The Colorado Crush opens practice today for Sunday’s 1:30 p.m. Arena Football League playoff game against the Chicago Rush.
The Crush found out Sunday that Chicago is the division-round opponent, and now coach Mike Dailey wonders how a week off because of a first-round bye will affect his players.
“We won’t know the effect of the bye week until after the game,” Dailey said.
“I’ve seen it work both ways, but I hope we can get refocused and back to football because the playoff games mean so much.”
On the one side, the Crush’s list of injured players welcomed the time off.
“We’re not in the best shape in terms of injuries and from that standpoint, the timing of the week off was great,” Dailey said. “But you don’t like to break any momentum you might have built up.”
The Crush gained home- field advantage throughout the playoffs leading up to the June 11 ArenaBowl in Las Vegas by thumping Arizona 59-35 in the regular-season finale.
But Dailey is calling the Rush possibly the hottest team in the league.
Chicago’s 55-47 victory over Nashville in the wild-card round of the playoffs was the Rush’s third straight victory. Quarterback Matt D’Orazio threw five touchdown passes.
“They’re always a challenge for us,” Dailey said. “We’ve had some great games in the series.”
The Crush beat the Rush twice in the regular season, but Dailey noted Chicago is a better team at this point of the year.
“Chicago is playing at a very high level right now,” Dailey said. “They’ve added some new players. Receiver Bobby Sippio has been a good addition for them.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
