I suggest you turn off the guard mode for Mori Gaesum and Appea Gaedotos. But for any other phalanx spearmen, the guard mode MUST be turned on for maximum efficiency.
Ehrm no. In fact, Appea Gaedotos and Mori Gaesum are defensive units per excellence with longspears that should be left all the time in Guard Mode to hold the enemy, because that's their main strength. One unit of Appea Gaedotos can last forever in melee if the enemy is attacking from the front and they are braced for it.