‘You Can’t Do The Move On Madden!”

PHILADELPHIA — Facing 4th-and-10 from their own 11 with 4:16 remaining in the first quarter Sunday, Eagles punter Braden Mann and the punt unit took the field.

The Eagles led 7-0 over the Jags, and Mann launched a 54-yard yard punt into the arms of Jags returner Austin Trammell, who fielded the ball at the 35 before being promptly stopped in his tracks with an impressive open-field tackle by Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley.

Shipley halted Trammell after a gain of only six yards. Shipley, who has embraced his role and has said he prepares for moments such as those, was noticeably fired up following the play.

The tackle, which gave Shipley a unit-leading five on the season, was the second notable special teams play in the game. Second-year safety Sydney Brown kickstarted things early with a forced muffed punt and fumble, illustrating a re-energized third phase.

GETTY IMAGES: RB Will Shipley took the team lead in special teams tackles with a tackle against the Jaguars on kickoff coverage.

It also suggested that the unit, presided over by coordinator Michael Clay, just needed time to gel and grow together. For perspective, there are four rookies who have logged over 100 snaps serving as core components.

But emerging as leaders so far have been Shipley and Brown, along with linebackers Ben VanSumeren and Oren Burks. Slowly but surely, the cohesion is building, and the buy-in is evident.

Offensively, Shipley logged one snap, though as we’ve learned in previous Rookie Diary entries, he’s not fixated on stats or accolades but rather team performance and doing whatever necessary to help the Eagles attain their primary weekly goal.

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 Wednesday, we chatted for our eighth installment.

Andrew: We have to start with your open-field tackle on punt coverage. That gives you five on the season. You flew down there like you were shot out of a cannon. What’d you see on that?

Will: “We had a light box with two droppers going to get the gunners on the outside during my cadence. So, kinda knew I was gonna get a free release, always gotta just double check and made sure the middle is covered, help out Rick [Lovato], Jack [Stoll] and Oren [Burks] as much as I can with the inside there. But once I saw an open path, that’s when I take off, try and show my speed a little bit. Get out, for at least the first 30, 40 yards I’d say, and then as I get to the kick returner, I kinda notice there ain’t much around me.

“I saw the two guys go out — so I know they’re double teaming the gunners — or just have hats on different people that are going down the field. But I got past the guy that turned around, and was trying to get most dangerous. So, I knew I was gonna have a 1-on-1 opportunity. I’ve worked a lot with Coach Clay, Tyler Brown and Joe P[annunzio], with open-field tackling. Like, you said, that’s not something I’m accustomed to.

“Played a little defense in high school, but not really after ninth grade. So, just kinda getting down there and doing what I can. Like I said, I’ve been working on it a lot with the coaches. And actually used the exact technique we’ve been working on. So that was pretty cool to just see it come to fruition and make a big play. I think you could see from my reaction after that I was pretty pumped about it.”

Andrew: Being a running back with little experience in open-field tackling, hitting a moving target, I imagine is challenging. How long did it take you to feel comfortable doing that?

Will: “I would say I’m still not fully comfortable with it. Just kinda like with anything, I know I always have room for improvement, so I’m not comfortable with it. And that’s what I mean by that. I feel like I can tackle anybody. And I’m not afraid to go down there and shoot my shot with anybody.

“So, when I knew I was gonna have the opportunity to make a big play and flip the field and help our defense out in any way, just go down there and don’t make it about emotions or, ‘Oh, I gotta make this play. I gotta do this opportunity.’ No, literally all I was telling myself as I got closer to the returner was, ‘Right foot in front of the left. Right foot in front of the left. After he makes his move … shoot!’ And that’s just what I’ve been working on. So, it just goes back to the working portion and being able to translate that into your game.’”

Andrew: Coach [Michael Clay] gave you a shout-out unprompted the other day, noting you’ve been doing an “outstanding job” as the P.P. [personal protector]. Why do you think he was so effusive in his praise?

Will: “Yeah, first of all, I appreciate him, just how much he’s helped me behind closed doors and making sure I know what’s going on. The extra film that we get to sit down and watch together. And always prepping me the right way, and that’s who he is as a coach; always puts his players in position to succeed.

“You know, it’s actually a funny story dating back to kind of the first week … I was playing P.P. during the preseason and doing all that fun stuff, but we had Reed [Blankenship], and I had seen that he was kind of the established guy at that position. And heading into the Green Bay week – I think it was, like, our first real practice, a Wednesday practice – and coach Clay was like, ‘You ready to run down there against Green Bay this week at P.P.?’ And I thought he was just totally joking with me, I did not think that was the case, but then we got to the punt portion of practice, and he threw me in there and I was like, ‘All right. I gotta step up to the plate.’

“And that’s kind of been the mindset ever since; if [Coach Clay]’s got trust in me and my teammates got the trust in me to go out there and control that unit and just do what I can to help us be successful – and like I said, flip the field, make big tackles, do all the little things – then I’m gonna do everything I can to do that. I really appreciate Coach Clay for the nice and kind words that he’s saying, but I wouldn’t be where I am without his help, for sure.”

Andrew: What was that crash course like, having been thrown in there prior to preseason?

