The difference in the Eagles' rushing attack between Week 1 and Week 2 of the NFL preseason was noticeable to say the least.

Eagles running backs only accounted for 29 yards on the ground in Baltimore. Seven days later and that number more than tripled to 90 against the Patriots.

Will Shipley led the way with 11 carries for 56 rushing yards in under two quarters of play. The difference according to Shipley? The offensive line.

"Those boys up front were doing a great job on their combo blocks and really just stretching the field. We were making them cover sideline to sideline," Shipley said.

The initial struggle and subsequent improvement aren't surprising. The Eagles have been adjusting to a new scheme under Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion this offseason, and Baltimore was the first time that the offense ran the scheme in a live-game setting.

"It's just continuing to evolve and continuing to just get better and better and just all 11 be on the same page," Shipley said. "Taking every opportunity to look at film, get better, just clean up some mistakes that we made or just taking advantage of opportunities."

However, some runs can't be schemed. Shipley brought his teammates to their feet in the first quarter with a stiff arm to Chad Muma, planting the Patriots linebacker into the ground at the line of scrimmage for a five-yard gain.

"It makes me feel good, knowing that I've got that in the bag and can continue to use that, be physical, and also just be elusive, kind of attack people in different ways," Shipley said of the stiff arm.

"For defenses to be able to see that and know that I'm not just a scat back, somebody who is just going to run routes and try to make people miss, but if it comes to it, I can be physical as well and just help this offense complete our goal of scoring a touchdown each drive."

Shipley played a key role in the Eagles' first touchdown in New England, being responsible for 32 yards on the drive and the five-yard rushing touchdown to give Philadelphia the first lead of the game.

The Patriots also experienced Shipley's threat in the receiving game during joint practices. With pressure in his face, Hurts found Shipley open on a wheel route down the right sideline that would have been an over 50-yard gain in a game setting.

"I love being able to catch the football and make big plays like that and just exploit the defense when they give us the chance to," Shipley said.

Shipley has to be versatile in his game and role. Not only has he had three offensive coordinators in three years with the Eagles, but the 2024 draft pick also had a different coordinator every year while at Clemson.

"I think that my role will kind of always be evolving in a sense, and that excites me in a way that I just go out there, I'm told what to do, and I just try to execute my role to the best of my ability, whatever it is," Shipley said. "I think it'll differ week by week inevitably with just football and how it rolls."

The former Clemson Tiger is part of the strong 2024 Eagles Draft Class, alongside Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Clemson teammate Jeremeiah Trotter Jr., and Jalyx Hunt. In Friday's final preseason game against the Bengals, Shipley will have another chance to display his versatility alongside his teammates.

"It's cool to be able to just see how we've grown from year to year and have kind of stepped into our different roles and ultimately just doing everything that we can to help this team win and excel at a high level," Shipley said.

"Couldn't ask for a better class to kind of just continue to look back and see how much we've grown over the years, and we'll continue to do so into the future." - Written by Caroline Connor