Consistently competitive and always entertaining, the Dallas Cowboys are preparing once again to host their traditional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles.
A stand-out topic in the lead-up to this game is the Eagles’ exceptional short-yardage playbook.
Starting off with Philly’s QB push play, the Eagles have, over recent games, proved their mastery of this play. It seems the Eagles have cracked the code, effortlessly executing their short-yardage play even under intense pressure.
Many have claimed it’s unstoppable, while others argue it has shifted the first and 10 to something more manageable like first and eight.
One of the individuals who hold no issue about the Eagles’ approach is Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. He admits that the controversial play is not a concern for him.
Earlier this season, during a press conference, Jones confirmed he holds no issue with the short-yardage play the Eagles have been utilizing so effectively, stating it is a smart football strategy.
“I don’t have that kind of issue with those techniques,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. “That to me will ultimately take care of itself. . . . Those things have a way of being adjusted after a period of time. Usually, it’s cyclical. And when you see something really going, gets an edge on offense, you’ll see the defense catch up with it. . . . And so I think you’ll ultimately see that plugged up, and they’ll be doing something else.”
As the Cowboys prepare to host the Eagles, Jerry Jones continues to have no issues with Philly's QB push play. https://t.co/JYX7jMkvPg
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 6, 2023
This statement has stirred a debate with some arguing that the pushing aspect is stretching the rules.
Jones, however, holds a different perspective. His belief is that the pushing doesn’t make much of a difference to the outcome of the play.
“I don’t know that the pushing aspect of it is where the battle is won,” Jones said. “I think it’s the initial get off. I think it’s the initial positioning. I think it’s the lineman getting underneath the defensive guy. I think it’s the art of the quarterback to feel the soft spots, the crack. . . . But I think there’s an art of the deal here. And to me, it’s not a problem.”
Jones wisely points out that the Eagles’ push play is only made successful due to the high caliber of their offensive line.
This, combined with the abilities of their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, proves that the Eagles don’t rely solely on pushing from behind to gain yards.
Unforgettably, quarterback Jalen Hurts has been key to executing this play successfully.
His ability to find and exploit gaps, coupled with his relentless agility and speed, allows the Eagles to keep their opponents guessing and off balance.
