Browns' Rubin is a handful for opposing linemen

[BernietheKid]

Browns' Rubin is a handful for opposing linemen
By Steve Doerschuk
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Oct 07, 2010 @ 06:45 PM



BEREA —
He’s only one man, but at 330 pounds, it seems fair to call his part of this band “The Tuba Section.”

With the other three members of the defensive line’s big four dealing with age and injury issues, Ahtyba “Tuba” Rubin is playing the biggest part of his NFL career. After Rubin made the first five starts of his NFL career to finish last season — the Browns were 4-1 — he has started all four games in 2010.

In Cleveland’s scheme, guys like Rubin need a doubly hard nose. The 24-year-old nose tackle is almost always engaged by two blockers, which keeps him from making bunches of tackles but enables others to do so.

It is a grueling task.

Rubin almost always outweighs the centers and guards who double-team him, but there are two of them, and one of him, and his body always is barking the next day.

“You always feel aches and pains you didn’t feel the night before,” he says .

By Wednesday, when the first serious practice for the next game occurs, the aches quiet down a bit. The week settles into a routine.

Rubin played high school ball at Emmitt Smith’s alma mater, Escambia, in Pensacola, Fla. He wasn’t a morning person then and he isn’t now.

“I enjoy my sleep,” he said. “I like to let my body wake up naturally. I hate when that buzzer goes off.”

Many of the Browns have a 30-minute commute to Berea, but Rubin lives in neighboring Middleburg Heights, less than 10 minutes away. Living close lets him sleep longer. He usually gets up at 7 and makes the first meeting of the day — 7:45 with defensive line coach Bryan Cox — with time to spare.

The morning’s second meeting, for the entire team, is run by Head Coach Eric Mangini in a big room with theater seating. After that, Rubin walks down the hall to a pow-wow for the entire defense, run by Coordinator Rob Ryan.

The media rolls through the locker room during lunch, then it’s time for practice.

Practice has been strange for Rubin’s group lately, because the older guys — Robaire Smith, Shaun Rogers and Kenyon Coleman — have sat out more often than not. That lets them mend their wounds but adds to everybody else’s load. Somebody has to play on the scout team, simulating the Atlanta Falcons.

After practice, Ryan conducts a wrap-up meeting, and Rubin heads for his SUV.

“Sometimes I go home and watch the last game,” Rubin said. “I record it on DVR. I like to just relax and kick back.

“Sometimes I’ll play video games with my girlfriend. Lately I go to bed pretty early, 10:30 or 11.”

Rubin’s work life revolves around the train-wreck collisions that happen at 1 p.m. each Sunday.

“When you gets wins,” he said, “all the bumps and bruises, all the taking on double-teams all day ... it’s all worth it.

“The pain goes away.”

This is Rubin’s third year with the Browns. He was barely noticed as a rookie sixth-round draft pick in 2008. His job for the better part of two seasons was to give Rogers a blow, but when Rogers went on injured reserve in 2009, Rubin became a starter.

Before long, he was regarded as perhaps Phil Savage’s best value pick in the draft. The pain thing goes both ways. He is a run-stuffer deluxe who dishes it out.

This week, when talk turned to the tough-guy image the Browns are taking on, Rubin’s name was among the first Mangini mentioned. Ryan says Rubin has proved he can be a starting nose tackle who can help a team grow up.

Browns fans should get used to him. His name is Ahtyba — pronounced “ah-tah-buh” — And they should feel free to think of him as “Tuba.”

“Back home,” he said, “mom calls me ‘Tahba.” People have called me ‘Tuba’ for a long time. Basically, my main name is ‘Tuba.’ ”

As the heaviest instrument in the band, Rubin shows a tangible pride when he says, “I love getting double-teamed.”

LESS RUNNING WILD

A look at how leading rushers fared against the Browns in their first four games of 2009 and 2010 in terms of carries and yards.

