Yardbarker: Thomas Tapeh

The Forgotten Fullback

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:29:22 -0500

Madison Hedgecock Clears a Path

Under-appreciated is becoming an under-statement. Where are the kudos for these old-school warriors? I'll tell you what. Next weekend, as you sit on your couch, just watch them. You don't have to do it for the entire game, but perhaps dedicate a series or two. Take those handful of plays and focus solely on the bowling ball as it propels itself at full speed toward the sickest athletes on the football field.

Concentrate on the guy whose shoulders, neck and helmet seem to meld into one. He'll be the one barreling hellbent towards that linebacker who runs a 4.4 and is about to hit top speed with his 250-or so pounds. Looks like fun, right? Now, imagine doing that about 25-35 times/game. Such is the grim reality for the NFL fullback.

What's more, as the viciousness of playing the position at its highest level elevates to ever-rising peaks, recognition for these men continues to plummet. Maybe the fullback is heading towards a spot similar to the long snapper, only to be noticed when royally f-ing up and at no other time. Unlike the long snapper, though, the lead blocking back is frequently playing an integral part in helping put points up on the board in the first place.

Despite the role they often play in a team's offense, mention of fullbacks are less and less frequent on NFL telecasts. Maybe it's just the games I watching. Perhaps for those viewing in the Southeast or Pacific Northwest the situation differs. Not the case during the contests I'm tuning in to. Those telestrators are all circled up when a big, old left tackle opens a hole. The commentators can't seem to contain themselves after a receiver throws a downfield block. A tight-end or H-back coming across the formation on a kick out block? Kudos can't come quickly enough.

And through it all, the fullback keeps barreling straight ahead, looking for another hat to put his hat on, recklessly tossing himself directly into the ugliest of "the mix."
Go to NFL.com to search by position and you won't find those commonly referred to as blocking backs listed. Instead, they're lumped in with the glam-kid tailbacks who get all the press clippings, stadium leaps and, oh yes, the touchdowns. Guys like Madison Hedgecock, Casey Cramer, Mike Cox, Ovie Mughelli and Thomas Tapeh. A group that combined boasts a total of absolutely zero carries through three weeks of action.

Yet, quietly, the NFL fullback continues to do his job. The work is violent and (literally and figuratively) mind-numbing. The fact that it has become so thankless is ridiculous. Well, we've had enough. In the name of Tom Rathman, Mike Alstott and Moose, for Lorenzo Neal and Jon Ritchie, for those who still love what is good and pure and wholesome and right about American football, it's about damn time the NFL fullback starts getting talked about again once-in-a-freakin while. We beseech you. Honor thy fullback.

Who's with us?

The Forgotten Fullback

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:22:12 -0500

Madison Hedgecock Clears a Path

Monday Night Football Week One Live-Blog: Vikings-Packers 2nd Half

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:38:33 -0500

I got a little behind there at the end of the half let's do a little rapid fire commenting and show you that Peterson truck stick on Al Harris....

Kornheiser sounds like Bill Swerski tonight. I'm surprised he hasn't asked retorically what the score would be if Brett Farve played the Vikings by himself. (Via Anon)

Anybody else think of "To Catch a Predator" the way Jaws said that LOVES young quarterbacks. (Via Anon)

What's with the band on the sideline? although it does go perfect with the high school caliber football we're seeing. (Via Anon)

Someone should tell ESPN that there are other Metallica songs than Fuel. (Via The Brain)

Hi, I'm Tony Korniheiser, with Mike Tirico. Welcome to "Monday Night Favreball" (Via PM)

8:43- So let me get this straight? ESPN replaced "Jacked Up" with something called "Sunday Thunder" that featured two highlights and one was of the Bears defense making boring tackles? FAIL. Second half is getting underway shortly....

AA, you've failed to realize that simply making a tackle has become a spectacular feat for my Bears. (Via PM)

Touche'.

