Dolphins players react to Eagles’ use of ‘Tush Push’
PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles faced a fourth-and-1 from their own 26-yard line in the fourth quarter on Sunday night.
Philadelphia was leading Miami by a touchdown. Then their coach, Nick Sirianni, made what might seem like an outrageously bold call, but really isn’t at all.
Tush Push.
“They’ve got a play that’s hard to stop,” Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker said. “I don’t know if anybody ever stopped it. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to stop it again.”
Was Baker surprised Philadelphia tried the quarterback sneak in which Jalen Hurts is shoved from behind from their own 26, with the game on the line?
“Not at all,” Baker said. “I mean, what’s the percentage of them winning it?”
On Sunday night, the Eagles were 4-for-4 on the controversial, polarizing Tush Push.
Perhaps the NFL will ban it in the offseason, citing safety concerns.
After the game, Sirianni suggested that they execute the play so well they view first down as a first-and-9.
“People can’t do it like we do it,” Sirianni said. “Don’t ban this play. If everybody could do it, everybody would do it.”
It’s certainly not entertaining to watch what is a essentially a rugby scrum.
Yes, Philadelphia is especially successful at it (90 percent plus) because of Hurts’ strong lower body and a powerful and talented offensive line.
But it sure frustrates opponents, trying to stop a football play that really doesn’t seem to look or play out how football was meant to be played.
The Eagles used the Tush Push twice on what was essentially the game-sealing drive in a 31-17 victory. Sirianni went for it from his own 26 and his own 37.
“Look at the success,” Dolphins edge rusher Jalean Phillips said, agreeing with the notion that it’s really not even a high-risk play for the Eagles.
“Eventually, somebody’s going to figure out a way to stop it, somehow,” Phillips added. “I don’t know. Or they’ll ban it. What are you going to do?”
Joe Schad is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on social media platforms @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing.