Mike Vrabel's defense is getting aggressive with Flores-style Cover 0 looks — everyone walked up, safeties playing that narrow "fence" alignment. It's a bold choice. It's also a mess against power running teams like the Jets.
Here's the problem: when you're bringing safeties down and stacking the box with corners playing tight coverage, you're essentially telling opposing offenses "run it at us." The Jets got the memo. They've had success attacking downhill because the Patriots' secondary is too condensed to provide run support, yet not enough to genuinely threaten the quarterback on short drops. It's the worst of both worlds.
Cover 0 has its place — it creates chaos on the backend and can generate pressure-driven turnovers. But it requires either elite corner play to hold up in man coverage or a front four that can collapse the pocket instantly. The Patriots are getting neither right now, which means handoff plays become free real estate for opposing backs.
The philosophical split is real here. Vrabel wants to dictate terms with aggression. That's his DNA. But against a methodical ground game, you need patience and gap discipline. These Flores looks demand both your secondary *and* your front playing perfect football simultaneously. One break in the chain, and you're watching 6-yard gains happen on repeat.
The Jets are solving it because they understand the assignment: if the corners are all pressed up and safeties are playing chicken in the middle, don't throw it. Just give it to the running back and watch the Patriots secondary scramble to defend something they weren't built to handle. It's basic football, and it's working.