‘I Haven’t Tackled Anyone Since High School’
Rookie Diary With Will Shipley
PHILADELPHIA – On the heels of a stalled first-quarter drive, Eagles punter Braden Mann launched a 44-yard punt in the direction of Browns punt returner Jaelon Darden, who was stationed deep in his own territory.
Darden, a third-year wide receiver by trade, turned upfield before being met by Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley, who appeared to be shot from a cannon, dropping Darden at the 16-yard line.
The tackle, Shipley’s third of the season, draws him even with linebacker Ben VanSumeren atop the Eagles’ leaderboard in terms of special teams tackles.
Seizing tackling opportunities, which he never needed to embrace at Clemson, wasn’t last week’s personal point of emphasis. That would be making the opposition pay if he had an opportunity to return a kick.
But it illustrates Shipley’s immersion and fixation into his newfound role. Like a heat-seeking missile on a seek-and-destroy mission, Shipley has been among the best on special teams coordinator Michael Clay’s unit in attacking downhill, executing within structure and regularly affecting running lanes for returners.
For Shipley, his game day appearances are minimal, making each time he takes the field all the more vital.
His role requires urgency, attention to detail and strong communication. And while he awaits his offensive opportunities – Shipley prepares each week as a starter regardless of circumstance – the Clemson product has quietly become a key special teams component. But it’s his steadfast, often thankless approach to the job – and big-play potential – that warrants more attention than third phase plays typically yield.
As part of an Inside The Birds “Rookie Diary” series, I’ll be checking in with Shipley throughout the season, learning more about the first-year running back and chronicling his rookie campaign.
On Thursday, we chatted for our fifth installment.
We discussed everything from his special teams responsibilities and the state of the unit, as well as the impact that both running backs coach Jemal Singleton and fellow running back Saquon Barkley have had on his career thus far.
Andrew: Last week you said you’re always focused on getting better. How do you feel you got better last week?
Will: “I would say getting down there on punt protection. And making sure that I’m not only finding a lane to navigate in and go attack their punt returner, but also, as they continue to see what I’m capable of and start to put a guy on me, being able to make him miss, evade him, and still get down there. Whether it’s making a tackle, redirect a kick returner, shoot my shot and make a stop. I feel like I did a solid job with that this week.”
Andrew: You had a big-time tackle on punt coverage. You may even lead the unit in tackles. What’s it like being shot out of a cannon?
Will: “It’s fun as hell, though. I really enjoy it. I really have not tackled anyone since high school. And even then, it was kinda my freshman-sophomore year. So, it’s been a while, but I love getting shot out of a cannon and being able to go down there and get the physical contact any way I can.”
Andrew: Is it really competitive in the special teams room? Like, when you’re breaking down film and seeing who got to the ball-carrier first?
Will: “I don’t know if it’s a special teams room thing, but I know it’s between Jalyx [Hunt] and I, for sure. Just fellow rookies getting after it. It’s kinda been that way ever since I got here. It’s really competitive. Ultra-competitive. And I know when we walk out there on kickoff, he says it to me every time, he’s like, ‘You ain’t getting down there before I am, Ship.’ And I just look at him with a little disappoint in my stare, because I know he’s wrong. [laughs]
Like I said, a lot of competitors. Jalyx and I, and really everybody out there. Ben [VanSumeren] came up to me after my tackle and he’s like, ‘Did you end up getting that?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ And he’s like, ‘Dang, I barely missed him!’ Or, ‘I gave that one to you!’ I was like, ‘Yeah, you did.’ But that’s just how it is. It’s a good environment, for sure.”
Andrew: Do you and Jalyx have any, ‘If I beat you down there, you owe me dinner?’ or anything like that?
Will: “You know, we haven’t gotten into the bets, because, ya know, I really beat ’em down there every time. So, I’m a generous guy, I don’t wanna take too much from … nah, I’m kidding. Really, all jokes. But we don’t have any bets or nothin’ together. I know that, just our relationship is really cool, like it’s gotten a lot better because of special teams. And we go out to this brunch spot every Tuesday after we’re done in here getting treatment on our day off. Just stuff like that never would have happened if I didn’t get the opportunity that I do have on special teams. So, just cool stuff coming from it.”
Andrew: There’s a lot of young players on special teams in general. How are you guys coming together?
Will: “There’s definitely a great amount of cohesiveness between us. I would say, we’re led by Ben. Ben does a great job, and just being a core-four guy and someone that we know is gonna bring it every, single day; every, single week. So, he’s done a great job of just bringing us together. And then you got a mix of some vets, but then like you said, a lot of younger guys.
