I have been so frustrated with defense on this game that I nearly quit the OD I've been in since OD was introduced back in '09. It isn't the user games that are killing me. It is the auto-win that the CPU goes into every other drive. It's the "ballhawk" feature that was introduced this year that when you switch to the DB he stands completely still and lets the WR jump over your head and make an uncontested catch and run TD down the sideline. It's the lack of engagement when running into a ball carrier but somehow you missed him so he runs "untouched" for a first down when you should have had him in the backfield. It's the super QB on certain plays where he breaks 6 tackles as if he were Tommie Frazier running against Florida. It's the CB in cover three who somehow doesn't remember he's supposed to have the deep 3rd, even though he was a 99 AWR, so he just stands there then turns around to watch the WR run right by him. I think you get my point. It's awful. The worst defense I've ever seen on an NCAA game. And to me the whole "defense isn't played anymore" isn't an excuse. You still see teams hold opponents under 2 TD's every week. It happens all the time. Good defenses exist. Just ask Alabama and Michigan State.
Against the CPU I've tried everything from 4-3, 3-4, 4-2-5, 3-3-5, Nickel, Nickel 3-3-5, you name it, I've tried it. I tried controlling LB's, Safeties, and CB's to compensate for the screw ups. None of it worked. I would try to man-align when the programming inexplicably moves my left CB to the other side of the field even though I'm in a cover 2 sink. So it tries to 'auto correct' the zones and ends up having my left corner now in the right slot adopting the deep half left side of the field while the FS takes the deep right zone and the SS moves up to cover the vacated zone by the CB. The LOLB is supposed to get the far left hook zone and at this point it's a jumbled mess. If you can imagine what this looks like in the play art then you can imagine how furious I would get when it happens 4-5 times a game. At the snap the TE runs free down the seam as my left corner is desperately trying to get to the deep half all the way across the field. Wide open TD for the CPU. It's even worse with a cover 3. Lord only knows what the hell they were thinking with that programming.
So, what did I do that fixed it for me and made it somewhat fun again? I'll tell you. Against the CPU I run strictly 4-3 Cover 3. Almost exclusively. With the exception of near the goalline when I need to bring an extra backer. Then I call a cover 2 blitz. I don't run or pass commit. I control a DE every play. If they come out in Twins or Trips and my CB goes to the wrong side of the field I spread my LB's and control the open side DE and move him outside the TE two spaces and hot route to a QB contain (Y, Left Stick Down). And, sadly, it works. It shouldn't, but it does. We play our CPU Games Offense on All-American and Defense on Heisman with custom sliders. I've been doing this for 8 games now, 6 to end last season and 2 to start the new season and I haven't given up more than 21 points in a game. Where before it wasn't uncommon for a team to put up 38-45 points because the CPU wanted to.
My point is that it sucks that I have to do this. I would love to run an elaborate scheme against the CPU like I can against users, but you can't. It just isn't consistent enough of a game.