Well what you’re asking is if Bill Belichick suddenly had a major shift in philosophy how would it look? There’s no question both kinds of defenses can be successful, but let’s look at it this way.
Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Rex Ryan has done a phenomenal job with the Jets defense just about every season. His style is pretty much the antithesis of Belichick’s (and that’s kind of why I love him). But think back on all the Pats-Jets games since 2009. How many times can you recall a busted play on the Jets defense where the Pats had a big score? Shane Vereen on Thanksgiving, Dobson this year are just two that immediately pop to mind.
Now there have been a couple matchups where the Jets pressure really gave Brady problems, but when you look at the overall record (7-3), I think it shows why BB prefers a more conservative approach.
That is the weakness of an attacking defense, you’re susceptible to screen passes and misdirection, and the smart teams will use your aggressiveness against you. Think about some of the Pats-Steelers’ matchups as well in regards to this.
Does it look sexy to have an all out blitz? Sure. Until the QB dumps it off and the running back takes it 50 yards.
Belichick’s defense is more predicated on having smart players who can be in the position every time, while also using disguise. He also prefers physical players. That combination is not always easy to find.
The weakness of the read-and-react style is that they’ll give up yardage, but it’s often contained. When run correctly it should not give up big plays, and especially not on broken plays. The key is being able to stiffen in red zone and keep touchdowns off the board.
For teams to light up the Patriots defense (and it doesn’t happen often) they have to play flawlessly. Despite all the yards they gave up from 2010-2012, they were still one of the best teams in the NFL.
So both styles have their weaknesses and strengths. If the Pats were more of an attacking defense it might look better to fans, but the results might not be what everyone expects.
Ultimately, Belichick has to stick with what he’s had success with, but that doesn’t mean he’s averse to mixing in pressure from time-to-time. He just prefers to pick his spots when it’s less likely to get burned for a big gain.
