Belau23 wrote: Will adding extra players at certain positions help stop pass/run? Like if I put 3 CB's instead of 2 in a formation, will this help stop the pass? Or if I have extra linebackers can it help stop the run? Or does formation not really matter?

Sadly, formation doesn't seem to have a large effect. For the best defense, start your best 11 defenders in whatever formation best utilizes their skill set. If your 3rd CB is as good as your starting 2 and better then an extra LB or SF, then play him.

Sometimes any effect is hard to see, but I'm certain there is one. I remember one WC a very strong UK team was darkwinging (ie throwing all passes to one receiver on one side), and stacking two safeties and two CBs on that side DID lessen its effect significantly. Was a bit of an upset at the time!

As for DTs, who knows. They certainly help with the run though (not that many people run). Saw a top div game where a team attempted to run up the middle of a 2 DE defence and he scored some really good yards. But we all know how poor the running game usually is, so I'm thinking it's the presence of DTs or one NT.

I have used a 4xCB 0xDT defense on many occassions. I reckon it does help slow the passing attack, but it won't stop it. I get just as many sacks as running a 4-3.

I use it six of 18 games per season. I only do so as I have heaps of talent at CB. Otherwise I wouldn't.

But it does open you up to rushing attacks down the middle. As the first of three tacklers is not present.

For the one sack a season a MLB might make. Its not really worth worrying a out.

hosh13 wrote: Assuming all players are of equal worth, is it thought that more DB/LBs means a higher density, and thus pass D should be better since each defender has less area to cover, and also there will often be 2 or more players around to not only break a pass up, but make the tackle sooner?

No. The engine selects a few players to have an impact on each play. I'm not 100% sure, but I think for a pass play, it selects a DE to rush the QB, possibly a LB/CB to cover the receivers, and a then two players from your OLB/CB/SF to tackle. You can check this by looking at the positions of the players who "miss tackles" on TD passes.

I'm not sure about runs, but I think the the engine just selects three defenders to make a tackle (again, look at missed tackles for a TD run).

The reason so many players recommend playing your best 11 players is that the engine will basically be randomly picking from all the defenders you put on the field. If you play a weaker player at a position, that player has a chance to be randomly selected. So if you have good safeties and weak linebackers, for example, play with more safeties and fewer linebackers.