Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Berg vs. Ferg returns for another season on CFL.ca as columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over some of the league’s most contentious storylines. This week, they weigh in on whether the Ticats should trade Zach Collaros.
The date was Sept. 7, 2015, and Zach Collaros had just become the clear-cut favourite to win Most Outstanding Player. Then just 26, Collaros was coming off a four-touchdown, 400-yard performance, dismantling the Toronto Argonauts on Labour Day.
For Collaros, adored by the 24,390 on-hand that day at Tim Hortons Field, there wasn’t a single critic in the house. The next two years that would follow were unimaginable.
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Two games later, Collaros blew out his knee, missing the rest of the 2015 season and part of 2016. When he did return, the Ticats struggled a little bit and so did he.
This year they struggled even more, while Collaros, following his 11th straight loss as a starter, was benched before the Labour Day Classic vs. Toronto.
While Jeremiah Masoli wins football games, Collaros’ future with the club is called into question. Trade speculation has already surrounded him, and that won’t go away until the Oct. 11 trade deadline.
With the deadline fast-approaching, should the Ticats move their former franchise quarterback? It’s a hot topic, and Berg and Ferg are ready to debate:
| BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS |
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Poll Results: Will the Stampeders win out and go 16-1-1? |
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Ferguson: No (1,056, 63%) Steinberg: Yes (626 votes, 37%) |
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FERG (8-8): TOO TALENTED TO GIVE UP ON
Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh
Zach Collaros is a really good quarterback.
His career accolades, CFL friendly playing style and overall skill-set make him a player capable of winning a game any given week.
Unfortunately for Zach and Collaros fans everywhere, the Ticats’ 0-8 start had a healthy percentage of the blame thrown at number four.
That was slightly unreasonable as the offensive line was struggling and a ground game was largely non-existent but when June Jones became head coach, the winds of change were in the air and Jeremiah Masoli became starting quarterback.
While Masoli and the new-look Ticats have improved their overall record by three wins, they continue to linger near the East Division’s basement, which makes you wonder as we near the trade deadline: where does that leave this really good CFL quarterback who has been relegated to backup?
In my opinion it leaves Collaros on a short list of the most qualified insurance policies at the quarterback position amongst James Franklin, Andrew Buckley and Brandon Bridge. The difference of course between Collaros and those names is Zach’s experience and tenure, which can only add to the upside of keeping Collaros as a backup plan.
If someone were going to offer a crazy deal that Kent Austin could not turn down, you would think it would have come to fruition by now. Money issues aside, Collaros still has value in Hamilton. Depending on who you talk to, you could say he has more value in Hamilton as a backup than he could as a starter in some CFL cities.
During that 0-8 start, Collaros struggled, there is no doubting that, but he has earned the right to battle his way through it. To improve, to recreate himself with a new perspective, and all of those things should happen in Hamilton.
BERG (8-8): IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON, FOR BOTH SIDES
Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg
Sometimes going in different directions makes the most sense for both parties involved. I believe that applies well when it comes to Zach Collaros and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It has been a difficult season for Collaros and the Ticats, and in this case I think both the team and the player would benefit from change.
For Collaros, the reasoning is simple. He lost his Hamilton starting job this season, the team has struggled, and he’s had to battle frustration both on and off the field. Knowing how rough 2017 has been on Collaros, I think we’d be talking about a motivated and rejuvenated player in the event of a trade. Certainly that would be the desire of any team acquiring him.
There was a time not so long ago when Collaros was considered one of the CFL’s elite quarterbacks, after all. We’ve seen him play at a high level dating all the way back to his performance in the 2014 post-season en route to a Grey Cup appearance. And it was only two seasons ago when we saw Collaros have his best regular season, as he was dynamite during the 2015 campaign.
From Hamilton’s perspective there is reason to move on, too. Collaros has been very good for the Ticats since joining them for the 2014 season, but right now Head Coach June Jones is rolling with Jeremiah Masoli instead. I’m not saying things couldn’t be salvaged in Hamilton, but Collaros was visibly frustrated numerous times while starting, and you can imagine being relegated to the sidelines hasn’t been his favourite thing, either. By making a trade, the Tiger-Cats would be absolving themselves of a possible distraction going forward.
I also think Hamilton could get a really nice return if they decided to deal Collaros. With teams like Saskatchewan, Toronto, and Montreal all in need of a long-term answer at quarterback, the Ticats have the opportunity to leverage the situation. Hamilton can sell Collaros as a number one guy who has struggled this year only and probably get some conversation going.
By no means am I suggesting Collaros is the main reason Hamilton struggled so much out of the gate this season. The Tiger-Cats have struggled up and down the field, and Collaros was only a part of that. I still think Collaros can play and play at a high level, but I’m skeptical that’ll happen on a regular basis in Hamilton.
A deal helps Collaros because he gets a fresh start and a change of scenery. The team, on the other hand, would get to avoid a potential controversy down the road while also getting a nice return for Collaros thanks to their leverage. That’s why I don’t think it’s crazy to talk about the potential of Collaros being on the move.
DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!
While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?
You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh.
The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.
