I don't think it matters what you started on. So far, the only thing I've heard mattering is the sum of the sub groupings.
I lowered human INTs and Pass rushing, and that seemed to get the AI passing attack going for me. You might want to increase CPU WR catching and pass blocking a little as well.
I'm pretty much like you - not the best passer in the world, but good at rushing and rush defense. I also like to field teams with very good defenses, but I find that the sometimes do TOO well, so I have to increase the CPU so that they still put up realistic numbers. Good pass defense holds an average QB to about 50%, not 35 or 40, for example. Things like that.