Elliott: ‘Tush Push’ play is here to stay in UVA offense

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia was clinging to a 20-13 lead early in the fourth quarter last Saturday against visiting William & Mary when the Cavaliers were faced with a crucial fourth-and-1 at the Tribe 44-yard line.

Tony Elliott was prepared. Having been criticized earlier in the year for attempting similar short-yardage situations from the shotgun formation and failed, Des Kitchings’ offense had a secret weapon ready to go: the “Tush Push.”

The NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles had repopularized the old-fashioned quarterback sneak with a twist: having bigger bodies pushing the quarterback from behind. It’s a matter of leverage and strength, UVA’s offensive linemen’s thrust against the defensive wall, the quarterback driving behind his linemen, and finally, the QB getting pushed from behind for extra power.

On Virginia’s fourth-and-1, starting quarterback Tony Muskett, nursing a painful shoulder, came out of the game and was replaced for the sneak by reserve Grady Brosterhous, UVA’s biggest QB at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds. Brosterhous moved under center and was pushed forward to the 43 for a first down.

Six plays later, Muskett, who came back into the game after the successful sneak play, passed to Malik Washington for a 27-yard touchdown pass and the final 27-13 margin of victory with 11 minutes left in the game.

The Eagles have rebranded the play as the “Tush Push,” or the “Brotherly Shove,” and have been successful 92 percent of the time they’ve used it (37 attempts). The play actually became a thing in 2005 in the Southern Cal vs. Notre Dame game, when running back Reggie Bush pushed QB Matt Leinhart into the end zone on a sneak, earning the sneak a new name, the “Bush Push.”

“It wasn’t overly hectic because we had talked about it and had a plan,” Elliott said on his radio show Wednesday night with WINA host John Freeman. “We had practiced the package all week and Grady is the biggest quarterback we have.”

Elliott was delighted with the success, which we’ll likely see going forward.

“The Tush Push is here to stay as long as it’s permissible,” Elliott said.

UVA is in a bye week and is practicing Monday through Thursday, and will have the weekend off. Meanwhile, coaches are getting a jump start on film study and game planning for the next contest at undefeated North Carolina a week from Saturday in Chapel Hill. UNC faces Miami this weekend. UVA will also operate some self-scouting during this break in action.

Elliott said Muskett is battling daily through pain in his shoulder, which was injured in the season opener against Tennessee and missed the next three games while recovering.