Questionable Roster AI with the 3-4 Defense

[Richard Weed]

I'm playing with patch 6.0e. I just noticed that all of my computer AI teams who use the 3-4 have three Defensive Ends and most (5 out of 6) have four Defensive Tackles (all NTs) on their rosters.

Why would a team that uses three defensive linemen have more tackles than ends?

Tied to this is perhaps some questionable drafting AI:

The Cowboys have four NTs; they have a 2nd year 1st rounder (21st overall) and a rookie 2nd rounder (15th in that round) as backups.
The Jets have four NTs; they have a rookie 1st rounder (11th overall) as a backup.
The Steelers have four NTs; they have a rookie 2nd rounder (11th in that round) inactive.
The Chargers have three NTs; they actually have their 3rd year 1st rounder starting, but had drafted another NT the following year in the 2nd round.

[Richard Weed]

I must either be the only one that has seen this or must be the only one who thinks this may be a problem.

[RedKingGold]

1. It usually takes more than six hours to get a legitimate response.
2. Your sample size of only your single player career is too small.

That being said, why is this a problem again?

[RedKingGold]

dola

Although much "real" football knowledge does not really translate into FOF knowledge, in most "real" 3-4's, the defensive ends are usually tweener linebackers and they can line up standing or in stance. Thus, it is more important to have tackle depth in the "real" NFL because big space eating monsters that you need in the middle of your line also get tired quickly, and you need adequate backups to spell them when needed.

[Warhammer]

Actually good 3-4 ends in the NFL tend to be run stuffing monsters and are bigger than most ends. The pass rushing strength comes from LBs coming off the edge.

[bulletsponge]

also what if those teams were 4-3s the year before

[Sgran]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

also what if those teams were 4-3s the year before

Has anyone ever seen the AI change the defensive formation?

[JMO]

I have noticed that AI teams do not draft tweeners to play olb and do not draft or sign big enough ends. It maybe just be too hard to program it. The abundance of very small nose tackles is strange also. I would have thought that a 280lbs N would never make it to the 1st round on size alone but I've seen quite a few in the game.