Breaking Down The Duo Run Play
I was reading about Eddie George getting the Bowling Green job the other day and I had to laugh. He said something to the effect that he was in his office at Tennessee State getting ready for “Duo Day’ when his phone rang unexpectedly about the job opportunity. I thought it was funny that George referenced “Duo Day”. There’s a head coach who’s run Duo thousands of times instilling toughness in his offensive line with the same play.
There are few football plays that can be labeled as tougher than Duo. Yes, there are the Power run game disciples out there. However; even they have to admit Duo is just a Power without the puller. It’s a chance for your offensive line to find double teams and take out their frustration on a defensive lineman. In other words, an “attitude play.”
However, like lot of football plays, the Duo run is better against some defensive fronts than others. Defensive coordinators know when they are pitted against power offenses who are looking for double teams up to the next level linebackers.
The Duo Run Has Always Been An “Attitude” Play For The Offensive Line
In order to get the double teams at the point of attack, offenses are looking for under fronts or 30 fronts. This allows them to wear out the Nose and 5 technique. The Fullback also can get inside out vs an Outside Linebacker who is normally dropping.
To counter this defenses like the over and tite fronts because it makes the double teams harder to find. They also often leave a Tight End one on one vs a bigger, more physical Defensive End. Good offensive coordinators will shift, trade and even go to an unbalanced line to avoid this.
So it depends on who has the chalk last as to how effective the Duo run game can be. It will be dialed up early and often by some offenses looking for two or three yards on a short yardage situation. Based on Eddie George’s comments after being hired by Bowling Green, the Falcons’ offensive line better get ready for “Duo Day” this spring and fall.
