Cleveland Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin impressing teammates, coaches with constant hustle

[BernietheKid]

Cleveland Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin impressing teammates, coaches with constant hustle

Published: Thursday, November 25, 2010, 11:12 PM Updated: Friday, November 26, 2010, 6:59 AM

Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer


Joshua Gunter | The Plain Dealer
Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin has established himself in the middle of the team's defensive line.

Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin didn't mind that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan made him a marked man heading into the Jaguars game last week by declaring two days beforehand that Rubin would kick the butt of Jaguars 11-year center Brad Meester.

"Coming from Rob, he's a great coach, so it felt good," said Rubin, who heard about the remark from teammates the night before the game. "I just knew that Rob put his cards on the table and I had to go show up. If he showed that much confidence in me, I didn't want to let him down."

Never mind that Meester was undoubtedly a little extra pumped for the game.
Rubin took the challenge so seriously that his performance was one of the few things that prevented coach Eric Mangini from jumping from the plane on his way home from the 24-20 loss -- one that came after six Browns takeaways.

"I was watching the tape on the plane ride home and it was just frustrating," said Mangini. "There's a range of emotions that you go through. Then you watch a guy like Rubin, and his effort throughout the course of that game from start to finish was just impressive."

Rubin, who has started all 10 games at nose tackle, finished second on the team with five tackles and an 8-yard sack in the fourth quarter against Jacksonville. It was his second sack in three games, the first two of his career.

"He made a ton of plays down the field last week, and they're just hustle plays," said Mangini. "Those big guys usually don't do that and when you see it, it charges you up. It wasn't just one play. It was like play one, two, three, four and five. He constantly shows up on the screen."

Rubin is second on the team with 51 tackles, most among linemen or linebackers. He also has two passes broken up and an interception -- the first by a Browns lineman since Kenard Lang in 2003.

"He's in a class by himself," said Ryan. "There's nobody that plays the way Rubin plays. Nobody in the league plays defensive tackle the way he does."

Explained Rubin of his hustle: "I guess it's the will, the want to win, to fight out there for your guys. Your family is watching and you've got your name on your back."

Last week, Ryan was teaching Rubin a technique he wanted him to use in short-yardage called "Buddy 51," named after his father and former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan. The technique calls for Rubin to just knock the center back.

"He said to me, 'Well, Rob, how am I going to get to the guy with the ball?' " said Ryan. "I'm like, 'You know what, Rube, do exactly what you do' because I've had guys that can't move, that stand there and don't do anything and it [ticks] you off. This guy's phenomenal. This guy gives more effort. He's tough as [heck], and you can't run on him."

Rubin's outstanding season has many of his teammates stumping for him to make the Pro Bowl. His predecessor at the position, Shaun Rogers, Tweeted this week for fans to vote for Rubin.

Linebacker David Bowens said he is worthy.

"Definitely, oh yea," said Bowens. "There's no center in this league that can block him one-on-one. He's a big man that understands the schemes of the 3-4, and he's selfless. He's always taking double-teams off the middle linebackers, but he always hustles.

"You see him chasing down screens, chasing down wide receivers. He plays his tail off every snap and there's nothing but upside to the guy. He can do everything."

Rubin, the Browns' sixth-round pick in 2008 out of Iowa State, acknowledged he struggled against Jets center Nick Mangold two weeks ago.

"He's a Pro Bowler and one of the highest-paid centers in the league for a reason," said Rubin. "It just showed me I've got a long way to go. He got me off-point a couple of times and, if I ever get a chance to play him again, it'll be a lot different."

Rubin spent the off-season beefing up his pass-rush skills, something Rogers has schooled him about.

"I'm just trying to get to the quarterback as much as possible, trying to make more plays on the ball this year," said Rubin. "Every time I go out to practice, I try to get better at that weakness. Hopefully I'll get some more [sacks] here in the last couple of games."

Since taking over for the injured Rogers with five games remaining last season, Rubin has made a tremendous impact on the run defense. The Browns have allowed just three 100-yard rushers in the 15 games, including two this year.

