This.
And it looks like the current issue, the only NPCs which are able to block decently are these ones with pretty high weapon skill. Sadly 90% of NPCs are just horrible at blocking.
Honestly I feel that even the nobles should be better than that, you can see a few hits that connected in the video that should have been blocked imo.
I personally thought that the AI was fine previously. As someone else said, sure you could circle around them if you want but that is cheesing the game. If you just fought normally they were fine.