This NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles employed quite a controversial tactic on their quarterback sneaks, having players line up behind star quarterback Jalen Hurts and push him forward over the line of scrimmage to ensure he gets the positive yardage required. But it looks like the NFL is considering a rule change that would make this practice illegal.
According to a report from NFL reporter Mark Maske of The Washington Post, NFL executive Troy Vincent said that the league’s competition committee has already had discussions about the controversial quarterback push play.
“The NFL’s Troy Vincent said the competition committee had a discussion today of offensive teams having players push the quarterback on QB sneaks. 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 of offensive teams having players push the quarterback on QB sneaks. The topic will continue to be reviewed during the offseason, Vincent said.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) February 26, 2023
Judy Battista of NFL.com added a little more context to the news, providing an argument for why some teams might want the controversial play to continue to be allowed.
“Troy Vincent said committee discussed QB push/sneak at length. Will revisit the topic at later meeting next month. Some argued it should be allowed and anticipate more offensive plays springing from it,” Battista said in a tweet.
Troy Vincent said committee discussed QB push/sneak at length. Will revisit the topic at later meeting next month. Some argued it should be allowed and anticipate more offensive plays springing from it.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 26, 2023
Plenty more people had some thoughts on the potential change with some supporting the proposal and some against it.
See if more teams start doing it and if Defenses adapt to stop it. If teams start going for it in their own territory, and there’s actually a chance of a stop, it could become a solid play. https://t.co/TVe4eRixfU
— Kyle Kelpin (@Kyle_withaK) February 26, 2023
Promoting offense is great. Handicapping defense isn’t. https://t.co/s34xXA4oL0
— James Kurdziel (@JamesRadio) February 26, 2023
The NFL, man…
*Creating solutions to problems that do not exist.
*Ignoring problems that actually need solutions. https://t.co/hI1fkuGPsQ— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) February 27, 2023
Boomers, man. Exploring this is like millennials exploring cutting out avocado toast to afford a home. https://t.co/Rb4lXsmpJI
— The Packer Ranter (@PackerRanter) February 27, 2023
They need to eliminate all of the push plays. Moving the standup pile five yards is bad football too. You can’t aid the runner. This isn’t difficult. https://t.co/rOBloJjrjI
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) February 27, 2023
Remove the push part of it. Don't know why they started allowing it anyways. Defenders don't have much of a chance to stop that 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
Eagles thought they had it all figured out! https://t.co/z6KwY8qLiO
— Offseason Chopz (@Pchopz_) February 27, 2023
We’ll have to wait and see whether the league decides to change the rule or keep it the same for another season.