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Collaros chasing 4th ring as he leads 91Ƶspecial91Ƶ Blue Bombers team into Grey Cup

Winnipeg started season 0-4 and Collaros didn91Ƶt throw a TD during that stretch
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) talks with Deatrick Nichols (1) and Terrell Bonds (24) during football practice ahead of the 111th CFL Grey Cup, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Zach Collaros always sees room for improvement.

Even after putting up a career-high 4,336 passing yards in regular-season action, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback thought he could have done better.

91ƵI don91Ƶt think you91Ƶve ever arrived and I91Ƶm the kind of person that91Ƶs never really satisfied with the way I play,91Ƶ he said Wednesday.

Whether he was satisfied or not, Collaros91Ƶ performance powered the Bombers to the Grey Cup. Winnipeg will face the Toronto Argonauts in a battle for the championship title Sunday. The 36-year-old athlete from Steubenville, Ohio, will be making his sixth Grey Cup appearance and is looking to collect his fourth ring.

The path to Sunday91Ƶs game wasn91Ƶt smooth.

Winnipeg started the season 0-4 and Collaros didn91Ƶt throw a touchdown pass through the winless skid.

The Bombers were91Ƶin a state of flux in a lot of different areas,91Ƶ said head coach Mike O91ƵShea, and the quarterback had to navigate the tumult.

91ƵHe91Ƶs got a really good understanding of timing and, from a leadership standpoint, what needs to be said and when. And he has the ability to fire up the guys and get them working,91Ƶ O91ƵShea said.

91ƵBut I think most of it is that guys look at him and they see him laying it all on the line all the time, and the amount of work he puts in, and they naturally and very easily want to put in a great deal of work and be good for him, too.91Ƶ

After going 2-6 to start the campaign, the Bombers blanked the B.C. Lions 25-0 on Aug. 1 and never looked back. Winnipeg reeled off eight straight wins and finished the regular season atop the West Division with an 11-7 record.

Collaros finished second in the league in passing yards behind Bo-Levi Mitchell of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His biggest show came on Sept. 28 when the six-foot-one, 218-pound University of Cincinnati threw an eye-popping 432 yards and six touchdowns as the Blue Bombers handed the Edmonton Elks a 55-27 beat down.

91ƵI think we have gotten better and better as the weeks have gone, even in losses,91Ƶ Collaros said. 91ƵI think it91Ƶs the trust with each other, the repetitions of certain concepts and things. And I think, from a team-building perspective, it91Ƶs just about the love that we have for each other.91Ƶ

A decisive 38-22 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division final on Saturday earned Winnipeg a fifth straight Grey Cup appearance.

Collaros doesn91Ƶt believe there was one single moment that turned the season around. The squad simply continue to work, he said.

91ƵI just think once you start stringing the wins together, if you believe in momentum, sometimes that kind of takes over,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵWe have a talented bunch and a bunch of guys who understand how to win a game, if it91Ƶs a tight one, if it91Ƶs a run game, if it91Ƶs a pass game, if the defence really has to carry us. It91Ƶs a special team.91Ƶ

Through the adversity of the season, the veteran quarterback was a steady, confident presence, said Winnipeg91Ƶs offensive coordinator, Buck Pierce.

91ƵTo be able to have the success, players had to go through failure. We have to go through those kind of things to learn. And I think one of the biggest credits is the guys understood that,91Ƶ he said.

91ƵWe didn91Ƶt waste any time feeling sorry for ourselves or looking for blame. We just kept working. And that91Ƶs the great thing about this game 91Ƶ you91Ƶre never in it alone. And when you do have good leaders, like Zach 91Ƶ it91Ƶs easy to work.91Ƶ

The Argos will have some potent pieces looking to stop Collaros on Sunday.

Toronto91Ƶs Ralph Holley and Jake Ceresna finished the regular season tied for the league lead in sacks (eight), and Jack Cassar topped the CFL in special teams tackles with 22.

Collaros91Ƶ teammates believe he91Ƶs bringing something special into this year91Ƶs Grey Cup, though.

91ƵI think what I91Ƶve noticed with him throughout the season, but especially the last number of weeks is the whole confidence thing, how loose he91Ƶs playing and how much confidence he has going into every single game,91Ƶ said Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira.

91ƵHe91Ƶs a stud. Love the dude. He91Ƶs a team-first guy. Just such an awesome person. I91Ƶm really glad that he91Ƶs at the helm of our offence and doing what he does best.91Ƶ

What Collaros has shown all season is the same thing he91Ƶs shown throughout his 12 years in the CFL, O91ƵShea said.

91ƵIt91Ƶs greatness,91Ƶ the coach said.

91ƵZach91Ƶs the same unbelievable (most outstanding) calibre player who makes players better around him, works his ass off all the time, fiery competitor. Obviously, we91Ƶre very fortunate to have him, and everybody loves being around him every single day.91Ƶ





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