Friday, September 23, 2011
By Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter
CLEVELAND
There’s a buzz about the Browns’ new, young defensive line — rookie Phil Taylor’s immediate impact, rookie Jabaal Sheard’s move from right end to left, and Jayme Mitchell making GM Tom Heckert look prophetic for trading for him a year ago.
Yet the one among the front four who’s least talked about is the one probably playing the best.
Ahtyba Rubin is off to a fast start in his new role as a 4-3 defensive tackle. He notched his first sack Sunday in Indianapolis.
Rubin, who is just 25, has blossomed from quiet under study to Shaun Rogers to quiet leader of an energetic group of defensive linemen.
“He’s just a great person on and off the field,” Taylor said. “He’s helped me just getting acclimated, know ing what to look out for, learning who to surround myself with. He’s helped me tremendously. I look up to people like that.”
Taylor is one of the few play ers, obviously, to have had constructive conversations with Rubin, probably because he has been able to get to know him in position meetings. Others look up to Rubin as a man who speaks mostly through actions, not words.
“I think I’ve heard him say like six words in two years,” linebacker Scott Fujita said. “But he listens. That’s the good thing. You tell him what to do and he does it. As a linebacker, you can’t ask for any thing better than that.”
Coach Pat Shurmur said: “We’ve conversed over the last couple months, but not much. Not much. That’s just his nature. I have a strong appreciation for that.
“He’s a very quiet, steady guy. That’s something those new players on the defensive line can rally around. And he’s played well [these] two good games.”
Rubin chuckles at such comments.
“I’m sort of quiet,” he said. “You’ve got to get to know me. People that really know me probably will tell you how I interact with them. The coaches, I just listen to what they say and go do it.”
Besides showing first-round pick Taylor the ropes, Rubin has established himself quickly in coordinator Dick Jauron’s scheme as a relent less hustler and disruptive tackle.
“He’s the guy that’s going to make the whole thing go,” Fujita said. “You always want that one guy to make it go. I think Rubin is our guy. He’s got a motor that’s kind of unparalleled for a guy his size, his strength. And he’s one of the strongest guys I think I’ve ever seen play. It’s unbelievable. He just has brute strength.”
Rubin’s hustle on the field comes from his desire during his high school days in Pensacola, Fla., to “always run to the ball and make every play. It carried on to the pros. I’m trying to keep that up and, hope fully, it’ll rub off on some of the young guys.”
The Browns caught enough of Rubin’s emerging season last year to envision him as a difference-maker in the 4-3 scheme.
“It’s doing pretty good,” Ru bin said of the new system. “I get a lot of one-on-one in pass rushing. Last year there were two or three guys blocking me at the line. I feel I can get better but I’m comfortable at the same time.
“I think I’ve got a lot of improvement to do and will get a lot better in the future,” he said.