How does team determine D settings?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Something I've been curious about for awhile, in a SP career, how is it determined which D (3-4 or 4-3) a computer controlled team will use?

Best example I can give is Baltimore.

They always begin the first season running a 3-4. Terrell Suggs is listed as a RDE at 6'4" 257#. Obviously, when the Ravens did run a 3-4 in 2004, he played as an OLB. However, every season I've played them (as the Steelers, so twice a year at least) he's lined up as a DE in the 3-4.

Are the defensive fronts set within the game, as the teams themselves played in 2004? Or does the AI determine which personnel is best to use?

Also, I tried tinkering with this using the roster editor. I kept Suggs as a RDE, but made his alt position as a LB.

I started 10 seasons, just to see where he was lined up each time. All 10 seasons, the Ravens played a base 3-4.

9 of the seasons he was listed as RDE. 7 of these 9 he was the starter. The other 2, his current rating was in the 30's (potential in the high 60's/low 70's), another player in the upper 30's/low 40's (also with better size for a 3-4 DE) was the starter.

The other season, he was the starter at WOLB.

Anyone else seen this/curious about this before?? Thanks in advance.

[yabanci]

I did a ton of testing on this when I made the roster file. All I can say is, for some reason the Ravens' AI has a preference for the 3-4. The same is true for the Raiders. The Browns have a preference for the 4-3. I don't know why, but no matter how you set up the roster file and regardless of personnel, these teams will immediately switch to their "preferred" formations after you start a new career.

[WrongWay]

I wonder if your DC would have anything to do with it?

[tucker342]

Ya I was just going to say that maybe the AI for certain teams just seems to have a preference for certain defenses or something... of course I have no info to back that up, but it would seem to make ur example make sense.