this is what I have done and I constantly have diverse games vs the cpu. ive had shootouts as well as 13-10 slobberknockers I don't see a lot of penalties except for the occaisional clip hold offsides and false start. maybe once every 2 games ill get a facemask penalty. but I have been happy with just leaving them at default so far. been rocking Heisman w/ normal speed at 75 threshold. at 75 a big play is really earned and a lot of times it helps keep the score down ..shootouts for me have been in the 30's not the forties which I like