So I have a DC in Patrick Leboeuf (we call him Frenchie, despite the fact he's an insane Cajun) who runs a Run Focused 34.

I had some Young DTs behind a soon to retire DT, and had an Idea. So I traded the Old DT and an Old WLB for a 26 Year Old DT (by Old I mean these guys had Retire Rates ready, 20% and 80%).

Then I moved the 2 Young DTs to LDE and RDE.

This is what I have so far.

LDE
Edwin Baker (LDE Trade Block, 32 Years Old) 82/82
Max Speed 32/Acc 98/STR 54
INT 100/DIS 61
TKL 100/STRIP 100/PASS 100/RUN 100

Donald Klinger (LDE/DT 23 Years Old) 35/74
Max Speed 26/ACC 57/STR 88
INT 100/DIS 61
TKL 85-96/STRIP 69-78/PASS 70-100/RUN 80-100.

Preston Michaud (LDE/RDE 24 Years Old) 57/64
Max Speed 38/ACC 34/STR 84
INT 63/DIS 21
TKL 80-100/STRIP 56-57/PASS 62-95/RUN 84-91.

DT
Jake Powell (DT 26 Years Old) 88-89
Max Speed 27/ACC 90/STR 82
INT 100/DIS 99
TKL 100/STRIP 100/PASS 100/RUN 99-100.

Gabriel Sexton (RDE/DT 23 Years Old) 75-91
Max Speed 24/ACC 100/STR 100
INT 100/DIS 100
TKL 56-100/STRIP 43-99/PASS 69-100/ RUN 83-100

Donald Klinger (LDE/DT 23 Years Old) 70-77
Max Speed 26/ACC 57/STR 88
INT 100/DIS 61
TKL 85-96/STRIP 69-78/PASS 70-100/RUN 80-100.

RDE
Gabriel Sexton (RDE/DT 23 Years Old) 56-87
Max Speed 24/ACC 100/STR 100
INT 100/DIS 100
TKL 56-100/STRIP 43-99/PASS 69-100/ RUN 83-100

Preston Michaud (LDE/RDE 24 Years Old) 36-64
Max Speed 38/ACC 34/STR 84
INT 63/DIS 21
TKL 80-100/STRIP 56-57/PASS 62-95/RUN 84-91.

So what I'm looking at is ensuring my Defense Starters have 100 Strength (something 32 Year Old Edwin Baker lacks) and 95+ in TKL, PASS and RUN... with Strip being a Bonus.

Now my Over All Scores are very Harsh... for instance despite looking for Run Stopping 34 DEs, I still have Speed and Acceleration at 100 on the Player Weights, along with both Intelligence and Discipline, despite 34 Run Stopping DE's not really needing much Speed.

I do this at all my Positions, so an 85 on my team is likely a 90+ on most Teams who only go after the 'needs' of the Position.

So what I now have as Starters (by-passing Baker) are
LDE 35-74. He was a DT 70-77. So he loses 3 Points, and may move back to DT if I get a decent End this Draft.

DT 88-89. He's actually 2 Points LESS than Gabriel could become, but he's already 1 Point Away from Max so I figured let the Young guy move.

RDE 57-87 He loses 4 Points, but being Younger I figured he'd be the better one to move.

My TKL/STRIP/PASS/RUN is:

LDE TKL 85-96/STRIP 69-78/PASS 70-100/RUN 80-100.
DT TKL 100/STRIP 100/PASS 100/RUN 99-100.
RDE TKL 56-100/STRIP 43-99/PASS 69-100/ RUN 83-100

Knowing I may have to upgrade the LDE, but also that I have to roll with what I have until I can upgrade LDE, I'd like to ask a few things.

Do we feel these Position Moves of Gabriel to RDE and Klinger to LDE, and the Acquisition of Powell to take over at DT, were good for a Long Term (7+ Season) Core 34 Run Stop DL?

Am I putting to much emphasis on TKL/RUN/PASS/STR and not enough on MAX/ACC?

Having the TKL/PASS/RUN required, would LDE be a 'must upgrade' due to STRIP? Or can a DL survive and produce without it?

Thanks for your time!

Your defensive playbook is only influence by your head coach in this game.

Looks like some one will be getting Promoted, then.

OP=War and Peace

I'd say you got the building blocks in place. Just go ahead and see if you can upgrade LDE but you seem like you got things going pretty well in the other two slots and a really good idea of what you want in terms of your scheme. If you can draft someone who fits your mold, that's what I would do.

I've read War and Peace.

This isn't close.

Thanks for the response. Glad to know I'm going in the right direction.

Now, to figure out what I want in my Line Backers.

I value Speed at every position minus DT

Don't underestimate technique and fundamentals

Well, 34 Run Stopping DE usually are converted DT, and play rather similar to DT.