Just wanted to throw these out here. Something I have been tinkering with for the past couple of weeks, after the CPU rushing attack was frustrating me on default All Pro.
I will say that I do not switch on offense or defense, so there is your first caveat. I normally play FS or SS, but I'm not sure how much that would affect your game if you played a different position.
Also, I am a big proponent of keeping the CPU and Human sliders the same. I don't like to feel like either team has a "built in" ratings advantage.
These won't be for everyone, and to be honest they were a result of an extreme experiment I had when I noticed that the reasoning behind the lack of a CPU run game was that my LB's read plays entirely too quickly (I use the Ravens in franchise, but play a lot of random Exhibition as well). So, I wanted to stop that.
GAME OPTIONS
Playcall Style - Optional
Quarter Length - 13 Minutes
Auto Strafe - Off
Auto Sprint - On
Injuries - 45
Fatigue - 57 (Very important to set Auto Subs. No definite settings, as they should be custom for the team you use. But if you don't have them set, you WILL notice deteriorated play as the game goes on from guys you play too much)
Game Speed - Slow
Player Min Speed Threshold - 50
PENALTIES
Offsides - 75
False Start - 60
Holding - 53
Facemask - 53
Defensive Pass Interference - 100
Offensive Pass Interference - 100
KR/PR Interference - 100
Clipping - 52
Int Grounding - 100
Roughing the Passer - 53
Roughing the Kicker - 100
SKILL SLIDERS (Same for Human and CPU)
QB Accuracy - 15 (Combined with the Pass Defense sliders, creates more balls that are not defensed and not caught.)
Pass Blocking - 50
WR Catching - 50/50
Broken Tackles - 50
Run Blocking - 50
Fumbles - 50
Pass Reaction Time - 0 (Separates the good pass coverage players from the ones that will be a weak point on the field. Ed Reed still has a real nose for the ball, while guys like Bernard Pollard can be taken advantage of)
Interceptions - 40 (Just to lower the interception rate as a whole)
Pass Rush - 50
Run Reaction Time - 0 (Mostly fixes the CPU run game due to them being able to get positive yardage on most plays. You will still get the occasional tackle for loss, but that is what it is now, occasional. Also keeps the CPU linebackers in position instead of getting caught in holes as a RB jukes to another. Creates more 3-5 yard runs, and less -3 and 20 yard runs.)
Block Shed - 50
Tackle - 40 (Too many first time tackles by DBs. Good tackles still tackle, and good angles when hitting the ball carrier pay off)
SPECIAL TEAMS
FG Power - 50
FG Accuarcy - 50
Punt Power - 50
Punt Accuarcy - 50
Kick Off Power - 50
So, that is it. As you can see, the extreme fix is putting both reaction sliders at 0, and causing the separation of good players in terms of awareness. The run reaction slider is what has really helped this game for me again, because I have really noticed that linebackers don't force their way into incorrect gaps, and they play more "bend but don't break" against the running back, which helps lower the number of big plays both defensively and offensively.
I should also state that I don't buy into the "under the hood" theories everyone has (keeping the numbers of any category to 75 keep the CPU AI to All Madden, etc). I have had enough conversations with enough people that would know the answer to that to believe we have a lot of placebo effects going on here.
If you wish, please let me know what you think. I hated having to do sliders, but wanted to enjoy my franchise and felt this was the only way I could at this point. These work for me. Hopefully they just help a few more people along the way.