It all comes down to Sunday Collaros, Harris among big stories as Big Blue aim for third Grey Cup in a row By: Jeff Hamilton Posted: 7:00 PM CST Friday, Nov. 18, 2022

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This article was published 17/11/2022 (722 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have the chance to do something no team has achieved in more than 40 years.

The Bombers will meet the Toronto Argonauts in the 109th Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium Sunday (5 p.m. CT; TSN) having already claimed the last two CFL championships. A victory over the Argonauts would make it three straight, marking the first time any team has achieved such greatness in the modern football era, with Edmonton winning five in a row between the 1978 and 1982 seasons.

The Bombers wrapped up their final practice Friday, with only a walkthrough Saturday before taking the field on Sunday for the final game of the 2022 CFL season. Both teams finished atop their respective divisions, with the Argonauts leading the East with an 11-7 record and the Bombers claiming the West with a league-best 15-3.

Here’s everything you need to know heading into the Grey Cup game in the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

Zach is back

Zach Collaros put Bombers fans at ease Thursday when he confirmed he’d be ready to go Sunday. Winnipeg’s starting quarterback took another big step in his recovery from an injured ankle suffered late in the Western final last week when he participated in practice Friday.

Collaros had missed the two previous workouts on Wednesday and Thursday, forcing many to question just how close he’d be to 100 per cent come game time. If Friday was any indication, the reigning back-to-back most outstanding player looks ready to roll and shouldn’t be all that limited against the Argonauts.

Collaros ran the offence throughout practice, using the valuable reps to test his ankle. He looked comfortable moving around the pocket and planting his feet for throws. He even spent time rolling out to his right and left, delivering the kind of on-the-run passes that’s made him so dangerous this season.

His teammates were happy to have their leader back and Collaros will play a pivotal role on Sunday. There will still be concerns over his health, and the Bombers will want to be extra diligent in blocking for him, but given what happened a week ago, it’s about the best-case scenario for Winnipeg.

 

Harris seeks redemption

This could very well be the last game for running back Andrew Harris, potentially the final chapter of a 12-year career that will surely land him a spot in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. For a player who has seemingly done it all in this league, there’s no doubt the Winnipeg native wants nothing more than to leave on top with a win against his former club.

Harris might just be the emotional lift the Argonauts need against a Bombers club that is more disciplined and certainly more experienced. The 35-year-old has dealt with a lot of adversity this season, including undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in August, only to work his way back last week in the East final in what seemed the unlikeliest of returns.

That doesn’t even account for the messy breakup between Harris and the Bombers over the winter. Both might claim it’s water under the bridge, but there are hurt feelings on both sides.

Harris is one of a two-headed monster of tailbacks, splitting duties with A.J. Ouellette. Like the Bombers, the Argonauts aren’t afraid to run the ball down your throat, making for what will be a violent affair on Sunday.

I don’t expect Harris to get the bulk of the load, but he will be relied on. That might change if he catches fire, and it’s worth noting he needs just 113 rushing yards to eclipse Mike Pringle (391 yards) as the all-time Grey Cup rushing leader.

 

New kid on the block

With Collaros on the mend and the risk of further injury certainty not out of the realm of possibility, there’s a good chance the Bombers lean on Brady Oliveira and the run game. Timing couldn’t be better, too, as Oliveira is coming off the best game of his young career, rushing 20 times for 130 yards and hauling in four catches for 37 more in the West Division final.

This is the first season the 25-year-old and Winnipeg native has been the team’s starting running back and he finished the regular season with 1,001 yards. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, either, as Oliveira struggled earlier in the year in finding that consistency, working his way through the growing pains of becoming an everyday back, behind an offensive line that was hit with injuries.

By the end of the year he was exactly as advertised — a bruising, north-south runner who is sound in his blocking assignments and has sure hands in the pass game. Oliveira plays with an incredible amount of passion and should once again be considered an x-factor on Sunday.

There was a reason the Bombers turned to Oliveira to replace Harris and he’s proving to be the right guy for the job.

 

Cold now, balmy later

It’s been incredibly cold the last few days, with temperatures dropping well below freezing. It’s the kind of weather where you can drain a fully charged cell phone recording a single interview.

Somehow, some way, Mother Nature appears to be coming around and by Sunday it might actually be a pretty nice day by prairie winter standards. The forecast calls for a high of -1 C, with the temperature dropping as the day goes on. That’s much warmer than what was being predicted earlier in the week, which also included the chance of blowing snow.

Both teams have been practising outside, despite being given the option to work inside, so each club should be used to the chilly conditions. The Bombers have opted not to practice at Mosaic Stadium, instead running their workouts at nearby Leibel Field, which seems like an interesting choice even if head coach Mike O’Shea isn’t all that concerned with the lack of reps on the field on which they’ll be playing Sunday.

A warmer day likely benefits the Argonauts, if only because frigid conditions certainly wouldn’t. Neither side is claiming the cold to be a serious impediment, but let’s hope for a bit of sun for the 33,000 fans in attendance.

 

Looking for a leg up

Special teams are often overshadowed by the offensive and defensive phases of the game. Make no mistake, they’re going to play a major role in this one.

With all eyes on Collaros and Harris, among the other juicy storylines that have highlighted the week, kicker Marc Liegghio has flown mostly under the radar. Liegghio struggled in the West final, missing two one-point converts, including one that was returned the other way to the Bombers end zone, costing them two points.

That’s a four-point swing that although it proved to be a non-factor, the Bombers can’t afford to keep easy points off the board. Just consider how important Sergio Castillo was for the Blue and Gold in last year’s Grey Cup, going a perfect five-for-five on field goals to play a major role in the win.

Liegghio spent all week practising kicks at Mosaic Stadium and it’s there he nailed a 55-yard field goal — the longest of his career — back during the Labour Day Classic. He’ll need to channel those good vibes for Sunday, especially against a good Argonauts defence that doesn’t give up much.

Perhaps some good news for Winnipeg is Toronto’s kicker, Boris Bede, has struggled this year, ranking as the ninth best kicker in the league with a field goal percentage of 78.2 per cent. Bede has a big leg but he struggles with accuracy, including missing a one-point convert against the Bombers with just seconds remaining to fall 23-22.

 

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton