July 6, 2017

Ricky Sapp knows what’s coming

Ricky Sapp has heard it before.

In fact, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman estimates that he has been asked 100 times during his football career if he is related to Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

He isn’t.

“I get that question everywhere I go,” Ricky Sapp said with a grin after the CFL’s Roughriders practised at Mosaic Stadium. “I always hear it. I’m used to it, so it doesn’t bother me.”

Sapp is a 30-year-old product of Columbia, S.C. He spent four seasons at Clemson University, recording 38 tackles for losses and 17.5 sacks over his 47 collegiate games.

The 6-foot-4, 252-pounder was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft, but didn’t play with them after suffering a knee injury.

He spent the next three seasons with the New York Jets and the two after that with the Houston Texans.

Sapp signed with the Washington Redskins in 2015, but was waived before playing a game with them. He was living in Myrtle Beach, S.C., working as a personal trainer and as a volunteer coach at a local high school while waiting for another opportunity in pro football.

“It took two years, but I finally got one so I’m thankful and blessed,” said Sapp, who had six tackles in 17 career NFL games.

His latest opportunity is in a different league in a different country. But for Sapp, his introduction to the CFL hasn’t been too confusing.

“They’ve got some different rules up here, but I’m going to get used to it,” said Sapp, whose addition to the Roughriders’ practice roster was announced Tuesday. “Football is football. They seem to have a great bunch of guys, so I’m looking forward to it.”

•••

Darius Allen also has heard it before.

The Roughriders defensive lineman may have the same initials as Canadian Football Hall of Famer Damon Allen and both may have played with the B.C. Lions, but they are not related.

“When I got to B.C., I heard his name and said, ‘Who’s Damon Allen?’ ’’ said Darius, who began his CFL career with the Lions in 2016. “Then I realized he was the brother of (legendary NFL running back) Marcus Allen, so I went on YouTube and I started looking up every clip I could find.

“I posted a post on Instagram (to Damon) and he ended up contacting me over the off-season. But we have no connection at all.”

Damon Allen spent 23 seasons as a quarterback in the CFL and he retired as pro football’s all-time leader with 72,381 passing yards. His record eventually was broken by then-Montreal Alouettes pivot Anthony Calvillo.

Darius Allen has played in just 11 career CFL regular-season games. The 25-year-old product of Lexington, Ky., was cut by the Lions before training camp this season and — like Sapp — was waiting for another chance.

“I’m excited to be here,” said Allen, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound product of Colorado State University-Pueblo who had four defensive tackles, four special-teams stops, one sack and one forced fumble with the Lions last season. “I’m excited to be somewhere that I’m wanted.”

•••

Saskatchewan special-teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson has seen and heard the fallout surrounding kicker Tyler Crapigna so far this season.

As Dickenson put it: “There’s more noise about it on the outside than there is in the locker room.”

Crapigna missed a potential game-winning, 45-yard field goal on the final play of Saskatchewan’s 17-16 loss to the Alouettes on June 22. On Saturday, his 33-yard field-goal try in double overtime hit an upright and helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers win 43-40.

But Dickenson likes the way Crapigna has been kicking — and the way he has been thinking things through.

“I think a good coach has to be a part-psychologist and (has to) try to motivate and keep these guys in the right frame of mind,” Dickenson said. “We worked really hard last week, working on the process and what goes into a successful kick and I really felt that Tyler had a great week of practice. I thought he kicked the ball extremely well.

“The fact that he missed one out of nine (placements against Winnipeg, comprising five field-goal attempts and four convert tries), it happened at a bad time. But to be quite honest, if he misses any of those kicks, we’re not going to win that game.

“I think he’s in a pretty good mindset.”

•••

The Roughriders (four sacks) and Bombers (three) combined for seven sacks on Saturday, which was above the league average for sacks in a game.

According to statistics issued Thursday by the league, teams are combining to average 4.5 sacks per game — a full sack less per game than the average of 2013.

Saskatchewan head coach-defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones suggested the decline is based largely on teams’ enhanced protection schemes and the desire to get footballs out of quarterbacks’ hands quickly.

“It makes it tougher and tougher to try to pressure the quarterback when their sole purpose is to get the ball out,” Jones said. “I (also) think there are better players now in the league offensively to throw the football to. There’s a lot more receivers on every team that can go out and make a five-yard play …

“It’s one of those deals where whatever they’re doing, you have to adjust to it.”