USF football's new defensive mantra: Play every down like it's fourth-and-inches

It’s fourth-and-inches, the game is on the line, and your defense has to make a stop. That’s the intensity that USF defensive coordinator Todd Orlando wants the Bulls to display on every play and every day – on and off the field -- from now until the season is over.

That fourth-and-inches goes into, 'Hey, am I willing to sacrifice some of the things I would do outside of my academics and football? Would I be willing to dive into and get to know a play better fundamentally,” he said.

“Or take care of my body so all these little things that each kid can do to make themselves better outside of when we have them? Then, all of a sudden, it comes together. That's when the changes happen.”

Go back to the Hawai`i Bowl game for a textbook example of the fourth-and-inches mentality.

Late in regulation, San Jose State needed one yard for a first down from its 14-yard line. The Bulls trailed by three with a little over a minute left. If the Spartans get the first down, it’s likely lights out and drive home safely.

Bulls DL Michael Williams stopped Spartans RB Floyd Chalk IV for no gain, forcing a punt that the Bulls turned into a game-tying field goal.

It wasn’t just an ordinary field goal, however. John Cannon’s kick caromed off the right upright and took a fortunate bounce through the goalposts with two seconds left.

That forced overtime, and the Bulls went on to win a five-overtime classic 41-39.

How did they win it?

Linebacker Mac Harris got enough of his fingertips on San Jose State’s fourth-down pass to knock the ball away, setting off a wild celebration.

“There were so many little plays in that game that just keep you alive and eventually make a play and fourth and inches,” Orlando said. “ Mac, literally inches, hits that ball up, and then the game is over. And so all teachable moments.”

Safety Tavin Ward remembered the feeling as the Bulls geared up for that final stop and how that can translate into more stops this season.

“Fourth and inches. Can you finish a play? In the bowl game, we went to overtime,” he said. “Everybody was tired. We all knew that we just had to finish. And it came down to fourth-and-inches.”

A play here or a play there can turn a football game around. If you make the play, it can turn a loss into a win. Make enough plays, and a seven-win season could become a 10-win season.

That’s the fourth-and-inches mentality.

“It's going into meetings and being prepared for the meetings, writing things down, digesting them. They're here to have school also, but they also have some free time on their own that they have choices to make,” Orlando said.

“There's a certain standard that you have to have to have an opportunity to play in the National Football League, and for us as a program to win a championship. Everything you do should be at an elite level, and everything you feel is deterring you from being a student or an athlete, how much do you need? Why not get better as a student? Get better grades, and get better at your craft. That, to me, is fourth and inches.”