Darryl Tapp’s arrival means that Hokie fans are welcoming back another LPD star to the coaching staff. With the way the defensive staff looks to be shaking out, I think it’s likely Tapp will be asked to focus on technique and film breakdowns when he’s in the ‘burg, and to focus on Tidewater recruiting when he’s on the road. We’re all pretty familiar with how the Keeper of The Pail fared when he played at Tech, though I doubt his career in the NFL is as well-known.

In 2006, the Seahawks drafted Tapp hoping his high-motor game would help ease out their current ends, who included once-heralded Nebraska star Grant Winstrom. Seattle ran an attacking 4-3 that fit Tapp’s talents, and like all NFL schemes it entailed a transition for Tapp. He would more often be a force player, and a much greater emphasis was placed on winning matchups than on scheme fits. Sacks were king, and worrying about the option was unheard of.

While he was there the former Hokie became a personal project for d-line coach Dwayne Board, a Rocky Mount, VA native. Gifted rusher Julian Peterson was also brought on that year, giving Tapp several good examples to watch. In 2007, Tapp started sixteen games across from former UVA star Patrick Kerney, but his performance didn’t meet expectations, and Seattle drafted another end to replace the Hokie.

During Tapp’s third and final season with the Seahawks, the team changed defensive staff and switched to the 4-3, base Cover-2 scheme Tampa Bay made famous. With that change came the arrival of Dan Quinn. He’s known best for getting the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl a few years ago, but at the time Quinn was a d-line coach who’d worked his way up from spots at William & Mary, VMI, and Hofstra, to an NFL quality-control gig that he turned into a field position. Tapp would go on to say that Quinn was the best line coach he’d had up to that point. Quinn focused on hand-fighting techniques, and often showed his line videos of fighters to help them improve their handwork. Tapp’s starts were ceded to rookie Lawrence Jackson, though the Hokie still contributed. 

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