"I'm going to put a Favre moratorium on the Second Half. You only get five mentions!"- Mike Tirico

Liar. Vikings ball to start the half. There goes Jackson again....gain of eighteen on a scramble. He follows it up with a nice pass in rhythm to Berrian who almost breaks it. Woodson gets him by the shoelaces. Another Jackson completion and this is a drive. Oh wow! Berrian had the ball tipped to him in the back of the endzone but he can only get one foot down.

Vikings get a FG and it's 10-6 now.

8:55- "Our cheese curds are saltier than your cheese curds."- Tony Kornheiser

Go away please. Packers ball and Rodgers opens up the drive with a strike to Driver, but there's a penalty. 3rd and 9....complete but short. The Pack will punt. Allison goes for six yards and it will be Vikes ball near their own 20. Let's here "Fuel" again by Metallica! Commercial.

"Driver! He got Winfield to bite, and says 'good night!'" - Mike Tirico (Via Jay and JFein)

"Tries to get it to his fullback, Thomas Tapeh but Collin Jenkins was knocking him on his bottom."- Mike Tirico

Great pass to from Jackson to Sianicoe and he is blasted! Fumble...wait, incomplete. Wait again, it was a catch and the ground caused the fumble. Either way...it's a challenged and it's incomplete. Sorry I dosed off there for a second.

9:10- Great! A Michael Phelps mention!!! Keep it up guys....you're doing great. Jackson on a third and long hits Chester Taylor and he picks up the first.

Michael Phelps' performance in the Olympics was Favre-esque. (Via PM)

The drive stalls out and Kluwe punts again. Blackmon gets loose!

"Cutting back, he needs two more blocks. He got one.......he got the other one! Touchdown Green Bay!"- Mike Tirico

Great call on that one by Tirico and a great return. 17-6 Packers with 6 minutes left.

"He was too pooped to leap."- Tony Kornheiser

9:19- Those are pretty boring cheerleader uniforms. Is this a BYU game or something? (Via Mal)

I'm pretty sure the Packers don't have official cheerleaders anymore and that they use local highschool kids. I could be wrong though.

"And the Packers saying to the Jets if you trade him at all you lose you first born for fifty three years or something like that."- Tony Kornheiser

Why did we just get a picture of the 0-0, 1st Quarter scoreboard at the bottom for about 15 seconds? (Via Bazooka Jones) Good question, but here's the picture....

So unfunny. Jackson is crushed with a blindside sack but KGB was offsides on the play. 3rd and 6 for the Vikings and Jackson gets another scrambling first down. The Vikes are out to the 40 now. Nice little drive. Another first down as Peterson goes over 100 yards and Minny is in GB territory.

Jackson picks up some more yards and it'll be 3rd and 1 to start the 4th quarter. 17-6 Packers after three.

9:31- Vikings come up short on third down and it'll be 4th and 1. They're going for it.....Jackson throws....

Sidney Rice is wide open for six! They go for two and...no good. 17-12 now.

Great play by Jackson and it happened right as Tirico and Jaws were saying they would have kicked the Field Goal. They were right, but hopefully it shuts them up a bit.

"Way to second guess yourself after they score the touchdown. That's twice you've done that tonight."- Tony Kornheiser

Blackmon brings it out past the twenty and here comes Aaron Rodgers again. Tavaris J. is now a stellar 8 for 21 passing and the Packers defense seems to be running out of gas. Rodgers to Humphrey for about seven and Grant picks up the rest for a first down.

53-Man Roster Announced

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:28:47 -0500

The finalized 2008 53-man roster was just released on Vikings.com (in PDF format for some screwed up reason). Here it is all sorted by position (don't say I don't work hard for you) followed by the final cut list: Offense Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson Gus Frerotte John David Booty Running Back Adrian

First Cuts - Roster Update

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:45:40 -0500

The Vikings announced four cuts today and none of them are particularly exciting (unless you were really rooting for Derrick Pope to unseat Vinny Ciurciu). The jettisoned players are: LB Derrick Pope OT Sean Dumford OT Brock Pasteur WR Daniel Davis This gives me a chance to post a revised roster plus

