i tend to have mine set to direct or long as i don't like the idea of the possibility of them getting caught out by a quick striker or a dodgy back pass etc
might make a difference and stop the too many passes between your cb's and keeper
Make one player sleep with the other's wife/girlfriend.. That'll do the trick
Seriously now: I think you can solve it like the guys above said, make them pass long, but I really don't see a problem with them exchanging passes, as it sure beats giving the ball away.
Thinking tactically, it might be that you have your pace fast, but the midfield players are too advanced in your formation, so the creativeless defenders can only think up passing the goal keeper..
Giving some info on your tactics might reveal something else, so please do
thanks guys. I changed it to direct for both of them, and the passing numbers dropped a bit, but it still happens a lot. The main issue I have is that they do not pass forward, but sideways and backwards.