s exactly what it is.”
Dolegala said he was watching Monday Night Football last week when he got the call from the Blue Bombers.
“I knew it was eventually going to come; I just didn’t know which team,” he said. “I’m very happy it’s this team and I’m excited to be here. I love football. I wasn’t going to give it up. This place is known for being a winning program and I was just really excited to be a part of it and get the opportunity.”
TOUGH BUSINESS: The three new pivots were airlifted in during the bye week and after news became official that Streveler had injured three knee ligaments after a low hit from Saskatchewan’s Miles Brown, who the league announced Monday had received a maximum fine.
“I feel for him, not just as a teammate but as a friend,” said Collaros of Streveler. “He’s a great friend, great teammate — all those things. It’s always unfortunate when you’re going to miss significant time like that.
“Having been through that I know that is a long road, but if there’s anybody that can make the most out of it and stay positive throughout it’s going to be Chris and he’ll come back stronger.”
Related to that comes this from TSN’s Dave Naylor:
Hearing a memo went out Friday from @CFL to teams telling them there is zero tolerance for late hits on QB’s when it comes to supplementary discipline. The standard for roughing the passer on the field has not changed. But the supplementary disciple standard has.#CFL
— Dave Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) September 17, 2024
Asked to comment on the memo, O’Shea offered this:
“The standard from the rules committee was avoid all — ALL — unnecessary contact,” he said. “That’s been the standard. It seems like the memo is more a refresher on that and then maybe a little more action to the standard.
“… We have to make that standard (low hits) something unacceptable and then it will get coached differently and it will get worked on differently.
WELCOME BACK, STAN: Blue Bombers future hall of fame tackle Stanley Bryant spoke to the media Tuesday for the first time since being taken off the field in the win over Hamilton with what was determined to be a viral infection.
“It was basically a viral illness that came out of nowhere,” said Bryant. “It was just something that hit me on the field and it’s weird how it all happened but I feel way better now than I did before.
“Weird stuff happened. It’s hard to explain. I was just not feeling like myself. Once I took a knee… it was a weird feeling. I tried to get up and go again and I took another knee and just panicked, I think. That’s why it looked like it was heat-related. It was something out of the norm, something that I didn’t expect, something that didn’t happen before and that’s why I panicked, got in a panic mode, and needed water and a cold towel. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
“I’m just glad it’s over and I feel like myself again.”
OUCH REPORT: The Blue Bombers were without WRs Drew Wolitarsky and Lucky Whitehead, but did welcome back Bryant and LBs Brian Cole and Kyrie Wilson.
DB Deatrick Nichols was not in attendance but O’Shea said he was ‘excused’ for what was called a personal matter.
Injury Report: September 17, 2024#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/dMKCRyQFir
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) September 17, 2024