By Scott Zerr
EdmontonRush.com

Recuperate and re-think.

That's how the Edmonton Rush will spend their bye week during this first month of the 2007 National Lacrosse League schedule. The players' bodies are no doubt bruised and battered after three rugged games involving Philadelphia, Calgary and Colorado. But perhaps more importantly than the rest will be that fact that the Rush can take the opportunity to figure out why they've dropped two straight games after their season-opening win over the Wings.

"It's two weeks in a row that we didn't put a full game together," said Rush Captain Andrew Turner following the 16-9 setback to the Mammoth.

"We came into the half only down 7-6 and every time they scored we were able to answer back. But in the second they got a power-play goal and scored again right after that to stretch their lead. They got all the momentum going their way and we were never able to get it back."

And the schedule doesn't get any easier for the Rush after their week off. Their first opponent when they come back is a rematch in the home-and-home set with the Mammoth, who are looking every bit like the defending NLL champions.

"It's always hard to play against Colorado," said Turner. "I don't really know what we need to do. Maybe we just need to go on the road and get away from some of the distractions of playing at home. We can be focused on nothing but lacrosse rather than all the hoopla."

Rush GM/Head Coach Paul Day was definitely impressed by the Mammoth's look last Friday, but figured much of the Rush's failings were their own fault.

"We put the ball in the wrong spot," said Day. "All night, we kept it at the top of the floor and that played right into their transition game. They were able to run with it and they won the transition game 7-1. That was the difference in the game."

Working the ball down low and into the corners will certainly be a part of the Rush's plan for the rematch in Denver. They'll also try to counter Colorado's fast pace with some speed of their own.

"I'd like to match their athleticism with some more of our own out the front door," said Day, who suggested that Jamie Roy and Darren Hillier might be the right men for the job.

"We just have to do a better job of moving the ball up the floor."

There were some bright lights for the Rush despite the loss. The power play continued to look good, going 4-for-6 including three tallies with the man-advantage by Chris Gill.

And rookie Cory Melville, the Rush's second pick (fourth round, 46th overall) in the 2006 NLL draft, showed plenty of spunk while fighting off some rookie jitters.

Rush Ramblings
Despite getting the hook after Colorado's 15th goal, Rush goalie Pat Campbell came up with some big saves. Only problem was that Mammoth stopper Gee Nash was in all-star form. "I thought both of them played very well," noted Day ... The Rush's penalty-killing sits second in the NLL at 66.7% (14-for-21), just a couple points back of Buffalo.