Yesterday Eagles new defensive end Darryl Tapp said he had his best season as a pro because he recorded 18 hits on the quarterback during the 2009 season.  Is this legit?
First of all, let me emphasize that football is a team sport.  All a pass rusher can do is beat his man and get to the quarterback.
One player can’t both get to the quarterback and cover the receivers going out for passes.¬† The player has to rely on his teammates to blanket the receivers.
The pass rusher also isn’t responsible for calling the right pass coverage.¬† All he can do is beat his man and get to the quarterback, he has to rely on his coaches to call the right defense.
Therefore I believe that getting to the quarterback for 18 hits is a legitimately impressive statistic.  The pass rusher can help the coverage and the coverage can help the pass rusher.
If the guys in the secondary aren’t doing the job and covering the receivers, it doesn’t matter how soon the defensive line is getting there.
The fact that Tapp was getting hits on the quarterback and not unnecessary roughness penalties means he was forcing the quarterback to get rid of the football, early.
Pressuring the quarterback and forcing him to throw the ball sooner than he wants to, helps to create turnovers.
The Birds scouting department may have done a good job and pulled one off on new Seattle head coach Pete Carroll and his staff.
Carroll may have overlooked Tapp’s effectiveness by ignoring the quarterback hits and only seeing his lousy 2.5 sacks in 2009.
If Tapp can continue beating his man, then the Eagles will have a much better defense, because Tapp won’t have to worry about beating double teams here in Philadelphia.
Offenses will focus on double-teaming Pro Bowler and right defensive end Trent Cole..
All Tapp has to do is beat the guy who is blocking him.  He will be single-blocked all game long.
I’m not saying Tapp is going to be a great player, but I am saying that the Eagles will have a much better defense, if the former Seahawks defensive end can continue beating his man.
