The Philadelphia Eagles’ "Tush Push" or Brotherly Shove is not as automatic as people might think.
Three other NFL teams tried it in Week 4 and failed miserably.
Those three teams were the Patriots, Chargers, and Giants.
It"s not automatic, perhaps the Eagles are just really good at it.
There have been calls for the league to ban Philly’s patented quarterback sneak given how difficult it is to stop in short-yardage situations.
The Eagles are the only team with the wherewithal to pull it off consistently.
The New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and New York Giants all tried the move in Week 4 and could not get it to work.
The Patriots, Chargers, and Giants all attempted the #Eagles' tush-push this week, and all three teams failed.
It's not automatic. Perhaps the #Eagles are just really good at it…
Here are all three plays:pic.twitter.com/tFKf0emmqQ https://t.co/8sRLfhvfr8
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2023
The Eagles used it to perfection during their win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night and it ended up being one of the reasons they moved to 4-0.
Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for Philadelphia, recently spoke up in defense of the tactic and rubbished the comparisons to rugby.
I just think that rugby is much tougher than a QB sneak, in my opinion,
the 26-year-old OT said on Monday.
To call it a rugby play, I think you’re doing a disservice to the sport and the players that play rugby. I’m not for that just because of my history, just because rugby is a tough sport man…Don’t get me started when they compare it to a scrum. What are we talking about? This is ridiculous.
Mailata, who is Australian, grew up playing rugby, so he knows a thing or two about the sport. By the way, he’s not a fan of the Eagles’ sneak being called "tush push."
First off, the scrum and ruck in Rugby is way harder than a tush push or Brotherly Shove,
he explained.
Whoever started calling it "tush push" should be in jail. It’s got nothing to do with the pushes, it’s got something to do with the QB who can squat 600 pounds.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has also defended the move, pointing out that a certain tactic being unstoppable is no reason for the NFL to ban it.
I honestly just think they have the team to do the Tush Push,
he said, via Bleacher Report.
We stopped [New] England, when they tried to do the same thing to us, it’s all about who you have. The Eagles have the best o-line in the game, so yes, it’s a cheat code, they’re unstoppable at it.
We just have to deal with it, we have to adjust, we have to prepare to stop it. It’s not up to the league to say, ‘Hey, just because you can’t stop it, we have to take it away.’ No, we have to get better, we have to get stronger up front, and we have to stop it.
The “Tush Push" — or the “Brotherly Shove," as Sirianni prefers to call it — has become the subject of a hot debate around the league in recent weeks.
It"s perfectly legal and has been since 2005, when the NFL changed the rule that prohibited offensive players from pushing another player forward.
The Eagles took advantage of that and were successful running it 37 of the 41 times they tried it last season.
The Eagles utilized this special play in their 34-31 overtime victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, as Jalen Hurts converted a fourth-and-1 on the 50-yard line in the extra period to help set up the game-winning field goal.
Is this play unfair? Or are the Eagles just better at it than everyone else? On his show, “The Edge with Micah Parsons," the Dallas Cowboys star defender called it a “cheat code."
The Eagles have the best O-line in the game, so yes, it"s a cheat code. They"re unstoppable at it,
said Parsons, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
They have a quarterback who is squatting 600 [pounds], and he knows how to move his legs and push forward. So yes, it"s OD.
There is a technique that goes with this. How the interior offensive linemen get off the ball, how the quarterback pushes forward, and which gap he chooses, plus the pushers on the back end have an important duty as well.
For example, in the Giants" failure on Monday night, it appeared their three pushers were too far behind quarterback Daniel Jones something lamented by Peyton Manning on ESPN"s “ManningCast" broadcast.
On Tuesday, Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters that center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and tight end Daniel Bellinger (knee) were injured on the failed “tush push."
Daboll also told reporters that his offense walks through this play, but that it"s not a live practice rep the team works on. And that may be a reason it failed.
The Eagles have three things going for them when it comes to their “tush push" dominance:
One, they have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Two, they have a legitimate running back at quarterback who can squat 600 pounds and is tougher to take down in that situation than someone like Mac Jones.
Three, the Eagles have more experience with this play, and it"s likely something Nick Sirianni, his coaching staff and his players have worked on more than anyone else behind the scenes.
The “Tush Push" contributed significantly to Philadelphia"s journey to the Super Bowl last year, with a successful execution rate of 37 out of 41.
The play unbearably frustrates opponents.
Numerous coaches complained, prompting discussions on possibly banning the play, the NFL"s competition committee failed to formulate a voting rule that would outlaw it.
Some people worry about the play"s risk factor.
They think it could cause the quarterback, who gets pushed from behind, to get hurt.Some see this play as providing unnecessary power to the attack team. It lets them clinch some extra yards by pushing the quarterback ahead.
Certain individuals protest that this play violates the game"s rules. It seems similar to a rugby scrum involving the offensive linemen hitting low on the defense.
Others perceive the play as ungentlemanly and feel it negates the fair play rule of football.
Last year, the “Tush Push" play worked wonders for the Philadelphia Eagles. They executed it 37 out of 41 times and made it to the Super Bowl.
Those who back this play believe that its victories on the field showcase its effectiveness and legitimacy.
As of now, the NFL hasn"t outlawed the “Tush Push" play. This means, backers say, teams should be at liberty to employ it to gain an edge.
