Take Five: Gordon and Orlando ready for Memphis
STORY BY MARCUS MORGAN
TAMPA — As USF prepares for a rare 12 p.m. kickoff this weekend against Memphis (6-1), Bulls coordinators Joel Gordon and Todd Orlando met with reporters Wednesday to discuss their team’s mindset, preparation, and continued growth on both sides of the ball.
1. Early start demands early focus
Both coordinators acknowledged the challenge of a morning kickoff and stressed that preparation has to begin long before game day.
“You’re going to have to be ready because there isn’t all day Saturday to sit around and do your final prep,” Gordon said. “You’ve got to get adjusted, go to sleep, and be ready to go once that thing kicks off.”
Orlando added that the early start has been part of their planning all week. “We practice in the mornings, so our guys are used to being up early,” he said. “But with travel and an early pregame meal, it’s going to be a little bit different.”
2. Ball security remains a top priority
After a turnover-free outing last week, Gordon said that improvement was the result of deliberate effort, not luck.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all,” he said. “You can see the video of us practicing last week and it being a focus — then you can see the video from the game doing the same things.”
Gordon emphasized that taking care of the football “gives you the best chance to win every single week,” and that the mindset has to carry over from practice to every play.
3. Explosive plays driving offensive success
Even after putting up large scores in recent weeks, Gordon believes the Bulls’ offense is capable of even more.
“Believe it or not, we’re capable of more,” he said. “Explosive plays are one of the most critical statistics that determine outcomes of games.”
He praised wide receiver Chas Nimrod, who leads the team in receiving yards. “Chas has been extremely critical to our success,” Gordon said. “Explosive plays are critical every single week.”
4. Defensive maturity led by Harris and Shuler
On the defensive side, Orlando said USF’s improvement is tied to experience and leadership from veterans such as linebacker Mac Harris and safety Jhalyn Shuler.
“It takes some time, but the guys that have been in this for three years are the ones making the communication,” he said. “Mac and Jhalyn give us great stability — they’re like the inner computer of the defense.”
He added that familiarity with the system allows players to react faster and play more aggressively.
5. Speed and toughness define the Bulls’ defense
Orlando said USF’s defensive identity is built on pursuit and physicality, and that starts with recruiting.
“If you can’t run, we’re not going to recruit you,” Orlando said. “You’ll see 10 hats to the ball — and that’s pride, that’s brotherhood.”
He credited the staff’s emphasis on speed and toughness for transforming the unit into one that “plays fast, hits hard, and feeds off each other.”
