“The Tush Push,” the “Brotherly Shove,” or cheating – no matter what you call it (and people have called it a lot since it became a thing a year ago), the Philadelphia Eagles have definitely gotten attention with their short-yardage play where the line and all other 11 players, it seems, shove quarterback Jalen Hurts forward.
Here’s a video example of the play: Eagles Running The “Brotherly Shove”
Some people have called for it to be banned. I don’t really get that one. Some people have said it’s a competitive disadvantage for the other team. OK – this is the National Football League. Find a way to stop it.
It’s not like it always works. Last weekend against the Rams, they ran the play six times, and successfully got a first down on four of them. On the season, according to ESPN.com’s statistics, the Eagles have ran the play 16 times in five games, and are 13-of-16 converting it to a first down or touchdown.
The latest comments on the play came Wednesday from the New York Jets, whom the Eagles will face on Sunday. The Jets have seen the play a couple of times this season already.
“It’s a unique style, just the way they get down there, in that rugby stance, and get low,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “It’s just really hard for defenses to get under and get that push. That’s really the main thing. Besides that, they’ve got three guys behind and pushing him, so it starts the defense off at a disadvantage.”
There is this: the Eagles, Jets coach Robert Saleh said, are running other plays out of the formation, making teams believe the shove is coming, but then running a jump pass, or a reverse.
Some offenses are copying the play, but not to the success of the Eagles.
“[I have] a lot of respect for it because other teams are trying to do it, too, but the reality is they’re really good at it,” Saleh said.
Philadelphia is one of two unbeaten teams left in the league; San Francisco is the other. Both are 5-0. The Jets are 2-3, and coming off of a win at Denver.
