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The Pats are almost there. To have a top 2-3 defense you really need to do 3 things well:
1. Limit the run without stacking the box. That makes teams one-dimensional, takes away play action, and limits the ability for opposing offenses to create mismatches by forcing opposing defenses to stack the box to commit to stopping the run.
2. Bring effective pressure (both outside and interior) in a variety of ways, both with a straight DL and with a variety of creative blitzes and pressure packages. Interior pressure is at least as important as outside pressure, as it takes away the ability to step up in the pocket, provides a straighter path to the QB, and rattles most QBs. It's QB kryptonite. A 3- or 4- man rush that can get pressure is ideal in many ways, but "pass rush flexibility" creatively scheming pressure may be necessary, and may also help to keep QBs off balance. Having a deep rotation of pass rushers keeps guys fresh and wears down the opposing OL.
3. Create "disruption at the perimeter", and flood the middle of the field, making it extremely difficult for the passing game to function effectively, especially if there is pressure. Disrupt the passing routes, force QBs to throw into small windows, and punish them, and you make it extremely difficult for opposing QBs. The Pats have done a good job of this.
Do all of those things consistently and you make it extremely hard for opposing offenses to function effectively. If you can do all of those things out of sub - including stopping the run without stacking the box - then it becomes even harder. Andy Johnson has argued convincingly that this seems to be a goal for BB.
Seattle has the only defense right now that can do all 3 of these things consistently. Most of the other very good defenses are flawed, either with excellent DLs and ordinary secondaries (Detroit, Buffalo, KC) or excellent secondaries and a lesser front 7 (Arizona). The Pats are tantalizingly close. They have the secondary (though they could use an upgrade with a "star" LB/S/slot CB hybrid that Chung, Wilson and Ebner have all played this season). They have the LBs. They still need a bit more depth and talent in the front 7 to take things to the next level, but they are close, especially if Dominique Easley develops next season.
I posted this on the defensive blueprint thread on the draft board yesterday:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...c91-is-a-bust-and-wasnt-a-need.1114631/page-5 (post #1637)
I think that if the Pats extend Revis and re-sign McCourty, Ayers, Branch, Casillas, Siliga and Chung (or even better, somehow manage to get someone like Kenny Vaccaro from New Orleans) that they are only a couple of players away from having a top 2-3 defense. Add another athletic big DT in the middle who can take over for Wilfork in 2016 and a rotational DE or DE/OLB, and the Pats will have a really deep and versatile stable of guys who they can rotate to keep guys fresh, and switch things up.
