From four straight Grey Cup appearances to four straight losses.
The 2024 campaign has gotten off to an uncharacteristically brutal start for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and it got worse on Saturday in Calgary with a 22-19 overtime loss against the Stampeders (2-1).
While some on the outside might be ready to write this team off, the Blue and Gold are still exuding confidence.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea has faith Chris Streveler (above) can lead the club to its first win of the season Friday against Ottawa.
“Outside of Winnipeg, I’ve been on teams that have started 0-4, 0-6, 0-8 and there’s always a lot of uncertainty,” said veteran kicker Sergio Castillo after Tuesday’s practice.
“You have this hope, because it is your team, right? But it’s more like a maybe. And here, it’s not hope, it’s going to be there. You have these guys who are big names so it’s gonna click. Yeah, there’s a little bit of urgency at 0-4, but in my mind, when you have these guys, and I get to see them day in and day out, like I’m not worried at all.”
There is, however, uncertainty surrounding one of their big names as quarterback Zach Collaros didn’t practice Tuesday. The 35-year-old pivot took a big hit to the chest area from Stampeders defensive tackle Josiah Coatney and didn’t play in Saturday’s second half. Collaros is listed as having a thorax injury and head coach Mike O’Shea wouldn’t provide an update.
The Bombers, who host the Ottawa Redblacks (2-1) Friday night at 7:30 p.m., are already banged up on offence with receivers Kenny Lawler (broken arm) and Dalton Schoen (torn ACL) both out.
If Collaros can’t go, backup Chris Streveler will get the start.
O’Shea was asked if the Bombers can win with Streveler behind centre.
“Absolutely. I’m about to give you some Paul Maurice expletives for asking the question,” O’Shea said.
“We’ve won a lot with Chris Streveler, so, absolutely. And it’s not all on his shoulders. That’s the part I think people fail to realize. He knows our offence and he’s one piece of a group that’s got to go out there, play hard, and get it done. Everybody has to be sharp and play well regardless of who the trigger man is.”
Collaros yet to throw a touchdown pass
Collaros hasn’t fared well as the triggerman thus far. In three and a half games of action, he’s yet to throw a touchdown pass and ranks seventh in the CFL in passing yards (796) and completion percentage (62.3).
Streveler, who bounced around the NFL between 2020-22, hasn’t started a three-down game since Oct. 19, 2019. His arm can leave a lot to be desired at times — he threw a pass to Nic Demski near the sideline on Tuesday that was an easy pick-six for practice roster defensive back Souleymane Karamoko — but he could be a spark for an offence that’s desperate for one.
“Look, as the backup, you’re always preparing to play. So, that’s what I’m doing this week: preparing to play,” said Streveler.
“Look, as the backup, you’re always preparing to play. So, that’s what I’m doing this week: preparing to play.”–Chris Streveler
The 29-year-old out of South Dakota completed 14 of 24 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown to get Saturday’s game into overtime. The comeback didn’t have a happy ending as Streveler, who was hit in the arm on the play, underthrew a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by former Bomber Demerio Houston. Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes then drilled a 52-yard walk-off field goal.
“Losing is hard, every single time. But, we’re professionals. And we watch the film, we put it away, and do what we need to do to regroup,” said Streveler. “You can’t let the picture of what our record is dictate what’s going to happen… We’ve all been through adversity before in professional sports so I think we know how to fight through that.”
This is the first time the Bombers have opened with four consecutive defeats since 2012. That year’s unit went on to finish 6-12 and missed the playoffs.
A loss on Friday will mark the first time Winnipeg has started 0-5 since the 1998 Bombers coached by Jeff Reinebold ended up at 3-15.
This is the first time in CFL history where three squads are 0-4 as the Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are in the same winless boat.
“(Our record) is just not what I’m focused on and I don’t think the guys in this building are focused on that,” said Streveler. “We’re focused on our preparation right now and having a great game on Friday. That’s what we have to focus on. There’s nothing we can do about our record right now. All we can do is be our best moving forward.”
X: @TaylorAllen31
Taylor Allen
Reporter
Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
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