Photo courtesy: Winnipeg Blue Bombers/CFL
Taylor Elgersma remains both a mystery and a fantasy for the majority of Blue Bombers fans, but that won’t be the case for much longer.
There are just nine days remaining until the highly touted Canadian quarterback will be made incarnate for viewers during the team’s preseason opener on Saturday, May 23, in Saskatoon. While that game will not be broadcast on TSN, the Winnipeg faithful will flock to the CFL’s online streaming service for a glimpse at the potential heir to Zach Collaros.
Those first live reps have been anticipated for over a year, which should make the first impression all the more potent. But while he’s itching to see the field, Elgersma is choosing not to look that far ahead.
“It’s really living in the moment and being where your feet are,” he told the Winnipeg media on Thursday. “When we’re going and competing against the defence, like we go against every single day, you see those guys are flying around, and we’re getting new installs every single night. You don’t want to look too far ahead. You want to focus on where you are and grow, especially as a young guy. I’ve got to really soak in every single rep that I get. I’ve really got to soak in every single coaching point I’m getting and try to make those improvements daily. And then we’ll see where we get to at the end of this.”
According to reports from training camp, Elgersma has taken the majority of the number two reps in the early going. By all accounts, he’s been impressive, but there is still plenty of competition for the coveted backup job. Incumbent Terry Wilson remains in the fold, while former UFL MVP Bryce Perkins and Auburn signal-caller Payton Thorne are also pushing for an opportunity.
In typical fashion, head coach Mike O’Shea didn’t provide any insight as to how the position battle was progressing when asked for his thoughts, instead complimenting the group’s leadership as a whole. However, he made clear that it would be preseason reps that would be most important in determining the outcome.
“We’ll let the preseason games sort of unfold and see where that takes us,” he insisted. “Obviously, we don’t need preseason games to say that Zach is a stud. How they all sort of sort out after that — to me, we wouldn’t be doing them any favours if we determined on day four of main camp where they all slotted.”
“(The preseason) is, I think, where it matters most. They’re not getting hit here, and there’s potential in preseason that they’re going to get touched even — they don’t get touched here. Being able to process through a call in a game situation — it’s different. We definitely want to see that.”
Elgersma was no more forthcoming with how he felt he was faring in practice, though the Hec Crighton Trophy winner did indicate he was holding his own. When growth is the goal, there is little time for pats on the back.
“I have a high standard of how I play, and I think that there are a lot of things that I can improve upon. I think that we’re all trying to ultimately be the best version of ourselves, and so my job every single day is to come in here, compete to the highest level and get better,” he said. “I’ve got a long road ahead. I’ll hopefully have a long career, and my job is to get better every single day, learn from Zach and compete. Obviously, there’s things that I can do better each and every single day, but I feel like I’m out there and I’m competing.”
As anticipated as Elgersma’s debut might be to fans, new teammates seem to share the sentiment. Former CFL Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira indicated that he reached out to the Wilfrid Laurier product shortly after he was signed and is eager to see the offseason hype become reality.
“We’ve heard a lot about him the last 12 months or whenever we drafted him,” the star running back said earlier this week. “It’s good to finally have him here, see what he’s able to do, the product he puts on the field. From watching him, getting ready for camp in the offseason, he was here a little bit earlier, getting to throw with him, he’s got a massive arm on him. The touch that he puts on the ball, it’s something that you can’t really teach — you’re gifted with that. He throws a really pretty ball.”
“Let’s see how he learns a pro playbook. I know he’s had some opportunities with some other pro teams, but let’s see how he digests everything, if he can go out there and continue to perform well. Really excited to see what guys like that do in a preseason game. Are you built for game day? I think he is.”
In the meantime, Elgersma isn’t tuning out his competition, but rather trying to learn from what Wilson, Perkins, and Thorne do well. He’s also absorbing all he can from Collaros, whom he admires especially for his ability to balance being a demanding leader with being an approachable teammate.
The 37-year-old has offered plenty of invaluable feedback as the rookie works to master Tommy Condell’s detailed and demanding offence, giving him the tools that he may one day use to succeed him.
“Zach’s a guy that he wants you to see it. He understands, he’s been in this league for a long time, we’re all gonna make mistakes. This is about growing,” Elgersma said. “We’re trying to get ready, ultimately, for the preseason, but we’re really trying to get ready for Week 1 so we can go and win some football games and help the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He does a really good job of trying to explain what he sees on a play and maybe what would get him through his progression faster, or where he went with the ball in his mind watching it. I think it’s very effective.”
The real gauge of Collaros’ impact will come when the live bullets start flying against the Saskatchewan Roughriders next week. If Elgersma performs well, the official anointing will begin. If he struggles in his CFL debut, critics of his delayed path to Winnipeg will be all too happy to dismiss him as overrated.
The 24-year-old isn’t giving a moment’s thought to that dynamic. There are still too many practices in front of him and a hefty playbook to master.
“Ultimately, it’s how can I come here every single day, compete to the best of my abilities, learn from my mistakes and not make the same mistake twice,” Elgersma said. “I think that’s gonna be a big theme for me as a young guy. I’m seeing stuff for the first time. We’re getting used to stuff as a group. How can I not make the same mistakes twice, and how can I get better?”
