Darius Cooper will always be credited with the image. With nine seconds remaining and thePhiladelphia Eagles trailing, he found himself wide open in the end zone. By catching Jalen Hurts' pass, the former undrafted rookie became the unlikely hero of a dramatic finish. It was, as FOX Sports announcer Adam Amin put it, 'the biggest catch of Cooper's life.'
As great as the moment was, another important part of the play deserves attention, and it happened before Hurts released the football. Will Shipley picked up the blitz, giving his quarterback enough time to find Cooper.
During Wednesday's media availability, Sean Mannion was asked about Shipley's development as a pass protector. The Eagles' offensive coordinator explained why that part of the
running back's responsibilities can be easy to overlook, even though it can become one of the most important jobs on the field when the game is on the line.
“Yeah, he’s done an outstanding job. Really all of our backs, we feel great about all of them. They all have a skill set that we’re excited about. I think the third down protection stuff is something that can sometimes be overlooked, right? It doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. But in those high-pressure moments, it’s a two-minute drive. The defense knows you’re more than likely going to throw. It’s critical. It’s critical that you have backs in there who can block a linebacker or give the quarterback time to get that ball to [WR Darius Cooper] Coop there in the end zone. So yeah, he’s done a tremendous job with that. He’s done a great job in the run game as well going to the preseason. He ran the ball super effectively. We feel good about all the backs on our roster and they did a great job.”
Truthfully, what else is there to say? That is the perfect explanation for why the final touchdown was more than a terrific throw and catch. Philadelphia needed everyone to do their job on a possession when the Tennessee Titans knew the Eagles were almost certainly going to throw.
Mission accomplished. The Eagles are now 2-0 on this young season.
Will Shipley's work won't show up in the box score
Pass protection is one of those responsibilities that can disappear from the conversation when everything goes right. There is no reception or rushing attempt attached to it, and there isn't always an obvious statistic that captures its value. Mannion made a point of explaining that Wednesday.
Shipley didn't score the game-winning touchdown. Still, he was one reason Hurts had enough time to make the throw. That matters even more because Philadelphia expects its running backs to contribute in multiple ways.
Shipley can carry the football and catch it, but his ability to recognize pressure and protect the quarterback can determine whether those opportunities exist in the first place. For Cooper, the payoff was obvious. For Shipley, it was another successful assignment that most people probably didn't notice.
That is what makes the play worth revisiting. Cooper will be remembered for making the catch. Hurts will be remembered for making the throw. Shipley gets no statistic for doing his job, but without that job, Philadelphia might not have had a game-winning touchdown at all.
The Eagles will need plenty more moments like that as the season unfolds. Not every important play will end in the end zone or make a highlight reel. Sometimes winning comes down to a running back recognizing pressure, stepping into it, and giving his quarterback the extra second he needs. That extra second helped turn Darius Cooper into the hero.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Sean Mannion credits Will Shipley's block on the Eagles' winning score