Farwell Hurt

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:19:14 -0500

Heath Farwell, in with the second-team defense in the 1st quarter (don't you just love preseason?), injured his knee in what appeared to be pretty severe fashion and had to be helped off the field. The first-team defense had a fairly pathetic effort, allowing big runs and passes, but did manage to hold the Seahawks to 3 on their second series (which was set up by a Visanthe Shiancoe fumble). Jared Allen went by Walter Jones a couple of times and nearly blew up Matt Hasselbeck on a screen pass to the right. Tyrell Johnson made a couple nice tackles. Offensively, Tarvaris Jackson made some good passes and a couple of bad passes. The Vikes scored their TD on a pair of plays that had Jackson rolling out of the pocket - one to Bernard Berrian where he would've scored a TD had he not stepped out of bounds, then the scoring pass on a play-action roll-out lob to Thomas Tapeh. Adrian Peterson has yet to touch the ball…and I have a feeling he won't be touching it. Darius Reynaud had a nice kick return to set up the first Vikings score…he looks like he could win that job. Jackson, still in the game, just threaded one in to Sidney Rice. Nice play…but probably a stupid one. First deep ball to Berrian…T-Jack overthrew him by ten yards, but Berrian appeared to be interfered with. No call. Chilly is yelling at the refs. Chester Taylor is in now. Bobby Wade catches an underneath pass and zips and darts downfield for a big gain. Gotta love Wade's moves in traffic. First quarter over…we'll see if Chilly lets them finish off the series. Gus Frerotte is getting warm. Survivorman is on Discovery right now. People who paint themselves up for preseason games make me sad.

Tuesday morning notes: The Vikings just completed their media briefing

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:30:14 -0500

Tuesday morning notes: The Vikings just completed their media briefing after the morning update and here are some notes and observations: * Wide receiver Bobby Wade did not practice because of a sore left knee. Wade said afterward that he's fine and coach Brad Childress said they wanted to give him the day off the rest it. * Fullback Thomas Tapeh returned to practice after missing the evening session yesterday after getting his bell rung. Tight end Garrett Mills (left ankle) did not practice. * Defensive tackle Pat Williams took part in team drills for the first time. Williams has eased into action while building up strength in his left elbow. * Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson looked sharp in situational team work but threw two interceptions in 7-on-7 drills. Jackson went 3-for-4 in a third-and-long drill. Lined up in shotgun, Jackson connected with Bernard Berrian for a 25-yard pass play down the left sideline on the first play and then hit Sidney Rice for a 25-yarder down the right sideline. Jackson and Rice hooked up for a 15-yard pass play later. * Jackson was not as good in 7-on-7. He made a poor throw that was not close to any receiver that got picked off by Marcus McCauley. Later, Benny Sapp jumped in front of Jackson's pass to Berrian for another interception. * Defensive end Otis Grigsby had his best practice of camp. He had two sacks and got good pressure all day. * Linebacker Rufus Alexander caused a fumble and recovered it with a big hit on Naufahu Tahi in team drills. * Childress said he and Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards have faxed ideas back and forth about the format and what each team wants to get out of Thursday's scrimmage. * Childress said the staff wants to take a long look at backup linebackers like Derrick Pope, Heath Farwell, Vinny Ciurciu and the young guys Erin Henderson and J Leman. * The team has a special teams practice this afternoon. We'll check back later with more updates.

Injuries

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:01:35 -0500

Ray Edwards (back) will probably come off the PUP list this week and get some practice time. Pat Williams has been nursing his elbow which was operated on in the off-season but is finally seeing some action. That's half our alleged big-time defensive line right there. Be a shame to see the plan messed up by injuries. Garrett Mills injured his ankle the other day and is still not back on the field. Thomas Tapeh, our new blocking fullback, took a big hit yesterday morning but is now back. Bobby Wade is missing today according to Judd Zulgad's Access Vikings report…no word on whether this is health-related.