They have also allowed just three rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the league best. They have improved from 28th in the league in run defense last year to 21st this year.

"I'm thankful to be here and for us to be doing much, much better than we did last year," he said. "I'm also very thankful to look at the draft class I came here with and to be the last one standing. I just want to continue to perform for this team."
And maybe even kick some butt.

Injury report: Quarterback Colt McCoy (ankle) was one of six players who did not participate in practice Thursday. The others were linebackers Eric Barton (shoulder) and Scott Fujita (knee), defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman (knee), wide receiver Josh Cribbs (foot) and cornerback Eric Wright (knee). Listed as limited in practice: defensive back Mike Adams (abdomen), defensive lineman Rogers (ankle), tight end Benjamin Watson (ankle) and offensive lineman Floyd Womack (knee.)

Cleveland Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin impressing teammates, coaches with constant hustle | cleveland.com

[Tobalaz]

Freaking great.
Every time I hear Eric talk about how far along a guy has come he drops off of the planet.

[Enigmatic Evil]

I think with Rubin it will be different Tob... Eric's been praising his play since last season and he's only gotten better and better, to the point that if we can bring in somebody to play off the DE, maybe through the draft. We could dump Shaun Rogers and get something of value for him. Most if not all of the praise in that article comes from Rob Ryan though, there are a few Mangini quotes. I like that Rubin continues to improve and will only continue to get better, I think he was a real good pick for us.

[BernietheKid]

Rubin proves to be a prize for Browns
By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:22 p.m. EST, Nov 25, 2010

Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin smiles when defensive coordinator Rob Ryan touts him as if he's Don King promoting a prizefighter. But Rubin also knows there are consequences.

Before the Browns (3-7) played the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend, Ryan told reporters Rubin was going to kick center Brad Meester's butt. Of course, Ryan, in full-fledged trash-talking mode, used a different word for Meester's backside.

''I heard a little bit of the comments [Ryan] made probably a couple hours before the game,'' Rubin said. ''He put confidence in me. I just had to go out there and back him up and make sure I didn't let him down. . . .I figured if [Meester] heard the comments
[Ryan] made, he was gonna be probably a little fired up about it.''

After the Browns' 24-20 loss to the Jaguars, Meester said, ''I think I held my own all right.''

Still, Rubin returned from his home state of Florida with rave reviews from his coaches.

The 6-foot-2, 330-pound Rubin actually brought joy to Browns coach Eric Mangini. That's quite a feat, because the Browns fell to the Jaguars despite finishing with a plus-five turnover differential.

''I was just watching the tape on the plane ride home and it's just frustrating and the range of emotions that you go through,'' said Mangini, whose team will host the Carolina Panthers (1-9) Sunday. ''Then you watch a guy like Rubin. . . .It's just really satisfying to watch him.''

What did Mangini see during his flight to Cleveland? Was there a specific play in which Rubin stood out?

''No, it wasn't one. It was like play one, play two, play three, play four, play five,'' Mangini said. ''He just keeps showing up. You're also dealing with a big man. Those big guys usually don't do that, and when you see it, it charges you up.''

Rubin has ascended from an overlooked sixth-round pick (190th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft to a regular starter who could be in the running for a Pro Bowl selection. At least, that's the way his coaches and teammates see it.

''He's been dominant in every game that he's played this year,'' defensive end Brian Schaefering said. ''He's gotten some sacks this year, he's gotten a lot of tackles and he's one of those guys that offenses that we play are gonna have to game plan for.''

Rubin is tied for second on the team with 51 tackles. Before this season, he had already built a reputation as an emerging run stopper. Now he's known as something entirely different: a unique force.

''Nobody in the league plays defensive tackle the way he does,'' Ryan said. ''In fact, I told him a technique I wanted him to use in short yardage and he came up to me and was like, 'Well, Rob, how am I going to get to the guy with the ball?' And I'm like, 'You know what, Rub? do exactly what you do.' Because I've had guys that can't move, that stand there and don't do anything and it [ticks] you off watching them. This guy's phenomenal.''

