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Twelve years after they broke into the CFL, Zach Collaros and Bo Levi Mitchell are the leaders of the 2 hottest groups within the league.
On Friday, the highest passers within the CFL this 12 months sq. off in a marquee matchup with vital playoff implications at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
Mitchell has his Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-9) again within the playoff race because of a four-game win streak, whereas Collaros’ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-6) have received seven in a row to take over first place within the West after an 0-4 begin.
What makes every quarterback so particular?
“I think it’s pretty simple, they’ve won a whole ton of games between them,” Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea advised reporters this week. “For opponents, they’ve been tough to play for a long time.”
Both quarterbacks are two-time winners of the CFL’s most excellent participant award — Mitchell achieved the feat in 2014 and ’18 as a Calgary Stampeder, and Collaros in 2021 and ’22 with the Blue Bombers.
But though Mitchell, 34, and Collaros, 36, are destined for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame upon retirement, there have been loads of doubts about every quarterback at varied occasions of their careers.
Earlier this 12 months, an interception-prone Mitchell misplaced the beginning job to Taylor Powell. But Powell was harm in his first recreation as starter, giving Mitchell a second probability. He has elevated his recreation in a giant method, incomes kudos from first-year Hamilton coach Scott Milanovich.
Mitchell leads the league with 4,359 passing yards in his second 12 months with the Ticats, who signed him after he misplaced the beginning job to Jake Maier in Calgary. Injuries restricted Mitchell to only six video games final 12 months.
“He’s definitely playing with more confidence, playing more within the offence,” Milanovich advised reporters. “It really comes down to making better decisions with the football. He’s still making the big plays when they’re there. But when they’re not there, he’s checking it down and keeping us ahead of the sticks and not putting the defence in a bad situation.”
Collaros, who began his profession with the Toronto Argonauts underneath Milanovich earlier than heading to Hamilton, was hampered by accidents for a superb chunk of the early portion of his professional profession. With the Blue Bombers going through their very own well being issues at QB in 2019, Winnipeg swung a deal to land Collaros on the commerce deadline from the Argos. The Cincinnati graduate didn’t even play a recreation in his second stint with the Argos, who acquired him earlier in 2019, weeks after he suffered a concussion within the season opener whereas enjoying for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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The Blue Bombers went on to win the Grey Cup that 12 months and Collaros has been the perfect participant at his place for the reason that commerce.
After faltering out of the beginning gate this 12 months, the Blue Bombers have discovered their regular stride and are in nice place to make a run at a fifth consecutive Grey Cup look.
“I don’t even know the numbers of these two guys, but multiple Grey Cups both of them have won,” Milanovich stated. “Touchdowns, yards, wins, all of the above. Both great guys, both true professionals, love the game, very competitive, good leaders. Definitely a treat for the fans and it’s good for the CFL, no doubt about it.”
Added Blue Bombers defensive lineman Jake Thomas, per Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun: “They’ve been going at it in all probability since, what, 2012? Quarterbacks, it’s a type of positions the place you see these guys could be fairly profitable near 40. I feel they’ve each acquired a number of years left. As a fan of the league, it’s nice to see Bo again to being Bo.
“He’s back to playing with that confidence, and when he has the confidence, he’s a very dangerous player.”
Weirdly, the Bombers have misplaced the previous two years of their go to to Hamilton, regardless of proudly owning a significantly better file than the Ticats in 2022 and ’23.
However, Winnipeg’s final Grey Cup win got here towards the Ticats in Hamilton in 2021.
The Ticats, in the meantime, desperately want a win to maintain two potential playoff paths potential. They are 4 factors behind the Argos for the third and last playoff spot within the East, and two factors again of the B.C. Lions for a crossover berth.
No East group has ever crossed over to seize the third and last West playoff spot. Hamilton, if it finishes final within the East, should end with extra factors than the third-place finisher within the West to cross over.
Feeling the warmth?
With the Stampeders sitting final within the league, questions are beginning to be requested about GM/coach Dave Dickenson’s future.
That doesn’t imply he has to love these queries, nonetheless.
This week, Dickenson bristled when requested about his standing.
“Honestly, what do you want me to say to that?” Dickenson stated, per Todd Saelhof of Postmedia. “I’m (expletive) right here to work — I don’t actually give a rattling. I’m right here to work.
“Speculate all you need, however I’m right here to work.”
Dickenson has coached the Stamps since 2016 and is the second-longest-serving coach within the league, behind O’Shea. He has additionally been GM the previous two years.
The Stampeders have made the playoffs 18 years in a row. A loss Friday in Vancouver towards the Lions would all however make sure that streak ends.
Clinching situations
The Blue Bombers can wrap up first within the West with a win over Hamilton and a Saskatchewan loss to Edmonton.
The Roughriders want a win and Calgary and Hamilton losses to safe their first journey to the playoffs since 2021.
The Grey Cup-host Lions want a victory together with Hamilton and Edmonton losses to guide a post-season ticket.
Finally, the idle Ottawa Redblacks will wrap up their first playoff berth since 2018 if Hamilton loses to Winnipeg.
The idle Montreal Alouettes have already got clinched first within the East for the primary time since 2012, whereas the Blue Bombers are assured an eighth consecutive playoff spot.
Game of the week
If the Bombers beat the Ticats, Hamilton is just about completed. But if Hamilton wins, we may very well be a Grey Cup or West last preview.
Here’s the total Week 18 schedule.
Friday: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-6) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-9), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Friday: Calgary Stampeders (4-9-1) at B.C. Lions (7-8), 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Saturday: Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-7-1) at Edmonton Elks (5-10), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
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