If you're tired, you don't run, but the coach defying an express order from the management is another issue altogether and warrants sacking. This game is an hybrid but either we accept the coach does what he wants (without being told so) or he has to follow orders set by his general manager. BBs need to be coherent, they can't say, coach does what he wants (without being told so) option: BUG, we don't want it; coach does what he wants (despite specific different orders): OK, all working as intended, we want it. And more to the point you like to leave the coach freedom (ie. you like blanks and you like the fact that the coach subs out players NOT in the depth chart) don't call it "strictly", maybe call it "vaguely" or "tentatively" follow the depth chart.
Please note that this is mostly a devil's advocate response, as I again think that the whole substitution logic needs to be reworked. I think in this scenario there's the counter-argument that having the same player listed as all three positions on the depth chart could be considered functionally as an "incomplete" depth chart, and so while the coach may say that for any position you give him a starter and backup for, he'll use only those players, by not giving him any leeway at some point if he feels a change is required (which of course has a much higher threshold than a normal sub would), he's got to go off the board.
Marin and Charles and Forrest before him were all forthright that the other substitution options *are* bugged.
Yet Marin fixed blanks tens of seasons after the problem first emerged, because we don't want the coach to decide the substitution pattern...explain to me how double standards work. Also, since when talking about the other tactics means anything about this one? Have they clearly stated anywhere that SFDC is NOT bugged? If they did, have they explained why it is described in a different way in the Game Manual? We need links.
A smattering of links.
(267786.4)(264873.10)(261610.4)(219327.6)(161567.3)(26712.251)As to why it says what it says in the manual, further down it also says:
Your in-game coach will try his hardest to win; in order to optimize your training minutes, you can use the Strictly Follow Depth Chart tactic to overrule some of the coach's substitution decisions.
(The bold is my emphasis, and there's some text italicized in the manual that I'm not going to bother decorating to stand out).
So, yes, there's inconsistency there.
In any case, since it looks like this is also up in the Bugs forum now I presume there's no need to go round and round on this. I don't think the substitution options are at all ideal, nor are most of them even working. I do think, however, that no matter what your opinion is on the wisdom of the SFDC logic, and I'm sure I'm more in agreement with you on than otherwise, I don't think it's accurate to call it the logic itself a bug. The inconsistencies in the manual, sure. Nice catch.