POCATELLO — Four steps. That’s all head coach Mike Kramer wanted. He didn’t get it. That had the head ball coach fired up.

“Terrible. We did not pursue,” Kramer said. “We had no maturity about understanding the drill.”

Four steps alludes to two things. First, the Bengals wanted their defensive players to take four hard steps toward the football after every offensive play — even after the whistle was blown.

Eleven defenders. Four steps. Every time.

They’re encouraging a defense to fly to the ball. It should be natural instinct. And in an 11-on-11 drill when Idaho State’s defense wasn’t tackling, Kramer still thought it was important for his defenders to give chase to whoever was carrying the football.

Four steps is also about giving 100-percent effort. Offensively, the Bengals want to play quickly and run up and down the field as much as possible to wear out a defense. When an offense goes fast, though, it means the team’s defense is going to have to be on the field a lot, too.

Think of it this way. When ISU is rolling on offense and scoring in three- and four-play drives during a game, its defense doesn’t have much time to rest. So as good of shape as running backs and receivers must be in, the Bengals’ safeties, cornerbacks, linebackers and defensive linemen are in the same position.

Kramer encourages his players to use practice reps and drills to get in shape. Don’t rely on running gassers at the end of each practice.

Hence, four steps. And the defense wasn’t doing it.

“I guarantee I didn’t see it. I’m tired of our coaches yelling about it and talking about it and the players not responding to it,” Kramer said. “And we’re going to respond to it, because I’m going to make sure defensively we get going.”

64-PLAY REHEARSAL

With music blaring over Holt Arena’s loudspeakers, Idaho State went through a 64-play, non-tackling scrimmage during Tuesday’s practice, the eighth of fall camp.

Quarterback Michael Sanders took all the snaps with the first-team offense. The junior threw two interceptions, one to senior cornerback Khary Livingston-Coleman and the other to senior safety Cody Sorensen.

Sanders also continued to show great touch on deep passing routes, connecting with junior Broc Malcom twice for deep plays — one a 28-yard floater to the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

Freshman Tanner Gueller worked with the second-team offense. He avoided any turnovers and hit senior CJ Hatchett for a long touchdown pass of roughly 55 yards.

Kramer said the 64 plays were a “rehearsal” and similar to a practice the Bengals go through on Fridays before every home game. As for what he witnessed, one thing stuck out.

“I saw two quarterbacks take two sacks in the red zone. I won’t get over it,” Kramer said. “It’s the worst mistake there is in the sport. You take a sack in the red zone, it wrecks my whole day.”

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

The Bengals practice Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Thursday, they go at 6:30 p.m. and Friday’s scrimmage begins at 6:30 p.m. Barring any changes, ISU is set to practice Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Sunday is Idaho State’s first day off since fall camp started Aug. 12.