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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Duo out of Singleback Bunch is a downhill power run play built to displace the front with double team blocks at the point of attack before climbing to the second level. The diagram shows a lone wideout isolated on the backside with no route assigned, confirming this is a run play rather than a pass or RPO, while the HB takes a slight angle handoff toward the strong side bunch look. The blocking scheme uses the bunch alignment to create natural double teams and combo blocks on the play side defensive linemen, with the primary read being the frontside double team and how the linebacker flows before deciding between the B gap and bouncing outside.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for a stacked box or extra defender crashing the strong side bunch alignment, since this signals the defense is loading up to beat the double team at the point of attack. Watch linebacker depth off the ball, shallow linebackers who key the mesh point quickly can beat Duo to the hole before the double team finishes its climb. Post-snap, track the play side double team block, if the defensive lineman gets a push and forces a bounce outside, the run loses its designed gap integrity. User the backside linebacker or safety to spy the cutback lane, since Duo relies on the running back reading the block and bouncing if the interior gap closes. This run struggles against gap-sound 4-3 fronts and defenses that stay disciplined in their run fits, but it can gash zone blitz teams and defenses that overpursue with linebackers flowing too fast to the play side.
Usage Tips
Run this from the Bunch look on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep defenses honest against your bunch pass concepts in the same set.
Pre-snap, check the box count and make sure you are not outnumbered against a 4-3 over or bear front, since Duo needs a hat on a hat at the point of attack.
Identify if the defense is showing a stacked box with a linebacker cheating downhill, and if so consider audibling to HB Slash or HB Dive out of the same personnel to hit a quicker gap.
Use your user-controlled blocker to help seal the backside edge defender if the play side double team gets beat, this prevents backdoor pursuit from blowing up the cutback lane.
Pair this with Counter Y and HB Ace Power from the same set so defenses cannot sit on one blocking scheme and linebackers stay hesitant on their run fits.
