Henry McKenna
NFL Reporter
Ralph Vacchiano
NFL Reporter
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 mentioned in the course of the sport broadcast that the tush push is “a tough play to officiate.”
“I feel the officers simply blew it on that play,” the scout mentioned. “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 have been going early. Reid doubled down on that sentiment on Monday.
“If guys are transferring early, then you definitely’ve bought to name that,” the Okay.C. coach mentioned. “So, [the NFL will] return and have a look at that and see what their analysis is of it. It may very well be completely different than mine. Mine, I felt like the fellows have 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 judge 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 advised me.
In the course of the NFL’s greatest sport of the common season, the tush push was entrance and middle because the Eagles beat the Chiefs. (David Eulitt/Getty Photographs)
May this imply it is the start of the top for the tush push?
“It may,” the chief mentioned. “I imply if the officers really feel they’ll’t officiate it appropriately, then the dialogue must be revisited on permitting it.”
In the course of the offseason, the Packers proposed a tush push ban on the idea 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 quick on the homeowners conferences in Could.
But when this play continues to be uncontrolled of the officers — or no less than 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 top of the tush push?
“I hope so,” an NFL personnel govt advised me. “The refs even admit it’s an inconceivable play to officiate.
“I’ve by no means favored the ‘pushing’ being allowed,” the chief added. “However I don’t suppose the Eagles have any extra benefit than anyone else, besides they do it one of the best. Credit score to them.”
A longtime coach within the league additionally thinks the tush push needs to be disallowed, saying it’s a security concern although the info up thus far hasn’t proven an uptick in accidents with the play.
“It’s lawless now,” the coach advised me. “Somebody’s going to get harm. Like, Jalen Hurts goes to get harm. 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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