Tush Push Blocking Question

[ChiefsFanatic]

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?

[Buns]

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.

[ChiefsFanatic]

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

[Megatron96]

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.

[Rasputin]

They should call it Rugby , because that's what it is.