Playing against friends in a Franchise...

Question for you guys. I play in a franchise with some close friends and none of them do any hot routing, adjustments etc...When I play them and run things like contain D and megatrons zone, they somehow always seem to stay competitive. With them running base plays, would it be in my interest to run a more basic d that still gets pressure? I feel like a lot of the stuff I play is for more adjustments rather than base plays. What do you all think?

My defense is also awful.

run base plays then on 3rd and longs(or mediums) break out the contain D or mega blitz

I run my base cover 3 on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and short. But if its 3rd and medium i will use my 4-3 wall (im not letting it out yet) or the contain D

I feel that it makes me more aware of the opponents formation b4 the snap, because I dont have to do soo many setups. I have been playing this way since the 2nd half of m10 and i jus feel more comfortable doing this.