Seahawks pass rushers licking chops

SEATTLE – No wonder Darryl Tapp has become a buzzsaw for the Seahawks defense. He spends plenty of time with one.

Each work day since Seattle’s speedy, second-year pass rusher broke his right hand Oct. 21 while getting four sacks against St. Louis, trainers plaster a huge, club-like cast onto Tapp’s right hand so he can practice. After each workout, trainers take a power saw to Tapp’s hand to cut off the cast.

It’s a scene out of shop class, screeching cuts echoing down the hallway to the locker room, compelling anyone in the vicinity to gawk.

Isn’t it scary to have a spinning steel blade carving toward your hand?

“It was the first time,” Tapp said, giggling as usual. “They were like, ‘We’re not going to cut you.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, riiiiiight.’

“But I’m used to it now.”

Alex Smith doesn’t need to hear that. The struggling 49ers quarterback has to face Tapp and the Seahawks’ schizophrenic pass rush tonight when San Francisco (2-6), losers of six consecutive games, plays at NFC West-leading Seattle (4-4).

The last time Smith faced the Seahawks, the NFL’s lowest-rated passer had his throwing shoulder separated when defensive tackle Rocky Bernard slammed him on a sack. He missed two games. Seattle had six sacks that day, three by Julian Peterson, in a 23-3 romp in Week 4.

Those hits exemplify how Seattle’s defense has been just as skittish as its far more criticized offense.

In its four wins, Seattle has 20 sacks. It also knocked Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia out of a game.

In its four losses, Seattle has just three sacks – including none last week of Cleveland’s Derek Anderson, who isn’t exactly catlike in his ability to escape pursuers. Without pressure, Seattle has given up big plays, especially on third down.

“We have to put pressure on the quarterback some way,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “If we can’t do it one-on-one, one guy beating another guy, then we have to do it with blitzes or whatever.”

They did it all ways to Smith and backup Trent Dilfer Sept. 30. Then again, so has most of the league.

The 49ers are last in the league in total offense (224.3 yards per game) and passing offense (132.8 yards). Smith has completed less than 50 percent of his throws, has just two touchdown passes in six starts and is the lowest-rated passer in the NFL.

Now he is without starting left tackle Jonas Jennings and starting right guard Justin Smiley. Both went on injured reserve last week and will be out the remainder of the season. Adam Snyder will again start for Jennings, and fellow 2005 draft pick David Baas will replace Smiley.