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Tush Push Blocking Question
So, I am high, and watching highlights of the Eagles-Rams game, and Philly has run a few tush push plays. Their white uniforms really stick out on that field and against the Rams yellow pants.
Travis Kelce got flagged today for an illegal low block. What is the difference between Travis going low like that, and how the Philly offensive linemen dive at the knees of the defenders? Because, watching these highlights, that's actually what they are doing. They dive at the knees of the defenders. How is that legal? If it is legal, why is blocking low on a regular play, like Travis did, illegal? I believe that the block Travis threw was illegal and I think it is illegal with good reason, which is those blocks usually happen to defenders who don't see it coming, causing injuries, but purposely diving at a defenders knees seems like it should just be illegal. What is the rule, or rules, and what do you think? |
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If the defensive lineman wasn't sure if you were going to dive at his knees, or block up high, he would have to hesitate slightly, or possibly risk having his career ended because he planted his feet as his knees were hit. |
Players are so athletic if they see you dive at your knees you just juke around it. Kelce's block today was coming down the line and the guy's momentum was going in one direction.
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I'm actually surprised that some DL haven't started trying to take out the knees of the OL for the Eagles. Most OL and DL that I ever knew kinda had an unwritten rule of "don't end my career with a dirty hit and I won't end yours". Going at a defender's knees/ankles was always considered "dirty".
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I thought the rule had something to do with being a blind side blocker. In this case, since Kelce was coming from outside (the tackle box), the defender did not see him coming. In the Eagles case, it's the guys right in front of you. Not the same thing.
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Also, I believe that rule came about because of the dirty, cheating Denver Broncos and their style led to many players' seasons or careers ending.
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Kelce hit the defender low while an O-Lineman hit him high. That's why he got the penalty.
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I've wondered why it's not done more often by entire offensive lines. The broncos got two Super Bowl trophies with no real talent, purely because they had an offensive philosophy of diving at defenders' knees. Apparently it wasn't illegal to do and it works since defenders can't plant their feet, so why did other teams not adopt it?
As improbable as it sounds, I do think there's an honor code in the NFL and it's such an abhorrent thing to do that teams (other than the broncos) won't do it. Kelce's block was just an aberration of positioning and movement, obviously. It'll happen occasionally by accident, and that's not a huge issue. |
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Now. Why don’t we put Jet in the qb spot and run this play on short yardage?
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I'm assuming that more teams didn't pick up on it because it's hard to continue blocking and flowing with the play when your OL is rolling around on the ground trying to trip up defenders. Quote:
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What about using a super jumbo line, backup OTs and all big bodies up front? Because that is mostly all the Eagles do at the goalline. I saw Hurts try a fake tush push last week and he fell down all over himself, and then they just ran the push next play and got it.
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I was really high, and it just seems dirty for an entire offensive line to dive at the knees.
Instead of lining up traditionally, maybe we need to have Nnadi and Coburn lay on the ground, parallel to the LOS, with players ready to roll them forward at the snap. Can't get under someone already on the ground [emoji1787] |
DLs are never going to be able to stop the tush push until they begin to put several big bodies behind their DTs at the point of attack. it's just simple physics. All other things being equal, the greater mass always move the smaller mass, period.
PHI has been mostly driving behind the C and the LG, in every game I've watched PHI. A quick check of their OLs respective weights tells us why. Their LG weighs in at about 335-lbs, while their RG 'only' weighs 304. And then you have Hurts (223), a RB (approx. 200), and usually one of their TEs (Goedert, 256), all pushing directly behind the C and the LG. That's about 1300-lbs. of mass all focused on and pushing against just two DLs, that are usually not quite as massive as their OL counterparts, but 300-lbs each is about the norm. So, 1,300-lbs of mass vs. 600-lbs. No contest, they're going to win that battle every single time. If defenses are going to win that fight, they're going to have to put a couple (or three) big guys behind their DTs, just to get them back to an even footing, mass-wise. Until then, PHI's tush push will always work, against every defense. |
They should call it Rugby , because that's what it is.
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