Tapp takes his hard knocks

Given an option, Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive end Darryl Tapp might have chosen someone other than teammate Walter Jones as a main adversary during his first NFL training camp.

But the second-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech had no input on the matter – or control over the injuries that have thinned Seattle’s defensive front.

Which is why he finds himself among only five healthy defensive ends on the Seahawks roster, running primarily with the No. 1 defensive unit in a spot normally manned by Grant Wistrom and regularly matched up in practice against the indomitable Jones, a 10-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowler.

“It’s really surprised me,” Tapp said of the number of repetitions he has seen early in camp, with Wistrom still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. “I’ve been working with the first team since camp started, so I’ve had to step up my preparation in every way.

“I’ve been able to come in and get thrown into the fire, and that’s the best way to learn. I’ve been (working) with the first team since the first day of camp, so I’ve had to step up my preparation in every way possible just to be able to compete against these guys.”

Understandably, it hasn’t always gone well for the 6-foot-1, 265-pound Tapp – especially when matched against the 6-5, 315-pound Jones. In almost every instance, Jones has overwhelmed his smaller and less experienced opponent.

During Tuesday morning’s workout on the Eastern Washington University campus, Jones locked up with the pass-rushing Tapp, stopped him in his tracks and then powered him to the ground, slightly injuring his left hip – and ego, too, perhaps.

There has been speculation among the media that the coaching staff’s decision to alternate Tapp between the right and left defensive end positions could have been dictated by a concern over how he might be adversely affected by having to bang helmets with Jones on every play.

But if Tapp’s confidence has been beaten up during his lopsided 1-on-1 battles against the best offensive tackle on the planet, the bruises have yet to show.

“My confidence isn’t having any problem at all,” claimed Tapp, who was a first-team All-American selection of the American Football Coaches Association as a senior at Virginia Tech. “Walter’s the best in the business, and the more work you get against him, the more it’s going to help you against people other than Walter.

“He’s definitely going to the Hall of Fame sooner or later, so I’m going out there, work on my technique and try to get it done any way I can against him and just hope it carries over to Sundays.”

Jones, a six-time Pro Bowler, has been impressed with the way Tapp has handled himself during the early stages of his first fall camp, and said he has not seen the rookie’s confidence wane in the least.

“He’s just out there doing his thing, man,” explained Jones. “He’s coming out, working every day and trying to get better, which is the only thing you can ask of him. He’s been a great addition to the team.

“When you first come in as a rookie, you’re doing a lot of thinking instead of just playing. And I think once he gets over that, he’s going to be a great player.”

Heady stuff, in might seem, considering the source.

But Tapp knows he will ultimately be measured by how he handles Walter Jones’ pass blocking, rather than his praise.

Notes

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren did not formally address the media, but last year’s all-pro running back and NFL MVP Shaun Alexander stepped in to answer questions following the morning practice session, making it clear his expectations for 2006 are higher. “Without a doubt,” he said, when asked if this year’s team is better than last year’s Super Bowl runner-up. “I think this year’s team would beat last year’s team pretty good. Our defense is just better, and any time you have a good defense, you have a chance to win.” … Among the spectators at practices was former USC and Los Angeles Rams coach John Robinson, who spent most of the morning session standing next to and chatting with Holmgren in the middle of the practice field. … In a pair of minor roster moves, the Seahawks signed Justin Surrency, a wide receiver who played at Northern Iowa, and released kicker Ryan Killeen, a rookie from USC.