Fans may have started to turn on the tush push, but the reaction isn’t as one-sided within NFL circles.
Late in the Eagles‘ win over the Chiefs this past Sunday, Philadelphia ran the tush push multiple times — to uncharacteristically inconsistent results. That is, it didn’t work 100 percent of the time. It also appears that Philadelphia’s offensive line jumped offside multiple times.
Social media was ripe with pushback on the play, which was almost banned in the offseason. Here’s what our reporters heard from NFL scouts, executives and coaches.
The video of the Eagles’ guards jumping offsides on the tush push might add fuel to the critics’ fire, but not everyone is convinced it’s as damning as it seems.
“I don’t love the play, but they usually run it a lot cleaner than that,” an NFC scout told me. “If they were offsides every time they ran it, there would’ve been a lot more support to ban it [in the offseason].”
The scout additionally disagreed with FOX Sports activities guidelines analyst Dean Blandino, who stated through the recreation broadcast that the tush push is “a tough play to officiate.”
“I feel the officers simply blew it on that play,” the scout stated. “I imply, how do you not see the motion? They simply missed it.” – Ralph Vacchiano
READ MORE: Dean Blandino: ’50-50′ if Tush Push Survives After Eagles-Chiefs Controversy
There’s no scarcity of angst surrounding the tush push this week. And it’s not simply on social media. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid fastidiously defined after the sport that he felt like Philly’s offensive linemen had been going early. Reid doubled down on that sentiment on Monday.
“If guys are transferring early, then you definately’ve bought to name that,” the Okay.C. coach stated. “So, [the NFL will] return and have a look at that and see what their analysis is of it. It could possibly be totally different than mine. Mine, I felt like the fellows had been transferring. That’s why I used to be griping about it on the sideline there with the officers. … They’ll have an opportunity to guage it, and I’ll be curious to see what the response is.”
Across the league, many groups are simply as curious to listen to the league’s response. Keep in mind, 22 of the 32 NFL groups voted to ban the play within the offseason, falling simply two votes shy of ratification.
“They’ve clearly mastered it, however let’s not allow them to cheat at it on the identical time,” an AFC govt informed me.
Through the NFL’s largest recreation of the common season, the tush push was entrance and middle because the Eagles beat the Chiefs. (David Eulitt/Getty Photos)
Might this imply it is the start of the tip for the tush push?
“It may,” the manager stated. “I imply if the officers really feel they will’t officiate it appropriately, then the dialogue must be revisited on permitting it.”
Through the offseason, the Packers proposed a tush push ban on the premise of participant security, however there weren’t exhausting numbers to legitimize the declare that the play is extra harmful than another soccer play. That is a part of why the vote fell brief on the homeowners conferences in Might.
But when this play continues to be uncontrolled of the officers — or at the least seems to be — which may make a extra convincing case subsequent offseason. It’ll be on the Eagles to play it cleanly so that they don’t give opponents of the “Brotherly Shove” any extra leverage. – Henry McKenna
Are we witnessing the start of the tip of the tush push?
“I hope so,” an NFL personnel govt informed me. “The refs even admit it’s an unimaginable play to officiate.
“I’ve by no means appreciated the ‘pushing’ being allowed,” the manager added. “However I don’t suppose the Eagles have any extra benefit than anyone else, besides they do it the perfect. Credit score to them.”
A longtime coach within the league additionally thinks the tush push must be disallowed, saying it’s a security concern despite the fact that the information up thus far hasn’t proven an uptick in accidents with the play.
“It’s lawless now,” the coach informed me. “Somebody’s going to get damage. Like, Jalen Hurts goes to get damage. After which the place are we? The Eagles are a playoff staff, however they’re not going to win a Tremendous Bowl [without Hurts].
“It’s not good for the model of the NFL.” – Eric D. Williams
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