I think that the defense is a work in progress and will improve. We have to be patient. It usually takes a full season to install a new defense. If they regress more after game 6-8, I'd have serious concerns except for games on the road against high-powered offenses. I am not sure that CU has the overall speed at the LB position for the defense install to work as designed. I think using Akil Jones and Davion Taylor are steps towards more speed. Things would look much better if Drew Lewis and Evan Worthington (I thought outside of Laviska, he was the best athlete on the team last year) had another year. We just need to look at the overall picture, which have positives and negatives:
1. Outside of Johnson, the Dline is real young. Those players do look the part and will develop. Unfortunately, there is not even an abundance of great Dline recruits or transfers that can make an immediate impact.
2. The secondary is all new, except for Slim. Onu playing great is a bright spot, but that is how thin things are. More games and the secondary should improve. Actually, I am curious if Sam Noyer is going to get a look at safety. As an ex-QB he might be great at reading the QB and opposing offense. We just have to see if he can play it.
3. There is a steep learning curve with a new defensive system, even when the 3-4 scheme is retained. I remember GB's early games in his 1st season, when CSU torched CU like 42-14. That team had more experience and older players, but it was missed assignments that doomed them. The 2nd half of the season, they played much better. The next season GB brought in some key recruits matching his scheme and the defense improved substantially--they even crushed Nebraska. If CU stays competitive, even at 5-7, I see no reason why Mel Tucker will not be able to recruit key players for this defense to improve.
4. Another bright spot is the fact that the defense has improved in the 2nd half with adjustments. That tells me the coaches are good and that the players are receptive to coaching.
5. AFA is a different animal offensively, plus all there prep time for this big game. That is not an excuse, but combine that with young players and a new scheme and the recipe for disaster was there all along. I sort of throw out the AFA game given their offense. The tell will be later in the season when CU has game film on the opponent, the Buffs are playing many teams that they have played last year, and the players are more comfortable with the new system. This will be PAC-12 v. PAC 12 talent for the offensive lines.
6. Creating turnovers is a real positive so far.
7. Sacks, TFL and penalties on the offense are on the rise.
8. The defense is not getting completely gassed in the 2nd half. It looks like the competitiveness, heart and conditioning are there. It is more a matter of being in the right place to make a play. That takes time.
There is always an argument of whether the coach should adjust the scheme for the present roster, as compared to a 2-3 year defensive build. I tend to like the patience and 2-3 year route on defense. For defensive changes, I do not think a team can go 1/2 in, then do the other 1/2 the next year. Under HCMM, Leavitt came in and changed performance drastically in a year, but those were older more experienced players and they system changes were minor, as compared to a completely new install. With the transfer portal, it will be interesting to see if a 2 year turn-around is now possible. However, except for Grad transfers the NCAA has placed limits towards making undergrad transfers sit out a year, as the waiver process is more stringent.
