The “push and tush” move, used so successfully by the Eagles is taking centre stage, again.
It seems every week someone and their dog is taking potshots at the move, which sees centre Jason Kelce start the move, supporting quarterback Jalen Hurts and invariably leading to a rushing TD.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni believes the move will continue to confound opposition all season, after the Eagles smashed the Dolphins 31-17 in their week 7 encounter.
The move is also known as “Brotherly Love,” and has helped the team to a 6-1 record and almost certainties for the playoffs, even at this early stage of the season.
“It’s first-and-9 every down,” Sirianni said following Sunday night’s victory over Miami. “Every first down, it’s first-and-9. Knowing that if you get to fourth-and-1, shoot, a lot of faith in that play. So, it was awesome.
“Again, Jason Kelce starts it off. Jalen Hurts was right there. Because you’ve seen it across the league that people can’t do it like we can do it. They can’t do it like we can do it.”
There is nothing stopping other teams employing this tactic, and opposition coaches have surely analysed it down to a tee. But it seems no defense can stop the Hurts/Kelce juggernaut.
Every successful push and score by the Eagles lead to talk the move will get banned, but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, rugby players do it, without pads and helmets, so if it ensures a score, we say go for it.
