Playbooks

Roll Ring

Dime·2-3-6·Big Dime 4-1-6

Quick Reference

FormationDime

In 14 playbooks

Cardinals DefenseDefenseCowboys DefenseDefenseEagles DefenseDefensePackers DefenseDefensePanthers DefenseDefenseRams DefenseDefenseSaints DefenseDefenseNFL Live Cardinals DefenseDefenseNFL Live Cowboys DefenseDefenseNFL Live Eagles DefenseDefenseNFL Live Packers DefenseDefenseNFL Live Panthers DefenseDefense

Breakdown

Roll Ring is a zone coverage play out of the Dime 2-3-6 set that rolls the secondary to one side while dropping into a ring-style zone shell underneath and deep. It is built as a zone beater against man concepts and a solid answer to quick game route combos, using the roll motion of the secondary to compress passing windows on the boundary. The primary read progression starts with the flow of the roll: identify which direction the coverage is sliding, then key the underneath ring defenders working from the sideline inward before working back to the deep middle defender for any post-snap crossers.

Defensive Reads

Watch the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap since Roll Ring is designed to bait throws into the flow direction where your underneath defenders are rolling to. If the offense runs a backside dig or deep cross away from the roll, that is the primary way to beat this coverage, so keep an eye on the deep middle defender staying home instead of following the flow. Man beater route combos with immediate breaks, like quick slants or speed outs to the roll side, get eaten up by the compressed underneath zone, making this a bad matchup for shallow crossing routes into the flow. Look for running backs leaking out on wheel routes to the backside of the roll, since that is the natural void this coverage leaves if the linebackers overcommit to the flow direction. Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback alignment on the backside, if the corner is playing off with no help behind him, expect the offense to attack that single high void with a deep comeback or post route.

Usage Tips

Use Roll Ring on third and medium to third and long situations where offenses are likely to run quick out and slant combos into the boundary you are rolling toward.

Pre-snap, identify if the offense is showing a bunch or stack look designed to overload the roll side, and adjust your run support defender to shade toward that leverage point.

Hot route your underneath ring defenders to widen if you see trips or 3x1 sets attacking the flat with double outs, since the base zone drops can get picture'd by quick game.

Pair this call with Cover 3 Buzz Mable or Cover 6 Willie earlier in a series so quarterbacks who diagnosed the roll direction get caught off guard by a different shell disguise on the next snap.

Avoid calling this on obvious deep shot downs since the roll technique creates a natural seam behind the flow if the quarterback resets and throws back to the backside dead zone.

Other Plays in 2-3-6