He's also evolving. Like most nose tackles, he's not known as a pass-rushing threat. Nevertheless, he has two sacks in the past three games.

Former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Shaun Rogers ''took him under his wing, been helping him out, and it shows,'' linebacker Marcus Benard said. ''His pass rush is coming on. He's getting sacks, he's getting tackles, tackles for losses. It's a big job being the nose in a 3-4 [defense], so he's definitely holding it down.''

Rubin got his big break last season, when Rogers suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 12. He started the final five games of the 2009 season and sealed his status as the team's regular nose tackle this past summer.

''You'll see plays that downfield, he's chasing them 30, 40 yards,'' linebacker Matt Roth said. ''It's uncommon for a 300-pound man to be giving that much hustle. In a 3-4 [defense], typically they're kind of big, lazy. I wouldn't say lazy, but you know they're 320, 330-pound guys. And Tuba's interesting because he's a guy that can run and make those hustle plays.

''You see it week after week. He's making plays 20 yards down the field. For a big guy, he definitely gives tremendous effort. Coach is always saying with a little more effort, some of these games, we might be able to get that victory.''

Despite the accolades, Rubin has not changed. His name means prince, warrior, king, though quiet, respectful, modest would be more fitting.

When asked about Mangini gushing about him, Rubin only expressed gratitude. When asked about becoming part of the Pro Bowl conversation, Rubin said he just wants to help his team win. When asked about facing New York Jets center Nick Mangold in Week 10, Rubin conceded that he was humbled.

''He's a Pro Bowler, one of the highest-paid centers in the league for a reason,'' Rubin said. ''It just showed me I've got a long way to go. He got me off point a couple of times and if I ever get a chance to play him again, it will be a lot different. But I learned a lot and I appreciate that game.''

You see, Rubin is focused on learning lessons and improving. For now, he'll stick to that and let Ryan do all the talking.

Hurt and disappointed
Special-teams ace Blake Costanzo said he doesn't know yet whether he'll need surgery to repair his season-ending groin injury. Costanzo was hurt while covering a kickoff last weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars and he was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
''I live to play football, especially with the Browns,'' Costanzo said. ''Just to have my season cut short, it's the first time in my life I've ever even missed a practice. But I'm gonna be cheering them on and hopefully they come out here and win this Sunday.''

Injury updates
Linebackers Eric Barton (shoulder) and Scott Fujita (knee), defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee), wide receiver Josh Cribbs (foot), quarterback Colt McCoy (ankle) and cornerback Eric Wright (knee) did not practice Thursday. Rogers (ankle), defensive back Mike Adams (abdomen), tight end Benjamin Watson (ankle) and offensive lineman Floyd Womack (knee) were limited during practice Thursday.

Ohio.com - Rubin proves to be a prize for Browns

[Browns_TSD]

I'm happy that Ahtyba's getting recognition. He's a great guy!
[BIMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h215/SmeeBig7/2010-11-05MOMsCTSFWeekendPhotos016-1.jpg?t=1290971755[/BIMG]

Browns_TSD.

[Legacy Fan]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

Last week, Ryan was teaching Rubin a technique he wanted him to use in short-yardage called "Buddy 51," named after his father and former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan. The technique calls for Rubin to just knock the center back. "He said to me, 'Well, Rob, how am I going to get to the guy with the ball?' " said Ryan. "I'm like, 'You know what, Rube, do exactly what you do' because I've had guys that can't move, that stand there and don't do anything and it [ticks] you off. This guy's phenomenal. This guy gives more effort. He's tough as [heck], and you can't run on him."

That, is awesome.

[Enigmatic Evil]

I continue to be impressed by Rubin and the great thing is he's only going to continue to get better and better. His improvement makes Shaun Rogers expendability grow every season. I was skeptical of Rubin at one point and time but he's continued to improve, he makes plays and he plays hard. What more could a coach on an NFL Football team want?