The Winnipeg Blue Bombers roll into Mosaic Stadium for the Labour Day Classic with a rookie making his first CFL start, two future Hall of Famers about to go to war up front, and a team riding a wave they don't want to let die. There's a lot going on this week in Bomber Town, and head coach Mike O'Shea, quarterback Zach Collaros and defensive end Willie Jefferson all touched on it heading into Sunday's game against Saskatchewan.
Dorian Singer Gets Thrown Into The Fire
Dorian Singer makes his CFL debut Sunday, and there's no easing him in. First game, and it's the Labour Day Classic. O'Shea isn't sweating it though — he's been watching this kid put in the work since training camp.
"Everybody's liked him. He's — you see the catches he makes in practice. He's very athletic. Good student of the game. You know, it's an exciting time for a young guy," O'Shea said.
What stands out most to O'Shea isn't the athleticism — it's how Singer studies. He described watching Singer stick around after practice, script in hand, walking other rookies through plays they hadn't gotten right.
"He would grab a couple other young guys, young rookies trying to make the team in training camp, take their script, and they'd walk through it again after practice... I think it shows some great self-awareness that he understands how he needs to learn, because not everybody does it that way," O'Shea said.
Collaros backed that up, saying Singer caught eyes the moment he stepped on the field in camp and hasn't let up since.
"He's put a lot of work in. I thought, since day one of training camp, he's done a great job of learning what we do, staying on top of that kind of stuff... His athletic ability really stands out, the way that he can go up and get the football. He attacks the ball when it's in the air. He does a really good job of plucking it out of the air," Collaros said.
Collaros also called it a pretty good spot to debut in. "This is a really cool game to make your first game, and I think he'll have a lot of fun with it," he said. Singer will be filling in for Nick Demski, who's out for this one — something Collaros said isn't easy on a personal level. "Not having Nick for any game is tough. He does so much for our offense, so much for our team... he's here, he'll be helping the guys get ready, and he's always invaluable to us."
Jefferson vs. Reed: Two Legends, One Line
The other subplot everyone wanted to talk about is Willie Jefferson lining up against his longtime friend and rival on the Riders' O-line, JaMarcus. Both guys have known each other since they were young players on different teams, and both admit this is a game they circle on the calendar.
"It's going to be fun. It was always fun during practice, doing one-on-ones and team period... it's just fun to try to battle him in trying to get under each other's skin," Jefferson said.
Asked how he keeps that intensity from spilling over the line, Jefferson didn't hesitate.
"You try to play it as close to the line as possible, right? Just hopefully nobody does go over the line, but if they do, flags should come with that, and field position should come with that as well," Jefferson said.
He said the two talk during the offseason to push each other, and Labour Day has been circled for years — "this is a game that we both most definitely look forward to," he said, adding they'll shake hands and hug it out once the whistle blows.
O'Shea and Collaros both admitted they can appreciate the matchup, even if their jobs don't really allow them to sit back and enjoy it in the moment. "If you could train yourself to not watch the ball, you would key in on something like that," O'Shea said. "I hope it is a physical battle. You'd hate for it to be just finesse, not on Labor Day." Collaros said it's "not something you really pay attention to during the game... but yeah, again, I've had the privilege of being in locker rooms with both those guys," calling them "probably first-ballot Hall of Famers and some of the best that ever played their positions."
Jefferson's Knockdown Chase
Jefferson also hit a milestone last week — 100 career pass knockdowns — and made clear he's not satisfied.
"I'm still not number 1 in the knockdown category. So I'm still trying to chase that stat, but then still like trying to stack these sacks in and try hopefully make it to the top of the leaderboard," Jefferson said.
He explained why knockdowns matter as much as sacks in his mind. "It can turn a 1st and 10 into a 2nd and 10, or a second and short or second and medium to third and short, third and medium... as long as we can help my team get off the field, any way possible, then yeah." Asked if he wishes more of those knockdowns turned into interceptions, he laughed it off. "It's bound to happen. I've done it before. It's possible... but if not, knockdowns is just as good as a sack. You feel me?"
He also gave credit to rookie David Reese, who's been working alongside him on the defensive line. "He's getting better in the meeting room, in the film room. He's talking a lot more in the meetings... seeing one of my younger guys be more a part, it feels good," Jefferson said.
Collaros And Trevor Harris, Still Going At It
Collaros also reflected on facing Trevor Harris again, a quarterback he came up with at Argos camp years ago. That relationship still shapes how he studies the position.
"It's not a secret of just how great Trevor is of getting through his reads and getting the ball out of his hands... he's always been underrated with respect to the way that he's able to move in the pocket," Collaros said.
He said that first camp together — a season that ended in a Grey Cup — still sticks with him. "I learned a lot about preparing from him," Collaros said, adding the two still watch film on each other in the offseason.
What's At Stake
Jefferson made clear this stretch of games matters beyond just the rivalry. "These are two most definitely monumental games for us right now. So we need to go out and play a good game and come out with a win," he said, pointing to Winnipeg's momentum off a win over Montreal. "We just want to continue to try to ride that wave... put the ball in the end zone, keep Saskatchewan out of the end zone, and make some big plays on special teams, and we can come out with a win."
Between a rookie debut, two of the best to ever play their positions squaring off, and real Western Division stakes on the line, Sunday's Labour Day Classic in Regina has all the ingredients. Check the schedule for kickoff details and follow the standings to see how this one shakes up the West race.
Watch the Full Videos
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Coach O'Shea | September 5
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Zach Collaros | September 5
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Willie Jefferson | September 5