RENTON – Players don’t last long in the NFL if they don’t go hard and play with a great deal of energy.

Many players practice with the same intensity. Some go full-bore during every drill. Some even sprint from station-to-station between drills.

Here’s what might tell you all you need to know about how Darryl Tapp goes about his business: Sometimes between drills ... he skips.

So it’s very easy to imagine what Tapp would have looked like as a playful child. Because, in fact, that’s how he looks every time he steps on the field.

“That’s me: No worries ... just happy to have the opportunity to play football,” the defensive end said. “I’ve always been like that; smile on my face and feelings on my sleeve.”

Game or practice, August or December, win or lose?

“Even when we were losing the games, it was bad and you want to do better, but I love playing football and I’m very happy and blessed to have the opportunity,” he said.

Tapp is earning even more opportunities with the quality and consistency of his play. Viewed as something of a pass-rush specialist when he was taken in the second round of the 2006 draft out of Virginia Tech, he’s no longer considered a liability on running downs, and has become a force at the point of attack.

That means he can stay on the field longer.

“That was the hand I was dealt; I was never the prototypically-sized defensive end, so I had to concentrate on being more stout at the point of attack, stressing the fundamentals,” he said. “The more you can do ...”

At the start of the season, Tapp was considered a backup to Patrick Kerney, with Cory Redding starting at the other end. But the development of Tapp and Lawrence Jackson has minimized the impact of Kerney’s injuries and has allowed Redding to bounce inside to the tackle position at times.

And while the Hawks have struggled with injuries at a number of positions, they enjoy the luxury of talented depth now at defensive end. Even rookie Nick Reed is pushing for more time in the rotation.

But Tapp brings a little extra that makes the day go easier.

“He’s always smiling,” coach Jim Mora said. “He’s having fun, enjoying his life in pro football. He’s always got a smile on his face, whether it’s practice or games, in meetings or monotonous times in the season. That picks up guys around him, it really does; it’s contagious. Good attitude is contagious and he has a great attitude.”

Mora cited receivers Nate Burleson and Deion Branch and a number of other Seahawks who are congenitally good-spirited.

“But Tapper ... his grin kinda lights up a room,” Mora said.

Tapp leads the Seahawks with eight quarterback hits. Sunday, in a 41-0 win over Jacksonville, Tapp was clearly one of the team’s most effective defenders.

“He had a big game for us, run and pass, pressuring the quarterback, hits on the quarterback, a sack ... (and) in the run game, chasing the backside down, holding the point ... he played very, very well,” Mora said.

The issue in some seasons past, Mora said, was a lack of consistency. Now, it’s a strength.

“He’s just really homed in on his skill set,” Mora said. “He’s developing the things he does well, and he’s improving on the things he needs to improve on. He’s just becoming a more consistent, solid football player, a guy you can count on down after down.”

Tapp is engaged to be married in February to Tiffany Robinson, a fitness instructor from Port Orchard whom he met at a church cookout two years ago.

In addition to the impending responsibilities of being a husband, Tapp is in his final year of his contract.

Pressure to perform?

“Honestly, it’s a reality,” he said. “It’s not so much the money, but it’s the job. In reality, after this season, I don’t have a job. So, I’m hoping some good things happen when the time comes.”

Whether or not good things happen, they always seem more entertaining with Tapp around, teammates say.

“If I’m tired or beat up, he brings a smile to your face and he brings energy to our team on the field and in the locker room,” defensive tackle Craig Terrill said. “He’s one of the guys in the locker room who make me happy I share it with him.”

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

dave.boling@thenewstribune.com