Blade: BG goes to Oregon with "Scaled Down" Defensive Playbook

Here's the story from Nick P. in the Blade about the end of camp and the start of game prep for a trip to Oregon.

Two notes.  First, the first units scrimmaged against each other on Friday, which is why the practice on Saturday was mostly the backups. 

Second, BG does not have its defense completely installed and will go to Oregon with a scaled-down playbook. 

Some thoughts on that.

This has been an ongoing refrain for the entirety of the Jinks tenure, something he has acknowledged.  When Jinks arrived, they implemented a defense that the players were not capable of executing and the result was giving up 70 twice, including one of those to Memphis.  It took them to about mid-season to recognize it, and then Coach began to talk about simplifying the scheme.

Then, a couple weeks ago Pelini talked about making us less predictable, which is a problem you would expect to have if you were running a simplified scheme.  This week's story describes the Pelini system as "complex."

I suspect that has to make you nervous.

Three things.  First, I think it shows how little the defense progressed under the previous coaching.  In two years, they are still not capable of handling more complex schemes. 

Second, I don't know if the program has the leeway to go through a process where it takes the defense 8 games to get on its feet.  I remember Clawson talking about going to Tennessee and trying to put his system in and saying something like "we would have done things differently if we knew we only had one year."  If the defense is bad, the first six games have the potential to be as ugly as the first games of the 2016 season.

Third, it has to make you concerned about the opener.  Very concerned.  According to Phil Steele, Oregon has the #12 QB in the country, the #18 RBs, and the #12 offensive line.  He projects they will average almost 40, and you have to worry where BG falls on the curve.

Last note.  We don't want to project the past onto the future.  The hope is that even with a scaled-down defense that Pelini has a game plan that can be executed and can hold the Ducks somewhat in check....like somewhere near that projected average.  I am particularly worried about the d-line, which had question marks before and now is without its senior leader.