Buffs Return To Work With Focus On Fundamentals In Bye Week

BOULDER — A bye week doesn't mean a week off.

That was the message Tuesday morning from Colorado head coach Mel Tucker to his team as the Buffs returned to work for the first of three practices this week.

The 3-1 Buffs don't play again until an Oct. 5 home matchup with Arizona (2:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network). Thus, they didn't practice Monday and won't practice Friday. That will help a number of players heal up an assortment of bumps, bruises and other injuries that have been accumulating over the last couple of weeks.

But, as Tucker noted, there were plenty of bodies available on Tuesday and the Buffs didn't waste the opportunity to get back to the basics, a process that even included a return to their lower practice fields, usually reserved for fall camp work.

"We're really focusing on technique and fundamentals," Tucker said. "That's our foundation, and when things are not are not right, we're not efficient or we're not making the plays we need to make, you usually can go back to the technique and fundamentals to get you right back on track. So we're just re-establishing that foundation this week and we're getting more guys reps and practice."

It's not that the Buffs haven't been making enough plays to win games. Colorado has beaten two ranked teams en route to its 3-1 start, including last weekend's 34-31 win at No. 24 Arizona State.

But Tucker also knows the toughest games are still ahead, and he plans to use every opportunity available to improve his team. That meant Tuesday morning's practice included plenty of 11-on-11 work with the No. 1 offense facing the No. 1 defense.

"Today was more like a training camp type practice, a lot of 'good on good' work," Tucker said. "When you when you go good on good, guys are competing and going fast. You can get better that way for sure."

The goal, Tucker said, is to make sure the bye week results in overall improvement in every area.

"It sounds simple, but it's not always easy to do," he said. "You have to be deliberate about it. We laid out our goals for the bye week and what we're here to accomplish, what the expectation is. It's not a week off, it's just a bye, and we're going to make the most of our opportunities to practice and meet."

HEALING UP: Colorado suffered some injuries of varying degrees in the win at ASU, but Tucker said he wouldn't have an update on the status of any of the players until later in the week.

"I don't have anything for you right now," he said. "I should have something hopefully a little bit later on in the week."

Tucker also said the Buffs would use the bye week to help those that needed some extra time to heal. But he also noted that CU is by no means the only team with injuries.

"I told them everyone in the country — college and pro guys, high school — guys are banged up and that's a part of the game," he said. "Rest recovery, nutrition, sleep, treatment are huge. We'll do everything we can to get our guys back as fast as we can."

But that doesn't mean he wants his team to lose its physical edge this week. Colorado is quickly earning a reputation as a tough team in the fourth quarter and Tucker wants to make sure that doesn't change.

"You don't want to 'over bang' these guys, but we do need to have some physicality in our practices," Tucker said. "Tomorrow and the next day we'll be in pads. We'll stay off the ground and our guys know how to practice in pads. We'll make sure that it's the correct amount for us."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

Buffs Return To Work With Focus On Fundamentals In Bye Week

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