Colorado offensive lineman Ryan Miller will miss the rest of spring ball after breaking a plate in his arm during the first session of spring practices Saturday.

Coach Dan Hawkins said Miller, CU`s right guard, had the plate installed in his forearm after last season. Hawkins said Miller is expected to be healed and ready to go by the beginning of training camp in August.

This was the first year in Hawkins` tenure that the five regular starters on the offensive line at the end of the season returned for the start of spring ball, but the continuity lasted only one day.

It`s a setback for an offensive line that must improve for the offense to be more successful in 2010, but Hawkins said Miller`s injury presents an opportunity for other players.

"Obviously he`s a guy you expect to be in there and you`d love to have him getsome spring reps," Hawkins said. "...The blessing of the whole thing is that other guys get more reps."

Miller will be a fourth-year junior in the fall. He has played in each of his three years in Boulder but had his 2008 season cut short in the fourth game when he suffered a broken leg. The NCAA granted him a medical redshirt waiver for that season, giving him a year of eligibility back.

Penalty prone

The Buffs are working with officials in practice during every session this spring to help solve their penalty problem from last season. They finished 2009 with 107 penalties, one of the highest totals in the program`s history.

"I think a lot of it is confidence, I really do," Hawkins said. "And I think a lot of it is experience. I think that`s it, just working on it, focusing on it and concentrating on it and getting guys to understand the nature of it."

Staff shakeup

Hawkins announced several changes Tuesday to the football support staff.

Robert Tucker was hired as the assistant head coach at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. Tucker has served as the director of football operations that past three years. He came to CU from Boise State where he coached under Hawkins.

Hawkins said a search is underway for Tucker`s replacement, and that person could come from the current staff.

Offensive graduate assistant Skyler Fulton has left the program to go into private business. He has been replaced by Ben Steele, who has been with the program in the operations staff since 2008.

Steele played his college ball at Mesa State in Grand Junction and spent seven years in the NFL.

Anthony Tucker has been added to the staff as an offensive technical intern. Tucker is a former Fresno State wide receiver, who played briefly in the NFL with the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams. He had been working at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Calif.

Notable

Wide receiver Andre Simmons returned to practice Tuesday after missing the first session this spring because of a personal matter. ... The Buffs return to the practice fields on Thursday for the first day in pads this spring. Colorado will host its annual pro timing day for members of last year`s senior class today. Players such as tight end Riar Geer and cornerback Cha`pelle Brown will likely participate in drills evaluated by pro scouts. Colorado and Colorado State are each holding separate pro timing days on the same day for the first time ever so scouts can attend two events in one day.