By Haley Cohen
The NFL is a league that is based on strategy and innovation. However, the league’s first reaction to a unique way that one team has mastered is to ban that play. That target is the Tush Push. The Philadelphia Eagles have been able to perfect this short yardage play. Instead of looking to take this play away, the NFL and various football analysts should champion the time and effort it took this team to master a play like this. This play is not an unfair advantage for a team. It demonstrates how powerful teamwork and strength is in a game like football. Taking away this play would be punishment for a team’s success.
The Tush Push’s main criticism is that it is boring to watch and bad for the game. But what is really wrong with this play? There is nothing illegal about it and it still keeps the competitive balance aspect of football in the game. Conversely, it represents a team dedicated to perfecting a play that really only helps in short yardage situations. The Philadelphia Eagles are successful because they execute the play better than any other team, not just because they run the ball. With the power of Jalen Hurts, who can squat over 600 pounds and their dominant offensive line, it is not that the Eagles have an unfair advantage; they just have great players who can make this play.
Another argument people have who are trying to ban this play is bringing up player safety. While this is an understandable concern, almost every play in football puts a player at risk. When looking at the Tush Push, these claims are inflated. There has also been no evidence published that the call puts players more at risk than others. When looking at the execution of the Tush Push, it is one of the more controlled plays compared to open-field collision calls. The play came to fruition in the early years of the NFL and if there was a real safety issue, the league would have outlawed it a long time ago.
Another narrative about this play is that it is impossible to stop. This is completely false. In a league full of superstars athletes that make plays that seem impossible, why is it unfair that one team is physically stronger and more technically sound than the others? The NFL has been around for almost a century, and innovation is something that has been a hallmark throughout those years. Defensive coaches and players can work on how to defend this powerful short yardage play, and offensive coaches and players can find their own way to be as successful in this play.
Taking away the Tush Push would set a precedent that goes against the values of the NFL and the game of football. Strength, strategy, and innovation are what this league is all about. When it comes to short yardage situations, the Philadelphia Eagles have really figured out how to make the most of their talented players. Teams should want to learn from their success rather than trying to ban it. Football is a game of adaptations, better defensive strategies is the key to stopping this play, not banning it.
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