Milton: Zach’s ‘puttin’ it in there’

You can hear it in the modulations of Kent Austin's voice as he discusses his quarterback's evolution.

Austin may be the Tiger-Cats' general manager and coach but before he was either of those he was something else for much longer. He was a quarterback, and still is. To the marrow.

So Austin knows more about Zach Collaros' progress than any of us, and when he talks about him these days there's an undulating mixture of satisfaction, appreciation, rising expectations and caution. He's more animated than he was about Henry Burris, for whom he always displayed a consistent, professional respect.

Austin can be stern with Collaros after a questionable series but you can tell that, at some rudimentary level, he is excited about what's happening and the raw material refining before his very eyes.


And here's what's been happening, although we'll offer the important caveats that Zach Collaros has been back from concussion just three weeks, has still only had 13 starts in his pro career, and the Ticats are still only 3-and-7.

In those three weeks since clearing post-concussion protocol, Collaros has thrown for 1,042 passing yards. Prorated over an entire season — which is pure mathematical speculation, divorced from reality — that would translate to 6,252 yards. Doug Flutie territory.

Even without benefit of a breakaway downfield threat, he has completed 65 per cent of his passes to a variety of possession receivers. Ricky Ray territory.

He's also rushed for a solid 99 yards on 19 carries, and he'd better figure out immediately how to feet-first slide, or he'll be back in concussion territory.

Collaros isn't Flutie or Ray or, hopefully, destined for another injury. But he is putting a definite stamp on team and a new stadium which are in need of a stamp or two.

He is creative, technically sound and physically strong, allowing him to do things like jump in the air, rotate, then fire the ball back across his body, something he might be doing just a little too much of, but which certainly tickles the paying customers.

Paradoxically, it appears as if he improved and matured while he was injured and completely idle. It was clear Sunday that this is his team and his body language shows it. There's nothing tentative about it.

Football coaches love to invent PhD-sounding names for really simple things but when it comes to talking about the kind of hard, daring passes which Collaros had to throw to find Andy Fantuz in rush-hour traffic, they just call it "puttin' it in there." And Sunday, he was puttin' it in there.

Collaros' command against a good Saskatchewan defence which, unlike its offence under Tino Sunseri, was not missing its drive shaft, is a big part of a fortnight of dramatic change of in the CFL quarterbacking landscape.

Two of the top three teams in the dominant west had their defences picked apart this weekend by easterners; Ray and his former understudy. And with roughly the same rhythm, although through different delivery: death by a thousand pin pricks.

And four of the five starting quarterbacks in the west — Drew Willy, Darian Durant, Travis Lulay and Bo Levi Mitchell — are currently injured with at least Durant out for the year. That crew, plus Collaros and Mike Reilly, are the shield bearers of the next CFL generation.

Because they have more experienced, and simply better, defences and offensive lines, the west can likely survive the impact of plagued pivots much better than the east could have. Witness the Cats without Collaros.

But Ray is being Ray and getting his receivers back. Collaros is gaining rapid momentum and respect. Both developments are encouraging for the east as autumn approaches quickly. Henry Burris can still sling it too, although hasn't got many places to sling it in Ottawa.

The west still holds a 20-4 advantage in interlocking games but if western quarterbacks stay down, it could be an interesting denouement to what has not been a very interesting CFL season.


smilton@thespec.com

905-526-3268