CHENEY – Because just five healthy players have been available to rotate at two defensive end positions, Seattle Seahawks rookie Darryl Tapp has seen plenty of action at training camp.
But he’s still had enough energy to put in a little overtime.
On several occasions during the past eight days, Tapp has stayed after practice to work one-on-one with defensive line coach Dwaine Board.
“You’ve got to,” Tapp said when asked about his extra work. “I have to get to the level that the rest of the D-line guys are at. They had a tremendous unit last year. They brought me in to add to that, so I’ve got to mind my P’s and Q’s so that I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
The second-round pick out of Virginia Tech is working on all the little nuances of the professional game. He knows his speed and athleticism, by themselves, won’t be enough to carry him. So Tapp is picking Board’s brain on things like hand movement, footwork and where to line up.
“All the one-on-one attention I can get, that’s only going to help me,” Tapp said, adding that it doesn’t hurt to work with an assistant coach who had 61 career sacks as an NFL defensive lineman. “It’s a big help. (Board has) definitely been through the fire. It’s not like he’s teaching me something that he read in a book. He’s been there, done that, and he’s trying to get me to the same level that he was performing at.”
Board isn’t the only one helping to elevate Tapp’s game. The 265-pound rookie sees most of his repetitions against Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones.
“I get to go against the best in the business day in and day out,” Tapp said. “The closer I get to beating (Jones), or even getting him to pause a little bit, that’s going to be a victory for me against somebody else. Because nobody else is on Walter Jones’ level.”
Fan favorite: Wide receiver C.J. Jones is a long way from his hometown (Palm Beach, Fla.), his college (University of Iowa), his last NFL training camp (Cleveland Browns) and his last team (the Berlin Thunder).
So it came as a bit of a surprise that he had his own fan club at Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage.
“It just felt good to know that someone was on my side,” Jones said of three Seattle men who attended the scrimmage with a “We believe in C.J. Jones” sign. “I didn’t know them at all. I just saw the sign.”
Jones gave the men his gloves and chatted with them briefly, but he’s still not sure why they’re such big fans.
“They said they liked my style,” said Jones, whose flowing braids make him stand out on the practice field. “They recognize me because of my hair. One of them said I run like a gazelle. I was like, ‘Wow, I appreciate that.’ I was really flattered.”
Jones, 25, is a long shot to make the team. He spent two seasons on the Browns’ practice squad and has been in NFL Europe the past two summers. He got hurt while playing for Berlin during the most recent NFLE season and missed all the offseason minicamps.
“I’m always going to be the long shot,” said Jones, whose claim to fame comes from being the cousin of Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin. “I went to junior college for two years, then when I was with Cleveland’s (practice squad) for two years, I had to sit in that back row. So I know my role. I’ve always got to wait. I’ll just wait for my time to come, and when it does, I’ll just ride it.”
Injury update: The Seahawks continue to be shorthanded at several positions, but no new injuries came out of Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage.
Five starters – wide receiver Darrell Jackson (knee), tight end Jerramy Stevens (knee), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (knee), defensive end Grant Wistrom (shoulder) and safety Michael Boulware (knee) – continue to be sidelined following offseason surgeries.
All five are expected back for either the second or third preseason game.
Linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski (strained quadriceps) missed a second consecutive day of practices Sunday.
Wide receiver Taco Wallace (bruised ribs) missed the afternoon practice.
Cornerback Reggie Austin, who missed two days with a strained knee, returned to the practice field Sunday. Wide receiver Tony Brown returned from a hamstring injury.
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