Jets HC Robert Saleh vows to give ’11 kisses’ to Jalen Hurts amid drama surrounding the ‘tush push’ play

Saleh praised the Eagles for being so successful in using the polarizing play.

Jets HC Robert Saleh vows to give ’11 kisses’ to Jalen Hurts amid drama surrounding the ‘tush push’ play

Robert Saleh is ready for the Eagles quarterback sneak (Image via IMAGO)

Robert Saleh sent a fair warning to the Philadelphia Eagles on their use of the controversial ‘tush-push’ play, which they have made so popular in the NFL. If the Eagles try to pull the move, that’s better known as the quarterback sneak, then they will at least have to pay the price.

It starts with the quarterback, so the center of attention will be Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. “If the quarterback carries the ball, we’ve got to give him 11 kisses,” Saleh said recently. By ‘kisses’ he means the 11 defenders that will surround the line of scrimmage. “They play violent and aggressive, and they’ve got a quarterback who is super strong in terms of creating leverage.”

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Not to mention the New York Jets head coach thinks Hurts is a walking shield. “I don’t think he feels pain when he gets hit, even though we’re going to try. Legally,” Saleh added.

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The Alabama graduate is undoubtedly one of the more intimidating signal-callers in the NFL. Hurts, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds, uses his elite strength and drives his feet forward on the play. His physique gives the Eagles an advantage when they choose to use the sneak.

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The Jets will have a hard time containing the Eagles’ special move

Even though the ‘tush-push’ has been around for a while, famously used by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the Eagles are the ones who utilize it to perfection. Center Jason Kelce acts like the spear of the move, guiding Hurts through the opposition O-Line. If any team wants to beat them at their own game, they have to keep Kelce in check, and Jets defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson is aware of it.

Jets HC Robert Saleh vows to give ’11 kisses’ to Jalen Hurts amid drama surrounding the ‘tush push’ play
Jets head coach Robert Saleh during a press conference (Image via YouTube)

The Eagles have used the maneuver 43 times this year, converting for a first down or touchdown 38 times. In their recent game against the Los Angeles Rams, they ran six times, winning on four counts. The two failed ones were in garbage time to round down the clock.

Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers said, “We know we just have to be the aggressors. They have a slight advantage with the snap count. They’ve perfected that play, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Even amid all the controversy surrounding the play, Saleh praised the Eagles for being so successful with it. “If you don’t have any haters, you ain’t poppin,” Saleh told the New York Post. “People are hating on their play because it works. They’re really good at it. We’re going to try to do our best to try and stop it.”

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