2025 Duo Research and Development – Case 2: The Bunch Duo Concept

“Everybody loves when Duo hits for 8 yards up the A gap, but we’ve had many more explosives on sprays when backers plug downhill and get trapped. The unblocked defender is usually the corner who is the worst tackler on the field.”
- Ryan Olson, assistant offensive line coach, Northwestern University

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Researcher/Co-Founder
X&O Labs
@MikeKKuchar

Duo runs are cutback runs in nature, so why not create a larger surface to provide the back with more entry points? Made sense. Which is why so many coaches across all levels are designing Duo runs from bunch formations. This allows a bigger Z to fold block on the support defender (often a safety) and forcing the corner- often the weakest tackler on the defense- to be the free hitter.

It’s built off a two-man surface into the boundary, which provides an easy declaration for the point linebacker (or will linebacker). This is where the play side combination is working to.

Remember, most coaches declare the play side of Duo to be the backside of the run action because that is naturally where the ball is going to wind back. This means that the combinations will work to the two-surface box linebacker and will rarely “point out” to any defender who is outside the point- a defender who will typically be a non-factor in the run game. The combinations on the backside (or compressed side) are working to the minus one linebacker in the box.

The backside tight end is given “sift rules,” where he is asked to stay as thick as he can on C gap defender. If the C gap defender hangs in the gap, the tight end will slow sift him to keep leverage.

If the C gap defender sticks inside, the tight end works him down the line of scrimmage.

The ball carrier is taught to press his aiming point on the inside hip of the center. Many coaches teach a “bang” or “bend” read on the minus one backer.

If he is a downhill fitter, the ball is taught to “bend” behind him.

If there is any back gap action where the minus one works outside, the ball is taught to “bang” inside and cram downhill.

I did talk to numerous coaches like the staff at the University of Buffalo, who will teach the point linebacker as the read in Duo. While the back is given the same post-snap “bang” or “bend” options above, they will talk more in pre-snap language based on the location of the point.

If the point is the play side “A-gap” cylinder, the back is expected to cut back behind him.

If the point is in the backside “A-gap” cylinder, the back is expected to hit front side.

Visual Evidence:

The tutorial below will give you a better understanding of the Bunch Duo Concept Variant.

Editor’s Note: In this report, Mike reveals the details of how this works, and best practices, and, he identifies who else is using it. And, as always, Mike includes a lot of video and diagrams—as well as shares where to find more game film in X&O Labs’ Film Room. Login below to get unlock the full report (and if you’re not a member, click the ‘Join’ button in the upper right-hand corner of this page).