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Could the Patriots adopt the ‘tush push’? Here’s what Josh McDaniels said.
"Obviously the Eagles are exceptional at it and have been for a few years now. I don't dislike the play.
FOXBOROUGH — If the tush push vote was scored like a football game, those in favor of keeping it in the game would have won by two touchdowns.
The league’s 32 franchises voted overwhelmingly to keep it in play for the foreseeable future. There were 22 teams in favor of keeping the controversial play legal, while ten were in favor of banning it.
The tush push is a variation of a quarterback sneak where several players line up behind the quarterback and push him forward over the line he is attempting to cross.
The play was popularized by the Eagles, but several other teams have used it. According to ESPN, 12 different teams have scored on tush push plays since 2022.
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Could the Patriots be next? Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels spoke Monday about the challenges of practicing the play, but also said he isn’t ruling it out.
“I’ve never done it. That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t do it,” McDaniels said. “I think it depends on if you need that to gain additional inertia and move the ball forward. Obviously the Eagles are exceptional at it and have been for a few years now. I don’t dislike the play. I think each team is probably going to make their decision.”
One factor that could cause the Patriots to hold off on implementing it is the potential to hurt defensive players in practice. Goal line plays are already physical, with lots of contact. The tush push specifically requires players to get low and fight for as much leverage as they can while the quarterback is being propelled forward.
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Working on the play in practice with the proper intensity can be a risky proposition, McDaniels said.
“It’s not an easy play to practice in full pads and get good at,” McDaniels said. “Because we’re obviously not going to create a bunch of scrums on the practice field with our own defense and risk injuries and those kinds of things.
“You’re going to have to find creative ways to do that if you’re going to do it,” he added. “I’m sure defending it is the same conversation. How do we defend this if we’re not allowed to dive at the center’s legs and all the things that defenses try to do to stop it.”
The Patriots were famously good at executing quarterback sneaks under McDaniels while Tom Brady was the quarterback.
But, it’s a new era with a new head coach calling the shots in Foxborough.
“We’ll look at everything that may help our team win, and certainly [Mike Vrabel] will make the final decision on that,” said McDaniels.
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