Roster Watch

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:24:10 -0500

The Vikings go into camp with 80 men on their roster, and will have to trim that to 53 by the time the season starts. The current position-by-position breakdown follows the jump (depth chart positions subject to debate in some cases; starters in italics): Offense Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson Gus Frerotte John David Booty Brooks Bollinger Running Back Adrian Peterson Chester Taylor Maurice Hicks Albert Young Fullback Thomas Tapeh Jeff Dugan Naufahu Tahi Tackle Ryan Cook Bryant McKinnie Marcus Johnson Chase Johnson Drew Radovich Guard Steve Hutchinson Anthony Herrera Artis Hicks Brian Daniels Mike Jones Center Matt Birk John Sullivan Dan Mozes Tim Mattran Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe Jim Kleinsasser Garrett Mills Braden Jones Wide Receiver Bernard Berrian Bobby Wade Sidney Rice Robert Ferguson Aundrae Allison Jaymar Johnson Martin Nance Nate Jones Darius Reynaud Daniel Davis Defense/Special Teams Defensive End Jared Allen Ray Edwards Brian Robison Jayme Mitchell Ellis Wyms Otis Grigsby Martail Burnett Defensive Tackle Kevin Williams Pat Williams Fred Evans Letroy Guiron Kenderick Allen Leger Douzable Linebacker E.J. Henderson Ben Leber Chad Greenway Heath Farwell Vinny Ciurciu Derrick Pope Rufus Alexander David Herron Erin Henderson Jeremy Leman Cornerback Antoine Winfield Cedric Griffin Marcus McCauley Charles Gordon Benny Sapp Dee McCann Marcus Walker Brandon Sumrall Safety Darren Sharper Madieu Williams Michael Boulware Tyrell Johnson Eric Frampton Jusain Abdullah Kicker Ryan Longwell Steven Hauschka Punter Chris Kluwe Long Snapper Cullen Loeffler Hard to find any real positional battles there. The best one is probably at tight end, where I'm hoping Garrett Mills, who showed flashes in the final game of last season, will push Visanthe Shiancoe. Maybe Marcus McCauley or Charles Gordon can make things uncomfortable for Cedric Griffin? Everything else looks set, barring injury or guys suddenly forgetting how to play. I'll continue to update this as camp progresses, reflecting cuts, and any changes in depth chart position.

Why Joseph Addai, not Adrian Peterson, should be #2 on your cheat sheet

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:20:24 -0500

Adrian Peterson is an exciting fantasy player by any measure. Besting the NFL single-game rushing record in his rookie season was a feat for the ages. Many a fantasy football trophy was won last year thanks to his statistical brilliance. I certainly wouldn't be incredibly surprised if he has an even better season in 2008. Even though I think he has a higher ceiling than any running back in the league, if I were drafting with the #2 pick tonight, I'd be taking Addai over Peterson (assuming, as I think we can, that LT goes #1 almost universally). Here's why.

Hunt the new man to block for Westbrook ??

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:18:56 -0500

So , with the departure of Thomas Tapeh, who is our new fullback. We only have guys at the fullback position that have never played before. But, if we look closer at our HB position we have a secret weapon. Tony Hunt standing at 6'1" 233lbs. this guy to me looks like the next A-Train. He can bouldoze over guys and he can flat out run. I think Andy Reid's draft pick came in handy for once.

Donovan's Reaction to signings and more

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:52:37 -0500

Super five gives us his thoughts on the off-season so far.

Goodbye Tapeh

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:02:53 -0500

Thomas Tapeh has rejoined Brad Childress by signing with the VIkes.....................personally it wasn't too much of a bad thing because All Pro FB Lorenzo Neal has been released as is All Pro FB Tony Richardson... You guy tell me who would you like to see be the guy blocking for Brian Westbrook?...Also Bernard Berrian is visiting the Vikes as well.....By the way Asante Samuel and the Eagles are expected to announce offically the signing reported by 610 WIP

Thomas Tapeh Signs with Vikings

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:45:41 -0500

It's not a big loss, but former Eagle Thomas Tapeh signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings. He will re-join former Eagle Offensive Coordinator and current Viking Head Coach Brad Childress.