Game 2009 2010
Game 1 Adrian Peterson, 25-180 Cadillac Williams, 22-75
Game 2 Correll Bukhalter, 9-76 Thomas Jones, 22-83
Game 3 Willis McGahee, 7-67 Ray Rice, 15-80
Game 4 Cedric Benson, 18-74 Cedric Benson, 15-60

Browns' Rubin is a handful for opposing linemen - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com

[hiwaygal]

With so much attention lately going to Hillis and Ward and Haden and Cribbs (not that they don't deserve it)...it's nice to see Rubin getting some attention.

I liked this article for giving us a glimpse into a player's daily life and I liked that it focuses on a player that we might be overlooking.

I hope Tuba makes an impact for a long time to come!

[Sez.EJ]

He's doing OK... slowly improving and looks promising going forward. I don't consider him much more than average right now..also, there is certainly upside.. But HEY.. it's much better than what we have had in the past... Let's hope Rogers can continue to get healthier, and see how he works out as DE.... as together it makes us much harder to block up front if Rogers can get healthy and become a force at DE. Ruben is not the only reason for the improvement.. but a part of the whole..

He is coming along..but has not yet arrived IMO. I know every player is not going to be a superstar..so if all that ever happens is he becomes a solid journeyman..I'll take that because the nose in a 3-4 is not that easy to find and he's young.. I'll be very pleased with that. If he turns into a superstar.. even better.

[Neo]

Ohh, I have something about Rubin you guys are going to love. I just have to upload the clip somehow.

[Neo]

It's a clip from awhen we played the Chargers last year. P.S. Why is this guy not in the conversation for being an elite NT in the league?

[Sez.EJ]

Originally Posted by Joker

P.S. Why is this guy not in the conversation for being an elite NT in the league?

He's just not there yet.. ELITE???....NO.. He is becoming solid.. Elite may, or may not, come later.. as he continues to get experience. He's coming along nicely.

[Neo]

If you look closely you can see Rubin rushing the passer at 0:27 then his is making the tackle on the receiver at 0:45!!! Talk about effort! You can see him again making the tackle at the end of the vid. I was so impressed with this that I recorded it with my digital camera. Sorry for the shitty quality.

YouTube - Athyba Rubin

[Shep]

I've also seen him tackling WRs on slants. He plays with a really high motor for a big man. I think "elite" is a matter of recognition, and Ahtyba is getting really close to gettin' some of his.

With nose tackles, the stat for a lot of people is rush defense. If the Browns keep improving at that (14th in YPA), people will start pointing to Rubin.

He's another one of my faves, alone with Roth, Ward, Hillis, and Moore.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Shep

I've also seen him tackling WRs on slants. He plays with a really high motor for a big man. I think "elite" is a matter of recognition, and Ahtyba is getting really close to gettin' some of his.

With nose tackles, the stat for a lot of people is rush defense. If the Browns keep improving at that (14th in YPA), people will start pointing to Rubin.

He's another one of my faves, alone with Roth, Ward, Hillis, and Moore.

I have too but the tackle he made on that receiver was like 15 to 20 yards downfield. Now THAT's impressive.(edit) and you know he didn't drop back into a zone because you can see him battling an offensive linemen. This guy is an underrated player for us.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Joker

If you look closely you can see Rubin rushing the passer at 0:27 then his is making the tackle on the receiver at 0:45!!! Talk about effort! You can see him again making the tackle at the end of the vid. I was so impressed with this that I recorded it with my digital camera. Sorry for the shitty quality.
YouTube - Athyba Rubin

I guess nobody will question my fanhood after saving a short clip like this from a game that was played last year LOL

[Shep]

That was an amazing find, Joker! He just did it recently on a shorter slant that he was NOT in coverage... just read the bubble screen and made the play when the receiver cut back. Not a lot of nose tackles have the energy to push the pocket, reverse field, and get back into a play like that.

Our run defense got better last year when he took over the middle... and it has STAYED better. He's earned the right to be a full-time starting nose tackle headed for some recognition.

[Sez.EJ]

It's plays like that that got him a day 1 starter job this year and moving Rogers to end.