The way I understand what JDB has said before is that the AI chooses your defensive formation based on the personnel set that the offense is using (unless you have a rule). Meaning that if they come out in a goal line formation on 3rd and long, the AI will choose a defensive formation for you that matches up with the offenses goal line formation.

It's a different game now and the owners you once played 8 seasons ago are a lot better. Also a competitive league usually has more then 5 stud owners and more like 12. So the playoffs are a dog fight, no blow outs hardly and a 16-0 team can fall real fast. I haven't seen your roster but obviously it was on another level to have done what it has. I know you might not think its different today but as you can see in LG 75 your grouped with 31 other owners and some of them have accomplished the same things you have. And it's common sense after 8 seasons of more experience the game has grown along with the coaches