Buffs Report: Tucker Likes Buffs Response After Weekend

BOULDER — There were no Monday morning blues for the Colorado Buffaloes this time around.

Unlike a week ago, when the Buffs returned to work after a weekend off and produced a less-than-stellar practice effort, CU players hit the field Monday morning and delivered a solid workout.

"We got better today," CU head coach Mel Tucker said.

That, of course, is the goal every day. Tucker and his staff have stressed steady improvement, and for the most part, the Buffs have followed that trend this spring.

But that process and progress hasn't occurred overnight. Instead, it has required the steady installation of a new culture emphasizing the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity available to improve.

It has been a process of evolution.

"The players are finally starting to understand the value of a practice," Tucker said. "What really goes into a practice and how hard you have to play every snap, how important it is, the sense of urgency that you need on every single play, every drill, the intensity that we need to have. I felt that today, from start to finish, coming off the weekend, which was much better than last Monday."

Monday's practice, the 13th of the spring, leaves the Buffs with just one more to go before Saturday's Spring Game Presented by UC Health (noon, Folsom Field). CU coaches have used the spring to install new offensive and defensive schemes, along with special teams changes.

But along with the changes in Xs and Os, CU's new coaching staff has placed an equal emphasis on the process — how players learn. After last Friday's scrimmage, the second of spring ball, Tucker and his staff were anxious to see how players would react on Monday.

This time around, they liked what they saw.

"We confronted them about last Monday," Tucker said. "We got better last week, Wednesday and Friday. But really we needed to see how we were going to do today."

Monday's effort, Tucker said, spoke volumes about the Buffs' progress. Preparation involves far more than just the few hours a day players are actually on the field.

"The weekend — you have to make decisions," Tucker said. "You have to come in and get treatment if you're banged up. ... You have to hydrate, you have to get your rest. You can't forget about football over the weekend and just start thinking about it again on Monday morning. It doesn't work like that. Obviously we were more focused when we came in today."

The Buffs will practice again Wednesday, then play the spring game Saturday. Tucker said Monday he still wants to play a "game" format as much as possible, although it could be limited because of a lack of depth at some positions. Coaches will split the team up into two equal squads.

"It will be game-like if at all possible," Tucker said. "We'll probably have a running clock except for the last four minutes of each half. We'll make sure those guys go into two-minute mode offensively. In general it's going to be game-like."

PRACTICE REPORT: The Buffs got in plenty of situational work in a full-pads practice Monday, including some two-minute and red zone work. The Buffs also continue to work regularly on special teams each day. …

Quarterback Steven Montez connected on a couple of long balls Monday, including a toss to K.D. Nixon. … Sophomore Frank Fillip, who has been playing right tackle, got some snaps at left tackle Monday while Jack Shutack moved over from guard to get some time at right tackle. … Sophomore Jonathan Van Diest made some nice plays in the run game at inside linebacker. … "Star" back Davion Taylor also had a couple of stops behind the line of scrimmage. … Dante Sparaco has been lining up on the defensive line. … Getting some regular snaps with the No. 2 defense on the interior have been Nico Magri and Melekiola Finau. … Freshman Casey Roddick continues to show flashes at guard. … Trey Udoffia, a former cornerback, is getting some work with the No. 1 defense at safety.

SCHEDULE: The Buffs have just two workouts remaining. They will practice Wednesday, then hold the Spring Game Presented by UC Health on Saturday.

The game is set for kickoff at noon and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks, with the first hour on the main network and both hours on Pac-12 Mountain.

The event will also include the annual Healthy Kids Day, presented by Children's Hospital of Colorado, set to begin at 11 a.m. in the Indoor Practice Facility. Also on tap before the game is the UCHealth Skills Challenge, which will include a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, long jump and three-cone drill.

A selfie session with players and coaches will be conducted after the game.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu