(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)
I'm torn on all this talk about banning the tush push. On the one hand, if a team has figured out a play that works, it's up to opponents to figure out a way to defend it. Take care of it on the field, not in a conference room. On the other hand, the team in question is the Cowboys' biggest rival. What are your thoughts?– Lawrence Miller/San Antonio, TX**
Nick: I think it should be banned 100 percent. I don't agree with you when you say "a team has figured out a play that works." It's not a play, it's physics. It's getting 3-4 people to push you in the back and move you forward. And to be honest, it goes against a lot of other rules and premises that are not allowed.
Think about the field goal blocks. It's a 15-yard penalty to jump on your teammate's back and "leverage" yourself up to block the kick. The NFL is saying you can't use someone else to boost yourself for an advantage. So why can you do it in this case? I don't even love the linemen that push the pile down the field for extra yards. To me, it's unfair because the defense can't do the same.
So if you go back to the Tush Push, if the ball is on the 2-yard line and the defense loads up everyone and stops the play at the line of scrimmage, and then pushes the entire play back 5 yards. The ball will still be at the 2 because of forward progress. But if the offense wins the battle and pushes the ball carrier into the end zone, it's a touchdown. What I would do is change the rule to "no one lined up in the backfield can push the pile." Or maybe "no eligible players can push a pile" meaning that only the offensive linemen are allowed to push their teammates in the back. That works for other plays down the field but it would negate the Tush Push.
Kurt: It is indeed a dilemma for Dallas fans since the Eagles have made it such a potent offensive weapon, having converted 39 of 48 tush-push chances into either a first down or touchdown during the 2024 season. Regardless, my feeling is it's up to the Cowboys and the other 30 teams around the league to figure out a way to stop it.
The Packers brought this rule change to the table with one executive stating among other things that there is no skill involved, which doesn't make much sense. Despite the looks of it, there has to be incredible technique among the offensive linemen up front to work in unison to gain leverage and push.
Others have also thrown out that the play can cause injuries, but so far no statistics have shown that anyone has been hurt, so that seems like a weak argument as well. In fact, seeing those plays when a runner is being stood up by defenders downfield, only to have an offensive lineman come barreling in from behind to push the pile forward seems much more dangerous. Yet there has been no talk of banning that from occurring.
Teams have tried to copy the tush push, but nobody has perfected it like the Eagles. That doesn't mean it should just be banned. If you can't stop them from converting that final yard for a first down, keep them from gaining the first nine.
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