Teams generally play vanilla defenses in the preseason

[Fan_in_Kettering]

Vanilla defenses are the easiest schemes to run and it's the best way to evaluate talent in game situations. Also, defensive coordinators know if a new player can't handle vanilla schemes he will not be able to master advanced techniques.

To use a musical analogy, I remember auditioning for a trumpet spot in jazz band in college even though I was a physics major. I prepared a hard audition piece but the band director just said, "Play a G major scale."