Jets vow to be ready for Eagles' unique tush push formation - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets, vowing to be ready for the «tush push,» know exactly how they will respond if the Philadelphia Eagles try the formation Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

«If the quarterback carries the ball,» coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday, «we've got to give him 11 kisses.»

As if they don't have enough to worry about, the Jets (2-3) now must prepare for the Eagles' unorthodox and somewhat controversial quarterback sneak — the one where Jalen Hurts is pushed forward by teammates lined up behind him.

The Eagles were successful on four of six pushes in last week's 23-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. For the season, they've converted 13 of 16 into first downs or touchdowns — an 81.3% success rate, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The leaguewide rate is roughly the same, but the Eagles have turned the play into a phenomenon. Meanwhile, the Jets have defended it three times — twice by the New England Patriots, once by the Buffalo Bills — and they stopped it once.

«It's a unique style, just the way they get down there, in that rugby stance, and get low,» linebacker C.J. Mosley said. «It's just really hard for defenses to get under and get that push. That's really the main thing. Besides that, they've got three guys behind and pushing him, so it starts the defense off at a disadvantage.»

What adds to the degree of difficulty, Saleh said, is the Eagles have added wrinkles to the play. He said they can run reverses, stretch plays and pop passes off the tush push formation, giving the defense plenty to think about.

Ideally, the Jets would like to have six defensive linemen on the field — more size to handle the pushers — but it's not always easy to get the big people into the game, Saleh said. The