Playbooks

Roll 23 Cloud

Nickel·2-4·Nickel 2-4-5

Quick Reference

FormationNickel
Set2-4

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Breakdown

Roll 23 Cloud is a rollout play-action pass out of the Nickel 2-4 personnel that flows the quarterback to a designated side behind a rolling protection scheme, buying extra time against interior pressure while shrinking the throwing window to one half of the field. The route concept pairs a deep cloud route with underneath outlets, giving the quarterback a high low read to the flat and intermediate levels as he rolls. This is primarily a zone beater, exploiting the seams that open in Cover 2 and Cover 3 flat zones once the quarterback moves the picture with his feet, and the primary read progression starts with the flat defender before working up to the deeper cloud breaking route.

Defensive Reads

Read the pre-snap safety alignment first, a single high safety indicates man or Cover 3 while two high safeties suggest Cover 2 or Cover 4 cloud concepts that this play is designed to attack Watch the flat defender's depth and leverage immediately after the snap, if he sinks too deep the underneath route sits open for a quick completion Identify if the defense is bringing a contain blitz or edge pressure to the rollout side, since that pressure package is the fastest way to shut this play down before the quarterback can set his feet Look for user controlled defenders spying the rollout lane, a smart user will crash down on the quarterback and force an early, inaccurate throw Beware of Cover 4 quarters shells with disciplined corners, since they can sink into the cloud route's landing spot and undercut the throw if the quarterback is late

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or manageable third downs when you want to move the pocket away from a strong pass rush edge and simplify the quarterback's field half read

Check the strong safety and corner depth before the snap, if you see a two high shell rolling to a Cover 2 cloud technique this play attacks the exact flat defender responsible for that leverage

Use the rollout to buy time against user blitzers, since moving the pocket forces contain defenders to redirect and often opens a scramble lane if the reads are covered

Pair this with Roll Cover 3 Cloud or Roll Cover 2 Invert from the same set to keep the defense guessing on whether you are running true play-action or a designed rollout dropback

Hot route the underneath outlet into a quick out if you see a linebacker sitting in the flat zone, this gives you a rhythm throw before the pocket fully rolls out

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