The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the best teams in the NFL over the past few seasons. One area they have dominated is in short-yardage situations. This is, of course, thanks to the “Tush Push,” the play that has sparked debate among NFL fans and analysts. In the past two offseasons, owners of other teams have tried to get the play banned, but to no avail. Star running back Saquon Barkley weighed in on the debate recently, and he didn’t hold back.
Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley On The Tush Push
Teams have claimed it isn’t a legal play and that it compromises player safety. However, other teams have often tried versions of the play but have not had the success the Philadelphia Eagles have had. Saquon Barkley believes that if teams want the Eagles to stop running the play, they should get better at putting up resistance to it.
“If you don’t like it, get better at stopping it. It’s not like a play that, you know, we only can do. Everybody does it. Everyone tries it. We’re just super successful at it. They were super successful before I was there. I know what it does to a team, how it breaks down a team, and now being on a team, you’re lining up and everyone knows what you’re doing, and it’s like, ‘stop me.’ And they can’t. So they’re gonna be in their feels about it, gonna try to make changes, but I don’t see that happening. And if it doesn’t, just get better at stopping it.”
Teams have had two years to analyze the tape on the play. Undoubtedly, defensive coordinators with the Philadelphia Eagles on their schedule this year have already started coming up with ideas to stop the play. However, it has to make it past the owners meetings later this month.
Will It Be Banned?
Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports a bid to ban the Tush Push isn’t dead yet. The NFL owners meet on May 20 and 21, and the owners are expected to vote on a revised proposal for the ban. It would need a two-thirds vote to go through, and half of the teams voted in favor of the ban before the revision. That is a fairly large gap, but not one that is insurmountable. The Philadelphia Eagles and their fans will have to keep a close eye on those meetings.
Final Thoughts
I’ll say this about the play. I was okay with it until late in the season, during a game where the Philadelphia Eagles were playing the Washington Commanders. Washington was trying to time the snap count and kept jumping offsides. The Eagles kept lining up for the Tush Push, and eventually, the head referee said that if this continued, they would simply award the touchdown. Nobody wants that. I don’t want to watch a game where the refs can award scores like that.
I’m not sure whether the play should be banned or not. Like Saquon Barkley said, find a way to stop it. However, if the product becomes subpar because of it, it might be time to change things up.
