Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I watched the video, it was helpful, but I specified the defense is in a very "vanilla" formation.  I noted the D alignment often, to me, looks the same play after play (though as noted I don't get the end zone view of it). 

First play of the game won't the D generally be in a very standard formation and defense?

Yes.  So- where are the safeties?  Are they in a 2 high look? Are they level with each other?

if the defense is in its base 4-2-5 look, and the play called has a tight end crossing the middle, then it most certainly has at least one or two and possibly three other pass routes by the wide receivers and running backs. In this case the quarterback has to read post snap to determine the best place to put the ball.  If the defense is in a zone the Titan will squat in an open area and it will be an easy completion. If someone is trying to man cover the tight end he may be open purely based on speed and foot work, and lastly if he is well covered they will almost certainly be someone else open

I was musing about CFB when I first started watching on a grainy B&W TV.  I THINK every allignment was the same, or nearly so.  The QB called the plays in the huddle.  I think the O playbook was probably pretty simple and maybe the D did the same thing on nearly every play.  The defensive huddle would be very quick anyway, so it seemed to me they were calling maybe 4-5-6 different Ds quickly with a single word.

Some good stuff here, thanks.  Next time I watch Houston playing Memphis a bit, I'll try and diagnose what's happening more than I have done in the past.