I think the following factors should come into play with regard to the playing defense against the hurry up offense, in order of priority:
Time left in game
Score, i.e., points ahead (or tied)
Field position
Down
Distance to go for first down
For example, if the offensive team is more than a touchdown behind and there is relatively little time left in the game, then it makes perfect sense to retreat tho a deep zone with 6 or 7 defenders and give up short to medium yardage.
On the other extreme, it makes less sense to deploy such a defense if the offensive team is a down less than 3 points and there is enough time left to move into field goal range by moving a few yards at a time. In that case, the defense would likely focus on keeping the offensive team in bounds to shorten the game rather than give up the bomb (although the DBs would be under strict orders not to let anyone get behind them).
Therefore, the game's logic should start at 100% deep/6-7 DBs where a quick score is likely to be the only objective/need of the offense, and then start to taper off depending on the other relevant factors. Examples:
1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th down
Short, Medium or Long yardage
Ball on own 25 yd line to opponents 0
Defensive team ahead by more than 7 points
3 minutes or less to play
Then, 100% deep/6-7 DBs. (Inside the 25 might be played a bit differently.)
3rd down
Short yardage
Ball on own 25 yd line to own 0
Defensive team ahead by less than 3 points
Less than 3 minutes to play
Then, anything but 100% deep/6-7 DBs. (Probably 100% short yardage defense because the defense wants a stop to get the ball back if a FG is made that puts the offensive team ahead.)
1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th down
Short, Medium or Long yardage
Ball on opponents 0 to 50 yard line
Defensive team ahead by any score
30 seconds or less to play
Then, 100% deep/6-7 DBs
My point is that there is a time where as the game winds down when playing 100% deep/6-7 DBs is always the smart play on defense. But clearly not always. Thus, IMO the game logarithm should make adjustments based on the factors I mentioned above, if not more.
Last edited at 1/17/2015 2:21 pm