Kapp makes impact on Battlehawks special teams

St. Louis Battlehawks' Jerome Kapp celebrates making a tackle on a punt play with teammates during a game against the Houston Roughnecks on Saturday, May 4, in St. Louis.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

As the St. Louis Battlehawks continue winning in dominating fashion on offense and defense, there is a third phase of their success that is underrated.

Special teams are a unit that nobody on the team aims to be a part of, outside of, of course, the kicker, punter, and long snapper.

It is a unit where a player at the bottom of the depth chart can find the field and make an impact that improves his station.

Jerome Kapp is an example of that. He has seven tackles, including four solo, on the punt and kickoff units.

“Not too many players in our league just dress to play special teams,” Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht said, “but he’s that kind of impact player.”

During the early part of the first quarter of the Battlehawks’ 22-8 home win against the Houston Roughnecks on Saturday, May 4, Kapp chased down Sterling Hofrichter’s 45-yard punt and tackled the Houston punt returner as soon as the ball reached his hands.

“We trust him in those situations,” Becht said. “He’s been our best tackler. He’s kind of been in the right spot a lot. He’s still kind of grown in the tackling size so it was really good to see him, excuse me, cap it off and get that big play.”

Houston Roughnecks punt returner Justin Hall is tackled by Battlehawks' Jerome Kapp on Saturday, May 4, in St. Louis.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

That play forced the Roughnecks in an unfavorable field position, making moving the ball against a formidable defense that much harder. The Battlehawks held the Roughnecks scoreless in the first half and only allowed one touchdown throughout the game.

Kapp was previously on the New York Jets training camp roster last year and played all four preseason games as a receiver and special teamer. He made only one catch for six yards in the preseason but left with a memorable rap performance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

The Battlehawks signed Kapp during the offseason in January to join an already deep receivers room that features Hakeem Bulter, Marcell Ateman, and tight end Jake Sutherland. Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron has completed a pass to 12 different receivers and running backs so far this season, but Kapp is not included in that group.

But that’s where special teams come in.

“To have all the receivers that we have and then for Kapp to still dress,” Becht said, “that’s because of his work ethic and what he does.”

With the second half of the season underway and the playoffs almost assured, a time may come for Kapp to line up as a receiver and haul in a reception.

Until then, he has carved out a nice niche on special teams and can continue contributing to the Battlehawks' success through that unit.