2025 Duo Research and Development: Case 1 – The Tackle Pull Variant

“When you run Duo to a three-man front with no weak overhang, the Tackle does nothing and fans to no one. So, why not just add him to the play side?”- Mario Acitelli, offensive line coach/run game coordinator, Utah State University

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

We’re all looking for ways to produce an extra hat to the play side of run schemes.

And with all the Odd front structures infiltrating the CAA conference, William and Mary offensive coordinator Mario Acitelli tweaked his Duo concept; by allowing his backside Tackle to pull and be part of the action play side. “When you run Duo to a three-man front with no weak overhang, the Tackle does nothing and fans to no one,” he said. “So, we decided we would pull him for the high safety and block everyone else the same.”

The Tackle is tasked to pull to the play side to handle the extra support defender. It became an immediate answer for weak-side pressure. “You can search the flanker to handle that, but it limits you formationally,” Coach Acitellii said. “If the weak safety blitzes you are pulling off the end, but the safety would be sitting there.”

So, when the backside Guard is uncovered- as he would be in Odd looks- he simply blocks the C gap defender, clearing the Tackle to pull.

Against Even looks, the D gap defender essentially becomes the read for the quarterback.

Visual Evidence:

The tutorial below will give you a better understanding of the Duo Tackle Pull 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).