They’ll shine for a long time
CFL: Young quarterbacks Mitchell and Collaros set up their teams for success
CALGARY — After a couple of years of muddied quarterback situations in what seemed like every CFL city, there’s finally a new wave of quarterbacks making their mark.
It starts with the two stars squaring off Friday night at McMahon Stadium.
That rivalry, the one between Calgary Stampeders signal-caller Bo Levi Mitchell and Hamilton TigerCats pivot Zach Collaros, officially kicked off last Nov. 30 at B.C. Place when the pair of young, inexperienced quarterbacks put on a dazzling display of Grey Cup efficiency, combining to miss just 17 of 67 passes on the CFL’s biggest stage.
Mitchell went 25-of-34 for 334 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, on his way to being named the game’s MVP.
Collaros, meanwhile, finished 25-of-33 for 342 yards and a touchdown.
This square dance between two of the top young quarterbacks in the league is far from finished.
Mitchell is 25 years old. Collaros is 26.
They both head into the 2015 season leading teams that are the favourites in their respective divisions.
But, more importantly, both franchises are set up for long-term success and there’s no reason to believe both players won’t be in position to win a whole lot of games — and put up a whole lot of impressive stats while doing it — over the next few years, even if things can go awry quickly in the football business.
“Us being close to the same age and having the success we’ve had early on, there’s going to be a lot of rivalry throughout the next couple of years,” Mitchell said. “I think he’s a great quarterback, a mobile quarterback, and he’s a guy that people follow. That’s what I see from that team — I see a lot of guys trusting him. And he’s tough, man. He’s going to take some hits.
“He reminds me a lot of (Edmonton Eskimos quarterback) Mike Reilly in the sense that he’s a runner who can throw the ball very well, though.”
Reilly is another guy in that next generation of CFL quarterbacks who have taken the starting reins over the past couple of years, but he’s already 30 years old.
Travis Lulay, who is recovering from his second serious shoulder injury, is just 31, but the jury is out whether or not he’ll be the same player over a full season of wear and tear.
Although Mitchell and Collaros might be the poster boys, they go about things in much different ways.
Mitchell would prefer to stand in the pocket and distribute while Collaros is at his best when he’s making plays with his feet and being creative.
“They’re two good, young starters but there’s certainly other guys, as well,” Stamps offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson said. “They’re tough. They’ll throw the ball down the field. I don’t really feel like their game is that similar. Both have good arms but, I think, Bo might have a little bit more pocket style.”
The biggest similarity between Collaros, a product of the University of Cincinnati, and Mitchell is being able to command a huddle, which could be the most underrated aspect of a quarterback making the jump from young player with potential to star player with presence.
“You need the guys to have faith that you’re going to get the job done,” Dickenson said. “That’s what you need to know. You also need the guys to know that you’re prepared and you’re willing to do the tough work and then just be yourself from there.”
That’s the first thing Stamps GM/ head coach John Hufnagel notices about the 6-foot, 216-lb. Collaros, too.
“No. 1, he’s a competitor and he’s the type of guy you want manning the quarterback position,” Hufnagel said. “He’s athletic, he can extend the plays, he has good vision when he is extending the play and with good feet, good vision and good accuracy, you’re a dangerous quarterback.”
Both seem primed to be dangerous in this league for a very, very long time.
“You need the guys to have faith that you’re going to get the job done.”
— Dave Dickenson