Plenty of football to be played

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This article was published 07/06/2024 (473 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What the heck was that?

It was hyped up as a Grey Cup rematch, but only one team looked like a true contender.

It wasn’t the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Montreal Alouettes — who upset the Blue and Gold 28-24 in last November’s championship game in Regina — walked all over the Bombers en route to a commanding 27-12 victory in Thursday’s season opener.

The Bombers, especially on offence, looked nothing like a team that’s coming off four consecutive Grey Cup appearances.

The good news for them is it’s only Week 1. There’s a lot of football left to be played, and it continues next Thursday in Ottawa when Winnipeg takes on their old pal Dru Brown and the Redblacks.

Before we dive into that juicy storyline, let’s revist Thursday with 5 Takeaways.

Crummy Collaros

Since trading for starting quarterback Zach Collaros midway through 2019, the club has gone 25-2 during the regular season at Princess Auto Stadium.

That impressive mark has now dropped to 25-3 because Collaros just never got going against Montreal.

The two-time CFL most outstanding player was uncharacteristically inaccurate with the football and blew several chances at finding the end zone because of it. Dalton Schoen led the team in receiving with five catches on nine targets for 62 yards but could’ve had well over 100 yards and at least one TD, if not two, if Collaros had brought his A-game.

The passer completed 20-of-33 passes for 209 yards and an interception. The only touchdown scored by the Blue and Gold came in garbage time with backup tailback Johnny Augustine scoring on a one-yard run.

Collaros didn’t take a single snap in the preseason but doesn’t believe that’s why he kicked off 2024 with a stinker.

“I felt we had a good plan there. We practice hard, we go full speed in practice versus our defence. I’ve gone preseasons playing and not playing, so I wouldn’t contribute that at all,” said Collaros.

It’s the first time the 35-year-old has stumbled out of the gate with Winnipeg as he was 3-0 in Week 1 showdowns with 759 passing yards, six touchdowns, and zero picks.

It was one rough outing, but if he gets outduelled next week by Brown — a young pivot he helped develop for three years — there will be some concerned folks in Bomberland.

Blame the chip

Sergio Castillo had a message to deliver.

After the final whistle, he encouraged reporters to surround him at his locker so everyone could hear his side of the story on why he missed two field goals (38 and 40 yards out) and a convert. The veteran kicker was a perfect 31-for-31 within 40 yards in 2023.

The CFL is using new footballs this year that have embedded computer chips to gather statistical data for TV broadcasts as part of the league’s relationship with Genius Sports. The microchip-implanted balls have been tested and the CFL says the research shows they don’t impact performance, but Castillo disagrees.

“I’m trying to not get fined here,” started Castillo. “It’s very frustrating when you put in the work — and I have a little one, I have a wife back home that I have to provide for — and we’re not given the proper equipment to do well. We have these chips in the footballs. Over camp, if I went 60 per cent that was a great day. And when we went with normal balls, 90-plus per cent. The whole camp.”

Several kickers backed Castillo’s claim on social media.

Less than 24 hours later, the CFL released a statement saying teams will no longer be mandated to use chipped footballs for kicking plays.

“We are taking this step out of respect for kickers who do not yet feel comfortable using them.”

Fajardo feeling good

It wasn’t that long ago when Cody Fajardo lacked confidence against the Bombers.

Well, those days are over.

The 2023 Grey Cup MVP wasn’t perfect but made some plays to go 20-for-28 with 254 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception to earn his first career victory in Winnipeg.

He also wasn’t shy on how he felt about his second consecutive win against the Bombers.

“I thought that was a statement game – offensively, defensively, special teams,” Fajardo said.

“It never really was close and I was really proud of the way the guys performed, especially against a really good Winnipeg team.”

His main target, Tyson Philpot, won’t be getting a Christmas card from Bomber fans anytime soon as the Grey Cup hero — he caught the championship-winning touchdown with 13 seconds left — exploded for 141 yards and two scores.

There were a lot of questions surrounding the Bombers defence heading into the night with several new faces in new places but they actually played well enough to deserve a win. It didn’t go well at field-side cornerback, though, as Tyrell Ford — the team’s second-round pick in 2022 — was Philpot’s main victim.

Philpot’s first touchdown came after rookie returner Myron Mitchell fumbled a ball on Winnipeg’s 14-yard line. Janarion Grant left massive shoes to fill, but Mitchell didn’t do anything in his debut to make people believe he’s the right guy for the job and that fumble certainly didn’t help.

Losing Lawler

The Bombers lost the game and a star player.

Kenny Lawler looked great early on with three grabs for 26 yards before exiting the game in the second quarter with an arm injury. The team announced at the half he was done for the night.

It was reported Friday Lawler has an arm fracture and will likely get placed on the six-game injured list.

“Kenny is one of the best players in the league, if not the best player in the league. It’s tough,” said Collaros post-game.

“I’m just really disappointed for him coming out of the game. He’s one of the most competitive people I’ve been around so that’s what makes it tough.”

The fifth-year pro led the entire CFL in receiving in 2021 and was saying a few weeks ago during training camp that he hopes to break records this season.

Sadly, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case.

Karma is a…

Castillo wasn’t the only Bomber who was fired up.

Backup quarterback Chris Streveler was enraged on the sideline in the third quarter after scampering for 13 yards on a third-and-short. Als linebacker Reggie Stubblefield made the tackle on the play and then appeared to purposely twist Streveler’s ankle in an attempt to injure him. The officials missed it and no flag was thrown.

One play later, Stubblefield was being carted off the field after suffering a non-contact injury that could potentially end his season

Revenge will never solve anything. Karma will.

It was Streveler’s first game back in the three-down circuit after bouncing around the NFL for four years. Both sides struggled to run the ball — last year’s MOP finalist Brady Oliveira was held to 11 carries for 38 yards — but Streveler was the most efficient with 32 yards on seven touches.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31