Chidash wrote: 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.

yes
Defenders
rushing the passer -DE/LB
faced by the receivers OLB/CB and Safety/MLB
the rusher faces - DT/DE and OLB/MLB and Safeties
Play 11 best players
but You do not want to play without safeties defending the pass
or without linebackers when defending the run