Jason Kelce Makes Bold Honest Admission on Eagles Back on Track After Week 1 Struggles

In the opening game of the season, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a victory against the Green Bay Packers last Friday. However, this win came with a noticeable decline in the effectiveness of one of their most iconic plays: the “Tush Push.” This play, known for its high success rate and key role in the Eagles’ offensive strategy last year, did not perform at the same level of dominance as it had previously.

The “Tush Push,” a play where the Eagles use a powerful forward push to advance their quarterback for short-yardage situations, was a hallmark of their game plan in 2023. Led by future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce, the Eagles converted this play with an impressive 92 percent success rate, showcasing their ability to consistently gain crucial yards in tight situations. This remarkable efficiency was largely attributed to the seamless coordination between Kelce and star quarterback Jalen Hurts.

During this week’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, which features Jason Kelce and his brother Travis Kelce, the discussion turned to the play’s recent struggles. Jason Kelce, who is now retired, shared insights on why the “Tush Push” did not work as effectively in the season opener. He explained that executing this play is far more complex than it appears, especially when it involves new or less experienced players.

In the podcast, which reached the 1:07:48 mark, Jason Kelce delved into the nuances of the play. He emphasized that the success of the “Tush Push” is not solely reliant on him but is also influenced by the experience and coordination of the entire offensive line and the quarterback. He noted that the play becomes more effective with practice and familiarity. “I don’t know that I am the determining factor in the success of this,” Kelce admitted. “I think, first of all, it’s a really hard play to run when a lot of guys are running it for the first time. Once you’ve run it a couple times, you know how to run quarterback sneak, you get into a rhythm and you understand how it’s gonna happen.”

The transition from Kelce to his successor, Cam Jurgens, has been a significant change for the Eagles. Jurgens, who was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and originally played as a guard, moved into the center position following Kelce’s retirement. This transition has not been without its challenges. In their first game together, Jurgens and Hurts experienced some miscommunication, leading to two problematic snaps, one of which was mishandled and recovered by the Packers.

Despite these issues, Jason Kelce remains optimistic about the future performance of the “Tush Push.” He believes that with additional practice and repetitions, the Eagles will be able to restore the play to its former effectiveness. “I do think they’re gonna get back on track,” Kelce stated. “It’s just a play that I think the more you run, and when you really execute on it properly, I do not think that it’s something that’s not gonna work at a high success rate.”

However, while the Philadelphia Eagles managed to secure a win in their season opener, the performance of their signature play, the “Tush Push,” fell short of the high standards set in the previous season. The play’s recent struggles highlight the challenges of integrating a new center and the need for continued practice to achieve the precision required for its success. Jason Kelce’s insights into the play’s execution and his confidence in its future success reflect the importance of experience and coordination in maintaining the high effectiveness of this critical offensive strategy.