It’s hard to argue with Nick Sirianni’s response to critics of the Eagles’ unstoppable QB sneak.
The “Tush Push” has quickly become the most controversial play in football. For the uninitiated, this is the Eagles’ go-to short yardage play which is a variant on the quarterback sneak, except two players stack behind Jalen Hurts and push his butt as he burrows through the pile. It’s become damn near automatic in the NFL, and nobody has found a way to stop it.
Criticism of the Tush Push range from genuine concern for player safety considering in results in so many piles throughout the game, to thinking it’s an assault on the tenets of football itself and should be banned. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has a simple answer: If everyone could do it, they would.
“People can’t do it like we can do it.”#Eagles coach Nick Sirianni with a passionate defense of the Brotherly Shove, noting one of the cold, hard facts: Few other teams can do it. pic.twitter.com/NcTArwCN71
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2023
Sirianni isn’t wrong. Teams around the league have tried to run the Tush Push and failed, because despite looking like such a simple play, there’s actually a lot of nuance under the hood. It requires immense strength up front from the center and guard spots, nuance from the tackles to pick up edge rushers trying to reach the pile, a quarterback willing to not just sacrifice his body, but someone with the acceleration to hit the pile as quickly as possible. Finally you need timing from your pushers, so they don’t try to propel Hurts forward too early or too late.
The Tush Push is not a legitimate football play. It’s not how football was meant to be played. It’s also lame and can cause injuries. Nobody except Eagles fans will miss it once it’s banned in the off-season.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 23, 2023
The idea this play should be banned is ridiculous. Thus far no serious injuries have come from it being run, and honestly it’s Eagles’ center Jason Kelce who’s often on the receiving end of the worst from the Tush Push, as he’s typically on the bottom of the pile with as many as seven or eight players on top of him.
A rule change would specifically target one team having success on short yardage in a unique way. If this play was automatic around the NFL and truly balance warping, then maybe there would be a conversation — but calling to ax it is ridiculous.
Sirianni and the Eagles will be biting their nails this offseason when the rules committee meets to see if the play will be banned. Until then: Try to stop it. Good luck.
