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...
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.)