I hate to go back to a familiar theme, but I think the Patriots example is illustrative in this case. In the beginning of the season, the Patriots were vulnerable because the defense was giving up points inexplicably. Big plays were happening all over the field. Patricia tightened it up eventually and the philosophy changed. The Patriots don't have explosive pass rush talent or athletes to create turnovers, so they became a bend don't break defense. Once a team got in the red zone, Patricia went to 3 rushers and created impenetrable zones on the back end with 6 sometimes 7 DBs. Sure, you could challenge that defense by running the ball, but the Pats know that most coaches abandon the run as they get near the end zone, and because the defense was often in zone looks, the DBs could usually sniff out the run and beat blockers to the ball. The Pats are fine giving up field goals, because they're betting on Brady and the offense scoring enough points to eventually beat your 4-5 field goals.
The Dolphins defense has no philosophy. We run an attacking front, but then we play a soft zone on the back end behind it. We take our big-bodied DBs who excel in press and then play them 8 yards off the receiver. We watch our linebackers get burned in man coverage time and time again, yet we continue to play them in obvious passing situations. How often do we play dime coverage? It's almost zero percent.
It's not just the philosophy, it's not just the scheme, it's not just the players, it's all three.