Playbooks

Roll 23 Cloud

Nickel·3-3 Over·Nickel 4-2-5

Quick Reference

FormationNickel

In 10 playbooks

Colts DefenseDefenseJets DefenseDefenseLions DefenseDefensePatriots DefenseDefenseSteelers DefenseDefenseNFL Live Colts DefenseDefenseNFL Live Jets DefenseDefenseNFL Live Lions DefenseDefenseNFL Live Patriots DefenseDefenseNFL Live Steelers DefenseDefense

Breakdown

Roll 23 Cloud is a defensive coverage call out of the Nickel 3-3 Over set, not an offensive play, and it functions as a zone coverage rollout designed to defend the flat and cloud (curl to flat) area on one side of the field while rotating the secondary away from a strong side rollout look. The scheme rolls the coverage shell toward the tight end or trips side, with the cornerback playing the cloud technique to jam and squeeze the flat while the safety rotates over the top for deep quarter or half support. The primary read progression for the defense is to identify the quarterback's roll direction and pattern match the flat defender to any wide receiver or running back releasing into the boundary, then work inside out to the deep threats as the coverage rotates.

Defensive Reads

Read the quarterback's shoulders and first step at the snap to confirm the rollout direction and get your cloud defender flowing with the play instead of sitting flat footed Key the tight end or slot receiver release, if they release outside for a flat or corner route the cloud defender should squeeze and not let them stack vertically Watch for play-action rollouts that hold the cloud defender in the box for a beat too long, this coverage is vulnerable to a deep comeback or deep out if your cornerback bites on the run fake This shell holds up well against quick game and boundary flat concepts but can be exposed by four verticals or deep crossers if the safety rotation is late, so get your eyes to the deep half quickly once you confirm pass Beware of user controlled receivers running double moves against the cloud defender, since the technique commits to the flat and can be beaten by a sluggo or out and up if you jump the route too early

Usage Tips

Call Roll 23 Cloud on early downs when you expect the offense to run play-action rollouts or bootlegs toward the trips or tight end side of the formation

Pre-snap, identify if the offense has a heavy run or rollout tendency to one side and shade your cloud defender toward that landmark before the snap

Use this call in obvious run down and distance situations like second and short or first and ten to bait quarterback rollouts while still keeping numbers in the box

Combine this with Cover 3 Cloud and Roll Cover 3 Cloud in your play calling sequence so the offense sees a similar shell but cannot key on which direction the roll and cloud technique will come from

Hot route the flat defender into a tighter cloud alignment against teams that spam quick out routes or flat routes off play-action, and user the underneath defender if you expect a shallow crosser or flat route beater

Other Plays in 3-3 Over