“And I think the younger guys have done a great job of kinda looking at the vets, seeing how they do it, how successful they are. You talk about Zack Baun, you talk about Oren [Burks]. And just those guys you could feed off of – Jack Stoll – I could go down the list. And they’ve all been successful and been in this league because of what they can do on special teams. And I think as younger guys, we’re just trying to learn from that and trying to continue to get better. I know Oren gave me a tip today that I’m gonna use on punt return this week. So, just stuff like that. So blessed to be in an organization that has that culture embedded in it.”
Andrew: When something goes awry on special teams is Michael Clay someone who’ll take the group aside immediately?
Will: “I think we all understand that we have to cut out the one-off every game. This past one being field goal block. And then the punt block against New Orleans. We understand that we have to cut that out to have a clean football game and just be complementary.
“You know, you talk about great football teams, and it’s complementary football teams – not only the offense and defense complementing each other, but special teams does as well. And for us, that’s really just staying out of the spotlight, unless we’re the ones returning the kick or blocking the field goal.
“But we just have to continue to go out there and learn from it – and Coach Clay has done a great job with it, just not getting over-mad at us or angry with us, but allowing us to realize the impact that we do have, and making sure that it’s a positive impact and not a negative one.”
Andrew: How have you gone about mastering your role as a protector on punt, and what are some of the challenges that come with it?
Will: “It’s been a lot of fun for me, just being placed in a role like that, that I’m not used to. And just something that I can kinda control. I think everyone loves being able to control what’s in front of them. And control the outcomes. And I know with that, I have a big role in the outcome of it. So, being able to understand the importance of my role and just going out there and making sure that nothing catches me by surprise. Making sure that whenever front they line up in, whatever front I call – anything that comes my way – I practice it, I prepare for it, and I’m ready to go out there and do it.
“And then in terms of just continuing to improve, Tyler [Brown], and Coach Clay and Joe [Pannunzio], they’ve helped me out a ton. Going up there, just watching extra film leading up to the week of playing an opponent … kinda what they got, who are there most dangerous rushers, kinda how is their special teams coordinator influencing the guys on the field. So, just different stuff like that. Embracing that role, and like I said, just having a positive impact.”
Andrew: What’s the biggest impact Coach [Jemal] Singleton has had on your game thus far?
Will: “That’s a great question, because there’s been a lot. Coach Singleton is great at what he does in terms of making somebody realize that they can just continue to get better. You might do something great, but there’s still that one little thing that he’s gonna correct and it’s gonna make you better the next time.
“So, for me, I would say since I got here, my pass protection, just continuing to dial that down and just understanding the importance of it. Just all the little, minor details that he has to tell you. But within that, just my eyes, where my eyes are starting. Pass protection, if you’re out there and you’re confident, you know who your guys are, you know who’s coming, then that makes it so much easier on you to be able to go out there and do your job.
“So, that’s one thing that he definitely helped me with, and then I would just say the importance of ball security and just understanding how much they are truly coming for it. Whether it’s right when you get the ball, or 20 yards down the field, or whenever it is, that ball is always at jeopardy. So, you just gotta make sure that you always have that in the back of your mind; you can never let it slip, because it’s always the guy you don’t think is there, and that’s the one that gets it. So, I would say that’s two parts of my game that he’s drastically improved thus far. And just gotta keep getting better and better.
Andrew: You also mentioned last week how instrumental Saquon [Barkley] has been in that area. Can you expand on that?
Will: “It’s kinda the way it is for me – and he’s standing right next to me, so I can’t say it too loud – but both of them are almost like coaches to me, in terms of I listen to both of them with such respect and just what they have to say. Both of them have been successful. For Saquon, it’s been in the league, doing his thing. For Coach Singleton, it’s been coaching in the league and the backs that he’s had. So, just taking both of their advice and what they gotta say and understanding how important that is and being able to implement that to the field. I would say that’s where it comes from. Coach Singleton has done a great job, but also sitting in meeting rooms with this guy every day, you don’t get much better than firsthand experience. And that’s what I’m getting with him, too. So, best of both worlds.”
Andrew: What’s one thing you’re looking to improve on this week?
Will: “I would say both the kickoff coverage and kickoff return. I would say I didn’t do a great job blocking last week on kickoff return, so gotta continue to improve that. If the ball keeps going to Isaiah [Rodgers] or Kenny [Gainwell], making sure that I help them out. In the kickoff coverage, if we get an opportunity to go down there and make a tackle, just like last week I kinda said about punt coverage, that’s what I wanna do. So, just improving my kickoff coverage and kickoff return game and how I impact the game.”
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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