{"id":708064,"date":"2026-06-01T15:38:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/708064\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T15:38:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:38:11","slug":"zachs-scouting-report-collaros-ranks-the-cfls-defences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/708064\/","title":{"rendered":"Zach’s Scouting Report: Collaros ranks the CFL’s defences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zach Collaros<\/a> has played a lot of CFL football.<\/p>\n

Joining the CFL in 2012, the veteran Blue Bombers quarterback has seen, read and reacted to almost every defence imaginable. That experience gives the two-time MOP and three-time Grey Cup champion a unique perspective on which defences stand out across the CFL.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that when asked to rank the current CFL defences in each category, Collaros was asked not to include his own. Instead, he was put in the analyst chair (like he was on TSN\u2019s broadcast during the 112th Grey Cup) to give a scouting report on the defences he\u2019s recently played against.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s Collaros\u2019 look at the most physical defences he\u2019s looked across at, the most confusing to read before or after the snap, and the units that he thinks are underrated.<\/p>\n

RELATED
\u00bb\u00a0Everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 CFL season<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0CFL players reveal anonymous Power Rankings<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a07 milestones to watch during the 2026 CFL season<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a03 most improved teams according to CFL players<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Buy tickets for the 2026 CFL season<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

TOP 3 MOST PHYSICAL DEFENCES<\/p>\n

1. MONTREAL ALOUETTES<\/p>\n

Montreal\u2019s appearance at the top of the most physical category isn\u2019t surprising for those who watch the Alouettes play. Led by hard-hitting defenders, like linebacker Tyrice Beverette, the unit rallies to the football, finishes tackles and makes it difficult for any ball carrier to get any extra yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think the culture they have there, it\u2019s been instilled just to run and hit and be fast, and try to knock everything out,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cI\u2019m sure if you ask those guys, it\u2019s kind of what their MO is and how they\u2019ve been coached.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. CALGARY STAMPEDERS<\/p>\n

Collaros credits Calgary with a similar identity to Montreal, with their ability to tackle and be physical. And with Jaylon Hutchings recently returning to Cow Town, signing a new three-year deal after a stint in the NFL<\/a>, the Stamps are likely to continue that physicality into 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalgary\u2019s got a lot of talent, and they do a great job getting side-to-side, sideline-to-sideline, and tackling and being physical,\u201d Collaros said.<\/p>\n

3. BC LIONS<\/p>\n

Rounding out Collaros\u2019 top three is the BC Lions. It may have taken a few games, according to the veteran pivot, but Mike Benevides\u2019 group was one of the toughest to play against by the end of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played BC early in the year, but by the end of the year their defence had really rounded out and come into form,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cThey picked up some guys this off-season too to add to that D-line. They\u2019re fast and they\u2019re physical.\u201d<\/p>\n

TOP 3 MOST CONFUSING PRE-SNAP<\/p>\n

1. MONTREAL ALOUETTES<\/p>\n

Montreal finds themselves at the top of yet another list, this time for the confusion they cause pre-snap. The Als excel at disguising coverages to keep quarterbacks guessing, showing certain coverages before the play begins and then transitioning into something entirely different once the play is underway.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s pre-snap or post-snap, or just kind of going into the game, they do a really good job of having a big package,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cThey take pride in the things that they can do and do well. I think that they probably throw you the most curve balls in a game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tyrice Beverette finished the 2025 season with 90 defensive tackles, seven sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and a tackle for loss (Kevin Sousa\/CFL.ca)<\/p>\n

2. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS<\/p>\n

Collaros points to his former team, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as a defence that keeps him on his toes. He specifically mentioned safety Stavros Katsantonis<\/a> and his ability to cause confusion in the back end of the Ticats defence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Stavros Katsantonis<\/a> did a great job in Hamilton of disguising stuff,\u201d Collaros said. \u201cIf you get caught looking at him all the time, you might miss something else, because he does a really good job with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. EDMONTON ELKS<\/p>\n

The third-ranked defence on this list is the Edmonton Elks. Just like Edmonton\u2019s offence, the Elks\u2019 defence carried momentum into the second half of the season and Collaros credits first-year defensive coordinator J.C. Sherritt<\/a> and defensive backs coach Aaron Grymes for their ascension.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think by the end of the year Edmonton did a pretty good job of disguising what they were doing,\u201d Collaros said. \u201cThe times you felt like you had a tell on them, they would show something else or they\u2019d hang their DBs in areas where it\u2019s like, all right, he\u2019s not really moving, he\u2019s just kind of standing there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought AG (Aaron Grymes<\/a>) and J.C. (Sherritt) did a good job of mixing up the calls, as well as the defensive backs doing a good job of kind of holding their post-snap decisions, that extra half second, to give the quarterback that extra half second of indecision.\u201d<\/p>\n

TOP 3 MOST UNDERRATED DEFENCES<\/p>\n

1. EDMONTON ELKS<\/p>\n

As mentioned above, the Elks defence greatly improved in the second half of last season. That prompted Collaros to rank them at No. 1 on his list of most underrated units in the CFL.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Edmonton was underrated but later in the year they did a really good job,\u201d Collaros said.<\/p>\n

2. BC LIONS<\/p>\n

Similar to Edmonton, the BC Lions used the long CFL season to come into form and become one of the league\u2019s most dangerous defensive units.<\/p>\n

\u201cBC was probably properly rated later in the year, I know they\u2019ve had a lot of success, and a lot of praise by the end of the year,\u201d Collaros said. \u201cBut I think earlier in the year they were a question mark. But they have Mathieu Betts<\/a> and just a lot of guys who are really good and fast, and did a good job disguising stuff as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

BETTS BRINGS HIM DOWN!<\/p>\n

A HUGE sack for the CFL leader in that category in the regular season!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Western Semi-Final LIVE NOW
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6: TSN, TSN2, RDS
\ud83c\udf0e: CFL+#GCPlayoffs<\/a> | @BCLions<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XJMryEimTj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFL (@CFL) November 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

3. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS<\/p>\n

The third defence on Collaros\u2019 underrated list is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and much like he did with Edmonton, he credits the Ticats defensive coordinator for the scheme he puts together ahead of each game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re ball hawks in the back end,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cI think (defensive coordinator Brent) Monson\u2019s always done a really good job of mixing the fronts up and creating some one-on-one opportunity for the defensive line, the linebackers and on the offensive line, so it makes it difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n