NFL may ban Eagles’ QB sneak, making some current, former Steelers very happy
Share this post:
Here’s a potential NFL rule change some Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players will actually embrace for a change.
Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cameron Heyward recently ripped the idea of the NFL implementing a “hip-drop tackle” ban. But he may like the latest possible addendum to the rule book.
Heyward is one of the many defensive voices speaking out against the Philadelphia Eagles “tush push” quarterback sneak. They used it to great success this season, all the way to the Super Bowl.
On QB sneak plays, Philly puts two players behind quarterback Jalen Hurts in what almost looks like a victory formation. Hurts — renowned for having an abnormally powerful lower body by quarterback standards — then uses his drive strength and the two teammates behind him aid by shoving the signal caller from behind.
.@JalenHurts with the QB sneak!@Eagles on the board first! #FlyEaglesFly
: #SBLVII on FOX
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/d8gBDzRt2m pic.twitter.com/jfgnU4xfS8— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2023
It’s not rocket science. It’s legal. Shoving your own teammate has been legal in the NFL since 2005. Hey, the Steelers have been known to give Kenny Pickett a little shove on occasion.
Kenny Pickett sneaks in for the TD! @Steelers lead 13-10.
: #NYJvsPIT on CBS
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/95ssqnYCaC pic.twitter.com/a5lLIUXPUh— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022
Sometimes even on plays when they screw it up with an illegal motion call.
It’s just that the Eagles are really proficient at the maneuver because Hurts is so strong and center Jason Kelce is especially good at getting low and creating leverage.
But now according to Fox Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino, the league may make that play illegal.
“It amounts to a rugby scrum. The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is just not a skillful play. This is just a tactic that is not an aesthetically pleasing play, and I think the competition committee is going to take a look at it,” Blandino told The33rdTeam.com on Thursday. “I think the league is going to look at this, and I’d be shocked if they don’t make a change.”
But Heyward made the point before the Super Bowl that he felt the play was illegal because the Eagles linemen rarely get set.
“They hurry up to the ball and no one is ever set,” Heyward said on his “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast Feb. 7. “They are rolling forward, I have this on tape, we can watch it. I’m always (ticked) off in these fourth downs because it’s always so skewed to the offense. I’m just confused why they switched the rule, it used to be a penalty to push your guy forward. Nobody really noticed until the Eagles were like, ‘Oh, this is unstoppable.’”
To Heyward’s point, the rule outlawing the pushing of a teammate to gain yards used to be on the books. But Blandino says the rule was ditched because, “Officials weren’t being directed to call it, so they stopped calling it. Unfortunately, the rule book was changed to accommodate the way the game was being officiated rather than the other way around.’’
Now the action is in danger of becoming a penalty again simply because the Eagles seem to have highlighted how effective it can be and the league may want to stop the trend.
“I was talking to (Denver Broncos coach) Sean Payton during Sunday’s game, and he said we’re going to do this every time next season if they don’t take it out,’’ Blandino (NFL’s vice president of officiating from 2013-17) told The 33rd Team.
Here’s a prediction, though. When the NFL does outlaw the push — or maybe that type of formation — they won’t do so in the name of tactics or aesthetics. They will do so by way of how they amend any other rule they see fit. It’ll be in the name of (say it with me now) “player safety.”
More sports
• Jeff Capel, Pitt players try to ignore outside talk, but ACC preseason poll remains motivation
• Pirates GM: Door ‘will continue to be open’ for Bryan Reynolds on contract extension talks
• Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry’s status remains uncertain
No doubt the NFL will come up with some explanation about how shoving your own guy from behind is dangerous and could lead to more concussions or teammates falling on their own QBs legs.
But, to be fair, former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats said there may be some merit to that claim.
“You keep doing that QB sneak, your guys are going down low, your quarterback is sitting right up here, up top. Headshotted. It’s bad, it’s dirty, it’s not a good thing but you want a person to stop running that play, that’s what you do,” Moats said on his “Arthur Moats Experience” podcast. “Because you hit Jalen Hurts one time legitimately in the face as the ball carrier — you go down there and put that Riddell on him like he’s a real running back — and I can assure you they would not be calling that QB sneak as frequently.”
Moats said quarterbacks might end up exposing themselves down low as well, if that play becomes too en vogue.
“The other alternative is when they start pushing you to find a way to get your helmet right where his knee is so when they are pushing him forward his knee is driving into your helmet. That’s the thing they don’t want. It is not the most savory, but it’s an effective way and that’s why I think they’ll change the rule first before they allow that because, if I’m a (defensive coordinator), that’s the answer to it,” Moats admitted.
Wanna change a rule no one likes? Mention how it might expose a quarterback to injury. It’ll be outlawed tomorrow.
Or, in this case, two weeks from now when the competition committee meets at the league scouting combine in Indianapolis.