Will: “It’s tough, because as a rookie, you’re just learning a bunch of things. So, for me, you’re talking first game of the season, I’m trying to learn all the offensive plays, I’m trying to understand what Green Bay is doing defensively. And I knew my role wasn’t going to be huge offensively, so I was still trying to do that stuff, but just going back to priorities, ‘What is my role on this team?’ And my role is a four-core special teams guy that can help out offensively whenever needed.

“That’s the role that I’ve embraced, and just kinda seeing that Week 1, is switching those priorities. Not saying that I don’t work on offense or I don’t work on the important things that are gonna help my career be really successful, because those are at the forefront of my mind always, but maybe just giving a little more energy and watching a little more film of the special teams.

“Making sure, like I said, I’m prepared. Going with Coach Clay on Tuesday’s and catching a little extra film, getting a little prep toward what he’s gonna be saying in the special teams meeting on Wednesday. As I started out with, I’m just still learning. So, what I’ve done the past nine weeks, I couldn’t tell ya if it was the right way to do it. But I can tell ya it’s been working for me. And I’m gonna continue to fine-tune that and make sure that we keep on going on a successful path.”

Andrew: What was your reaction to Saquon’s reverse hurdle?

Will: “Just like everybody else, like, ‘What the hell? No way this dude really just did that.’ I’ve never seen the move done before, everyone I’ve talked to never has seen the move done before. You can’t do the move on Madden. You just can’t do it anywhere.

“He made up a move from scratch. And I think that goes without saying, you gotta be pretty darn special to do that. Just his athletic ability and his instincts and awareness. People ask what makes a running back great, and I think those are three qualities you really have to have – is being athletic, having instincts and being aware. And he just does it all in the snap of a finger. The blink of an eye.

“And that’s what makes him special, along with so many other things. But it’s just cool to see. He deserves all the flowers in the world, and he’s getting NFC [Offensive] Player of the Week again – I think he should be the NFC [Offensive] Player of the Week every week, being in a room with him and seeing all the preparation and everything he puts into each week, how bad he wants it. Nobody deserves it more.”

Andrew: I gotta tell ya, over the weekend I tried Angelo’s Pizzeria, 9th and Fitzwater, it’s a renowned place. Phenomenal pizza. Have you and your financee tried any new food destinations since we last spoke?

Will: “We weren’t able to go into Philly and try anything. We went to Silver Diner, right by our spot. We hadn’t tried it yet, so my brother was in town for his birthday, it was late after the game and we were looking for spots to eat and we did try that out. I forgot who I was just talking to outside … just talking about different movies and different food places and vacations we wanna take and that stuff, and right now, my mind is just so focused on balling.

“And sometimes I think, and I’m like, ‘I don’t even know what week we’re in.’ [laughs]. Not to say it’s a bad thing, it’s more, I’m just so focused where my feet are right now. So, I wanna go on a million vacations, try all these food spots that you’re telling us about and that we already have, but I think probably right now, we’re gonna have to wait until after the season. [laughs]”

Andrew: Who did you model your game after?

Will: “I’ve always tried to pick up from backs, and just pick and choose something different that they got in their game and be able to put it in mine. Too many to count, in terms of guys I’ve watched as role models growing up and for the game. So, I wouldn’t say one specific guy, but I also think that’s so important is modeling your game after someone is a way to help yourself be successful, but you always gotta differentiate yourself from them as well.

“And what’s gonna be your factor that sets you apart from everybody else? You gotta have that, especially as a running back in this league, because it’s a position where you see a very wide variety of backs being able to be successful. So, what makes you different? What’s gonna allow you to get to that second contract after four years? And I’m still molding that, still figuring it out, still watching alot of film.

“When I get to sit in a film room all day and watch Saquon Barkley practice and play football, that’s a huge deal for me. And so, I take huge parts of his game that I’d love to include. And we’re different backs; I’m a different back than a lot of people. I think that’s what makes me who I am, is just my ability to be versatile. I may not be 225 pounds, but I can catch the football better than anybody at the back position. And I can make people miss. I can do a bunch of different things that I’m excited to show everyone when the opportunity comes.”

Andrew: What’s the biggest piece of advice you’ve received either entering the league or once you got here?

Will: “You hear it a lot, but just always stay hungry. Always treat yourself like you’re at the bottom, while still appreciating the successes when they do come. You know, I think in this league, it’s so easy to get complacent. You talk about having a successful year and then having the longest offseason that I’ve ever heard of. So, I just think it goes back to always having a regimen and schedule, and not getting complacent.

“If you have the best year of your career, it’s like, ‘Alright, I’m at the bottom again, how do I find myself back up at the top?’ And I say that now, because how I view is I’m at the bottom, I gotta try to find my way to the top. So, it’s easy to say that in this mindset, but when I am at the top and when that does come, I always have to reset.

“Maybe I can come back to me saying this. right? And just think about it. Always gotta be able to reset and find yourself at the bottom, and how can I climb myself to the top?”

Andrew: What’s one thing your aiming to improve upon this week?

Will: “I would say, obviously, [Cowboys returner KaVontae] Turpin is a huge part of their game plan. He can make that team go with how successful he is on returns. So, if I get my opportunity with him, just being able to make a successful play. And if it’s not one-on-one, then just doing my job and making sure I’m in the middle of the field, making sure I’m closing off the left side and just doing my responsibilities so that we can slow him down, give the defense good field position and make sure him up.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.