Inside the CFL: Plenty of excitement in Bomberville for upcoming CFL season

By Medicine Hat News on July 15, 2021.

The feel-good story of 2019 was Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros.

Discarded by Hamilton because of concussions, he went to Saskatchewan where he was concussed in the 2018 Western semifinal by a dirty Bomber shot to the head. During the first quarter of the 2019 home opener, he was concussed again and replaced by Cody Farjado who excelled the rest of the way. Still wanting to play, the Riders traded the eight-year veteran to Toronto. Meanwhile, Bomber starter Matt Nichol was hurt, replaced by Chris Streveler. When he faltered, Winnipeg acquired Collaros at the trade deadline. The pigskin pariah then ended Winnipeg’s 19-year Grey Cup drought.

Collaros reviewed his recent history.

“Getting to join the Bomber organization to play the last four games was a great boost to my confidence,” Collaros said. “Not that I was down on myself, 2019 showed me that life was pretty darn good. It really rejuvenated my career. It really was a cool year.”

COVID had him thinking about his future. Maybe he should retire and get on with life. “From a player’s perspective post-career opportunities are always in the back of your mind because football is a volatile profession that can be taken away anytime. With the uncertainty of the pandemic, you take the idea of retirement more seriously. But I’m happy to be back at it. I love football. I’ve never been so excited to be back and immersed in football again.”

Everybody in Bomberville is excited about the coming season and with good reason. The offence from 2019 is virtually intact. Most Outstanding Canadian Andrew Harris led the league in rushing in 2019. The entire receiving corps returns with Darvin Adams, Kenny Lawler, Rasheed Bailey, Drew Wolitarsky, Janarion Grant and Nik Demski. All O-linemen are back except centre Chris Speller.

Defensively, Willie Jefferson will lead a veteran front four. Adam Bighill anchors the linebackers. There are two openings in the secondary. The biggest loss for the Bombers is punter/kicker Justin Medlock. Rookie Marc Liegghio from Western is the only kicker in camp.

Coach Michael O’Shea likes what he sees. “I fully believe having a veteran presence at the start of camp is vitally important. We’re going to hit the ground running.”

From the Red River champs to the Fraser River chumps.

In 2019, B.C. finished fifth with a mark of 5-13, despite having the gutsiest quarterback in the league, Mike Reilly. He told the Vancouver Province’s J.J. Adams you can forget about the last season of play.

“We’ve all been out of this thing for close to two years, so I don’t care if you’re Winnipeg or us – on both ends of the win-loss spectrum. That doesn’t mean a damn thing. Everybody has to come out and prove themselves in 2021.”

The big thing new head coach Rick Campbell has to fix is the offensive line. Two years ago, future Hall-of-Famer Reilly was sacked a league-leading 58 times. He broke his wrist the second-last game of the season. At 36, he is the oldest quarterback in the league and because of his reckless style, his body has absorbed an incredible amount of punishment over the years. How much more can it take?

If the line can hold, he does have some weapons. No. 1 is receiver Bryan Burnham, other than kicker Sergio Castillo (who left), B.C.’s only all-star. The CFL’s second leading pass catcher behind Ticat Brandon Banks, caught 100 passes for 1,492 yards and 11 majors. Next was Canadian Lemar Durant with 57 receptions for 810 yards. Lucky Whitehead is over from the Bombers and Domique Rhymes from Ottawa where he ranked 10th in the league.

The Lions’ leading rusher in 2019 was John White with 1,004 yards. He won’t be back, leaving Shaq Cooper and Reggie Corbin to replace him.

The only D-lineman in the top 25 for sacks was Shawn Lemon who went to Toronto. Garry Peters and T.J. Lee return in the secondary with Adam Konar, Lokombo Boseko and DyShawn Davis backing the line.

Return man Chris Rainy might well be the Lions’ most outstanding player.

B.C.’s head coach in 2019 was rookie DeVone Claybrooks, on whose watch the inmates ran the asylum. His successor, Rick Campbell, is a great coach but not even his legendary dad Hugh could turn this woeful bunch into a winner.