Intell Turns Into Execution For The Eagles

“Obviously, Fipp had ran a wide amount of fakes, so it's more of just understanding that they're willing to gamble at any point in the field position, whether it's minus-20, at the midfield line and just kind of having an inkling like, 'hey, they're not really moving the ball on our defense. They're going to try and steal a possession,'” Clay said. “So just having that and just reiterating throughout the week to our players like 'hey, they will gamble and try to get a free possession right here' and the players answer the bell.”

The decision was made to keep the defense on the field.

“I thought it was an awesome job by [DT] Moro [Ojomo], [DT Jalen Carter] JC, Jalyx really kind of collapsing that pocket in right there on that fake punt and obviously short field for offense, which is always great,” Clay said. “So kudos to all the intel we get prior to the game. Then the guys paying attention come Friday and just understanding the severity of the game.”

The intell came from Director of Football Operations/Pro Scout Ameena Soliman, who was in Washington the week before to see the Lions rout the Commanders.

“I think it just goes a lot to the advance scouting. Ameena I believe was on the road down to Washington, [she] alerted us,” said Clay. “[Pro Scout] Terrence [Braxton] does a good job debriefing us on Mondays. The amount of fakes that Detroit had ran since 2021 - I think it was at 12 at that point. Just having kind of a sense what the game was going back and forth, kind of a defensive struggle, you always got to be prepared for that. 

“Then on Friday, I usually get the entire team in here just to reiterate, 'hey, they've ran this amount of fakes, not just at the midfield, but they ran it from the minus-21, the minus-22.”

When preparation is combined with execution on the field, special things can happen.

“The players out there do an unbelievable job of executing when that time comes because obviously I'm not doing anything on the field on game day because I can't be between the white lines,” Clay said. “So the players get all the credit because they're able to respond to anything that they see or make a big play.”