Playbooks
2-3-6 Will
At a Glance
In 14 playbooks
Overview
2-3-6 Will is a defensive set inside Dime, so the framing flips: instead of route combos you are managing two down linemen, three linebacker level bodies, and six defensive backs. The 2-3-6 alignment keeps the Will linebacker as the primary spill and rush candidate off the weak side, which separates it from standard Dime 1-4-6 or 3-2-6 looks where the interior is either overloaded with speed or anchored by a true nose. Two defensive linemen means less natural interior push, but it buys you an extra second level defender who can be sent from depth, cover a hook, or blanket an angle route without you needing to burn a corner in the box.
Strengths
- Six defensive backs let you match empty and 3x1 trips sets without checking personnel, so opponents cannot bait you into a bad matchup with a fast motion.
- Zero Blitz, Edge Blitz 1, Edge Blitz 2, and Edge Blitz 3 all attack from the same shell, which means you can run identical pre-snap disguises and send pressure from three different levels.
- Cover 3 Buzz Match, Cover 3 Lock, and Cover 6 give you three distinct answers to the same trips look, so you can rotate coverage families instead of leaning on one shell all game.
- The Will alignment is a clean user-controlled defender spot: sitting there lets you rob the middle hook and jump crossers and dig routes that normally split Cover 3.
- Tampa 2 and Cover 2 Sink out of a six DB personnel package take away the deep middle seam shot without forcing you to play a linebacker in coverage he cannot handle.
Weaknesses
- Two down linemen means almost zero natural pressure, so any four man rush play like Cover 4 Drop or Cover 3 Hard Flat gives a competent quarterback all day to work through progressions.
- Inside run and heavy sets gash this personnel, especially with a lead blocker, because you have three linebackers max and no true two gap nose to hold the A gaps.
- Zero Blitz and Overload 3 Seam Press leave a corner or safety isolated in press with no help, so a single win off the line turns into a touchdown.
- Play action rollouts and QB scrambles punish the Edge Blitz family since your rushers vacate the edge and your spy options are limited to Cover 1 Contain Spy.
- Users who identify the six DB package pre-snap will simply audible into power run or a tight end heavy concept and grind out chunk gains on the ground.
Usage Tips
Bring this set out on third and long, obvious two minute situations, and any snap where the offense shows empty or 3x1 with no threat of a run check.
Alternate Cover 3 Buzz Match and Cover 2 Man from the same alignment so the offense cannot read your rotation off the safety depth before the snap.
User the Will linebacker or the deep middle on the Cover 3 calls, and let the AI handle the flats since your six DBs already outnumber the underneath threats.
When you need pressure, disguise it: line up in Cover 4 Drop, then audible to Edge Blitz 2 or SS Zone Blitz late so the quarterback sets protection against the wrong look.
Get out of 2-3-6 Will entirely if the offense subs in heavier personnel or motions a back into the formation, because your run fit gets exposed immediately.
