I always hear about how the defensive system needs to be better. But nobody ever gives examples. How would you improve the "defense" or add defensive options.
First thing is first, everyone should have some sort of reliable reversal. Balance them our through whether they require meter, how much damage they do, and what position they leave the opponent in but every single character should have that option.
Second backdash needs to either have way faster start up across the board or invincibility frames. The recovery has to be such that if your backdashed a medium button or a heavy button your opponent can not recover in time to punish you but if your opponent did a light button they can. Also removing airborne state from backdash will help for more constant punishes.
Third, throws should moved to the bottom of button priority not the top. So throws will lose if they collide the same frame as an attack not the other way around. To add to this throws should also have a 5 to 6 frame increase in recovery on wiff.