It started out in the NFL community as something between a joke and an appropriately whimsical moniker for what was a new, unconventional phenomenon being introduced by one of its highest-profile teams.
The “Tush Push.”
The team that popularized the rugby scrum-like, short-yardage play advocated to call it “The Brotherly Shove.” That never caught on — and even if it did, it probably wouldn’t be appropriate for teams based in other cities to name their version of the play after a nickname for Philadelphia.
So, when Steelers play-by-play man Rob King referenced, “The Steel City Shove” when the Steelers ran the play four times during Monday’s win against the Miami Dolphins — King defers credit for the name to color commentator Max Starks — it compelled questions to the man who actually has the authority to name the Steelers’ version of the Tush Push.
“We call it,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said Thursday, “’The Spartan.’”
That’s a nod to the man who takes the snap and carries the ball during the play, Michigan State alumnus Connor Heyward.
“It’s kind of the first time I publicly said that,” Smith said. “We come up with funny names. This is the funniest thing. (Hall of Fame former NFL coach) Joe Gibbs told me this one time, ‘As a play caller… I’ve spent more hours of my life trying to stay up late at night thinking what to call a play.’
“I think the Internet helps now. … You want to keep things in families or whatever so it makes sense, but there are some funny names we come up with.”
So, with apologies for fervent advocates for “Pittsburgh Plunge” and other clever names, “The Spartan” is apparently here to stay. But whatever the Steelers call it, the “Tush Push” has become an increasingly common part of the weekly offensive game plan.
During the win against Miami, coach Mike Tomlin’s faith in his team executing “The Spartan” was apparent both in that he elected to go for it on fourth down from the Steelers’ own 28 during the first quarter and when he gave his blessing to call it for the first time while at the goal line in the waning moments of the first half.
“It’s been reliable,” Tomlin said, “the whole time we’ve done it.”
That’s not entirely accurate — the play failed once during a loss in Chicago last month, and the aforementioned fourth-down call came immediately after Heyward was spotted short of the first-down line when he ran the play on a third-and-1.
Still, the Steelers’ success rate with “The Spartan” makes it worthwhile — and that doesn’t even take into account for derivatives such as the 55-yard run during the game against the Bears that was a “fake” Spartan in which Heyward got the ball to Kenneth Gainwell.
“It’s been a play that we’ve had success with,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose hands-on-hips poses while he observes from several yards back — and celebratory “first-down” signals — have become part of Steelers’ fan lore in association with the play. “(Tomlin) likes (the play). Arthur likes it — and, obviously, Connor likes it, too.”
While Heyward is a core special-teamer, on offense his role is as the fourth tight end, and while he’s the top option at fullback that’s a spot he rarely plays. So, getting a play to call his own — aside from center Zach Frazier, he’s typically the only player who touches the ball during it — that is named in his honor (at least so, of his alma mater) provides Heyward with pride.
“I love the play,” he said, adding he hopes the NFL doesn’t move to ban it, as it came within just two votes of doing so over this past offseason.
“I take a lot of pride in (successfully executing) it.”
Heyward’s unique background as a high school quarterback, college running back and pro tight end make him an almost-ideal ball carrier for the play.
Then again, the unique presence of a 311-pound starting tight end in Darnell Washington as the “push” of the… er, “Spartan” might be the Steelers’ proverbial ace in the hole.
“My job is just to really push,” Washington said, noting that the linemen might have more intricate duties/assignments. “I guess I got the easy part, in a way.
“It’s a lot of fun. My fellow little bother — a.k.a., Connor — getting the ball. It’s fun pushing him across for the first down or touchdown or whatever it may be.”