The Patriots will play the 2010 season without a defensive coordinator as head coach Bill Belichick takes a more active role in overseeing the defense.

Dean Pees, the defensive coordinator last season, chose to leave New England as his contract expired and joined the Ravens' staff in late January as LB coach. Under his direction, the Patriots' defense ranked 11th in the league in yards allowed and fifth in points given up. However, the unit suffered some notable breakdowns, such as in losses to the Colts and Saints, in which it yielded 35 and 38 points, respectively, and a 33-14 home defeat to the Ravens in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

"Titles are fine, nothing wrong with them," Belichick said in a statement on the team's Web site Friday, "but the most important thing is each person's role, that we do everything we can to help the players succeed, everyone collectively getting the job done."

After Pees' departure, the team hired former Patriots DB Corwin Brown, who had served as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator the past three years, as a "defensive coach," but it's assumed he'll primarily coach the defensive backs. The rest of the defensive staff remains intact — DL coach Pepper Johnson, LB coach Matt Patricia and DB coach Josh Boyer — although the team hasn't indicated whether any of their responsibilities will change in 2010.

Belichick's background is as a defensive coach and coordinator. Before he became Patriots head coach in 2000, Belichick served as defensive coordinator for the Giants (1985-90), Patriots (1996) and Jets (1997-99).

Unless Belichick makes a change in his offensive staff, he'll go without an offensive coordinator again next season. QB coach Bill O'Brien handled much of the play-calling last season. The Patriots haven't had an O-coordinator since Josh McDaniels departed after the '08 season to become Broncos head coach.