The Bears have spent their shortened week preparing to stop what defensive tackle Grady Jarrett calls “one of the football’s most hated plays” — the “Tush Push.”
The Eagles, who play the Bears on Friday, have perfected the short-yardage play in which quarterback Jalen Hurts takes the snap and is shoved forward by his teammates. The play, considered by some to be antithetical to football, was nearly ruled illegal last offseason and might not last beyond this season.
“We do have a plan in place and we feel like it’s a good, solid plan,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “In terms of not only trying to stop that play, but all the plays that come off of it. That’s what makes it even more difficult to stop.”
The Bears fell victim to the latter on Sunday. In the second quarter, they stopped the Steelers’ version of the “Tush Push” — a direct snap to tight end Connor Heyward. Seven minutes later, facing another fourth-and-one, the Steelers lined up for a “Tush Push” and had Heyward hand the ball off to running back Kenneth Gainwell, who ran around the right end for a 55-yard gain. He was stopped at the 1 and the Steelers scored the next play.
The Eagles have similar counters to their “Tush Push,” but the main concern is stopping the surge up the middle. Other NFL teams have gone to extremes to stop it. Last month, the Vikings had a defender lay down on the ground in front of the snap. In the NFC title game last season, the Commanders sent Frankie Luvu flying over the line of scrimmage. He was ruled offside twice in a row, prompting referee Shawn Hochuli to announce that officials could award a touchdown to the Eagles “if this type of behavior happens again.”
The Bears won’t try either tack. Instead, Allen coaches his players to treat it like a rugby play — if the man they’re responsible for covering shoves someone forward, then the defender shoves the person in front of him froward.
“Just a high-effort play with everyone doing what they needed to do,” Jarrett said.
Related Posts:
- Bears Get Injury Disappointment On Defense Ahead Of Week 12 Sports The Chicago Bears go into week 12 half a game ahead of the Green Bay Packers at the pinnacle of the NFC North. Chicago is looking for their first division title since Mitch Trubisky’s sophomore season with the team back in 2018, and 2025 is looking like their best opportunity…
- Defending champion Eagles have been too good for too long to be underestimated by Bears News The sky is falling in Philadelphia. Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who’s on pace for the worst season of his career, made an offhand comment two weeks ago, calling his situation, and presumably the offense at large, a “s--- show.” Frustration with quarterback Jalen Hurts leaked from the locker…
- Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a former Bears assistant, is Caleb Williams' latest challenge News Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has talked for two years about the mental fatigue of facing Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who will blitz him from any position or angle. The fatigue Friday, however, will come in a different way, with Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio trying to obscure which coverage…
- Bears' next opponent: Eagles blow 21-point lead in 24-21 loss to Cowboys News ARLINGTON, Texas — Brandon Aubrey kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired after Dak Prescott rallied Dallas from a 21-point deficit and the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in a mistake-filled thriller Sunday. The Cowboys (5-5-1) converted on their third tiebreaking chance of the fourth quarter to extend…
- Eagles’ Star Safety Expected Back for Black Friday vs. Bears Sports The Philadelphia Eagles will be getting a defensive boost for their contest against the Chicago Bears, with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio announcing that Reed Blankenship will be expected to play on Friday. Blankenship exited Sunday’s 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a thigh injury during the fourth quarter, but…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)