This NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles used a fairly controversial tactic for their quarterback attacks, having players line up behind star quarterback Jalen Hurts and push him forward to above the line of scrimmage to ensure he gets the required positive yardage. But it appears the NFL is considering a rule change that would make the practice illegal.
According to a report from NFL reporter Mark Maske of the Washington Post, NFL executive Troy Vincent said the league’s competition committee has already had discussions about the quarterback’s controversial play.
“The NFL’s Troy Vincent said the competition committee discussed today the possibility of offensive teams having players push the quarterback on QBs with a sneak. The topic will continue to be reviewed during the offseason, Vincent said,” Maske wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
The NFL’s Troy Vincent said the competition committee had a discussion today about offensive teams asking players to push the quarterback on QB sneaks. The topic will continue to be reviewed during the offseason, Vincent said.
– MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) February 26, 2023
NFL.com’s Judy Battista added a little more context to the news, explaining why some teams might want the controversial play to continue to be allowed.
“Troy Vincent said the committee discussed the QB push/sneak at length. I will return to the subject at a later meeting next month. Some have argued that this should be allowed and expect more offensive plays to come from it,” Battista said in a tweet.
Troy Vincent said the committee discussed the QB push/sneak at length. I will return to the subject at a later meeting next month. Some have argued that this should be allowed and expect more offensive plays to come from it.
– Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 26, 2023
Many other people had thoughts on the potential change, some supporting the proposal and others against.
See if more teams start doing it and if defenses adapt to stop it. If teams start to push into their own territory and there is actually a chance of a stop, this could become a solid game. https://t.co/TVe4eRixfU
– Kyle Kelpin (@Kyle_withaK) February 26, 2023
Promoting offense is great. Crippling defense is not. https://t.co/s34xXA4oL0
–James Kurdziel (@JamesRadio) February 26, 2023
The NFL, man…
*Create solutions to problems that don’t exist.
*Ignoring problems that actually need solutions. https://t.co/hI1fkuGPsQ–Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) February 27, 2023
Baby boomers, man. Exploring this is like millennials exploring cutting up avocado toast to afford a house. https://t.co/Rb4lXsmpJI
– The Packer Ranter (@PackerRanter) February 27, 2023
They need to eliminate all push plays. Moving the standing pile five yards is also bad football. You can’t help the runner. It’s not difficult. https://t.co/rOBloJjrjI
–James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) February 27, 2023
Remove the pusher part from it. I don’t know why they started allowing it anyway. Defenders don’t have much of a chance to stop this when the offense can put players behind to push. https://t.co/49fbohD81M
— Big Ten football 3-6-6. Announcement by summer (@Genetics56) February 27, 2023
The Eagles thought they had it all figured out! https://t.co/z6KwY8qLiO
– Off-season Chopz (@Pchopz_) February 27, 2023
We’ll have to wait and see if the league decides to change the rule or keep it for another season.
