Martin Rucker
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Martin Rucker is one of the guys (see J.Harrison and Cribbs among others) that I found to be curiously absent from our game plans last year. The kid has the ability to be a great receiving TE in the mold of Winslow...but also has the background and pedigree to be much more. If any of his brothers work ethic and tenacity have found their way into this kid, we may be looking at the Winslow trade as the best move we made this past year.
Here is a nice little blurb on Rucker from the PD
Cleveland Browns tight end Martin Rucker has something to prove
by Starting Blocks, The Plain Dealer
Wednesday July 22, 2009, 10:36 AM
Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)Cleveland Browns tight end Martin Rucker, No. 86, during the Browns' OTA practice in June.
Martin Rucker will enter his second NFL training camp with the Cleveland Browns next week, and Kansas City Star reporter Mark DeArmond writes that Rucker remains an unknown commodity.
Rucker's NFL career started in the worst way. The former University of Missouri standout got hurt during the preseason and coach Romeo Crennel limited Rucker's time during the regular season. Rucker caught two passes for 17 yards.
Now that Kellen Winslow Jr. was traded to Tampa Bay, Rucker will battle with Steve Heiden and Robert Royal for the starting spot.
From The Kansas City Star article:
Rucker had hoped to play with or at least against big brother Mike Rucker in the NFL. But the older sibling has retired from the pro wars. Mike, a defensive end who played his college ball at Nebraska, had 55 1/2 sacks over nine years in the league with the Carolina Panthers. "He didn't want it enough," Martin Rucker said, laughing at Mike's anticipated reaction should he read those words.
The truth is, Mike Rucker prepared Martin for what the NFL could be and what it was for his brother last season: a business that requires everything you have, including patience.
"He did prepare me," Martin Rucker said. "He's a great brother. He's a priceless resource. He's talking to me about life decisions, as well as football. He's helped me out tremendously.
"I'm just going to go out there and give it everything I've got. Just like I always do."
Having a brother who played DE should give Martin some insight into how to block (something Winslow struggled at best), so even though he was never asked to do it in his college days, I have to believe he will be a surprise in that area.
I really think Royal was brought in more as an interim/fall back starter with Rucker being the real hope for the starting role by the end of the year.
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Heiden is the TE, not Rucker.
and no there will be no dropoff at that position.
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Heiden is the TE, not Rucker.
and no there will be no dropoff at that position.
Heiden is still coming off of an injury that he has yet to practice on, and he is 33 as of September 21st of this year. Although I love Heiden's game, the type of injury he suffered (ACL/MCL tear) is not an easy one to come back from as a young guy, much less one in his 30's.
Add to that the fact that Heiden was never fast...and he is probably not going to be much more than a 3rd down TE.
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@inspecta said:
I love how you speak for the coaches as if you have any semblance of a clue as to who is going to start on opening day.And we all know you hated Winslow as much as you hate Quinn.
Is there anybody on the team you like besides DA?
It looks like he likes Heiden almost as much and he always seems so fond of former Brown Trent Dilfer. Other than that it seems Lums hates anyone in a Browns uniform.
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@shepwrite said:
Donald Royal is a solid all around tight end. Not exactly a thrilling get, but a guy who can start games for you, block, and catch a few passes, too. But my long-term money is on Rucker as he adds just a little heft.Heiden is 33, coming off serious knee surgery, and plays at 270. I really see him as a blocker in two TE sets assuming he's good to go.
FYI, Heiden is 6'5" 270, Royal is 6'4" 247, and Rucker is 6'5" 260.
So Rucker is only 10lbs shy of Heiden's weight and is 10 years younger. I don't think it is a matter of bulk, but rather of being exposed to the necessity of blocking (unlike is college days).
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Winslow was a first round pick, Rucker a 4th.
Problem with looking at that is K2 shredded his knee and lost some speed in the process. Winslow minus the bike could have been the next Shannon Sharp but bigger and faster, a TE we would have NEVER parted ways with.
Savage was pathetic on 2nd day picks folks, so I'm not going to be riding high on Rucker.
Yes, it looks like his situation his primed him to be a pro and should turn out to be at least a decent TE.
Like I said though, low expectations and he'll be a pleasant surprise if he turns out.
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@shepwrite said:
He likes Dilfer because Dilfer hates the Browns.He likes Heiden because he isn't Winslow... who liked Quinn.
Lum on a Browns board is more absurd than Steelers trolls. At least they're honest.
As a long time KC resident, I follow the Tigers a little and Rucker made that list of guys I figured would be drafted quite a bit higher than they were (like Tom Brady, James Davis, and many others). If you watched Mizzou games and listened to announcers gush over Rucker, you'd figure him for a 1st or 2nd round pick. He's one of those TEs who create matchup nightmares -- he's long, he can move, and he can catch.
Donald Royal is a solid all around tight end. Not exactly a thrilling get, but a guy who can start games for you, block, and catch a few passes, too. But my long-term money is on Rucker as he adds just a little heft.
Heiden is 33, coming off serious knee surgery, and plays at 270. I really see him as a blocker in two TE sets assuming he's good to go.
I used to love Donald Royal on those old Magic teams. Nice complimentary player on those Shaq-Penny-Anderson-Scott squads
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Lum is beyond a fraud. By the way, DA completed more passes to Winslow than any other player. I posted the research earlier on these very boards. So, DA wouldn't agree with your assessment. No person watching a single NFL game would agree. Nothing new.
I hope Rucker pans out. Having Winslow creating match problems is a luxury we won't have with Heiden/Royal.
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I hope he is similar to winslow. I just hope he matures faster and doesn't own a motorcycle.
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I hope he is similar to winslow. I just hope he matures faster and doesn't own a motorcycle.
I hope he is similar to winslow. I just hope he matures faster and doesn't own a motorcycle.
You can't mature faster than... never maturing
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I hope he is similar to winslow. I just hope he matures faster and doesn't own a motorcycle.
You can't mature faster than... never maturing
AdaM said:
You can't mature faster than... never maturingWell played Sir... well played..
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I believe Robert Royal will start. Heiden has a double tear in the knee to come back from. That's tough at any age, but 33 will make it harder for him to see the field again. Rucker looks like someone who can stretch the field a bit. I am not sure Heiden makes the roster if he is not fully recovered. They say he is progressing..but that does not mean anything until he puts on pads and has to push off on tha knee against 260 to 300 lb men who are pushing back.. Then and only then will we know. I hope he can get back to form as he is a very solid player. But Royal will start the season..Mark it down.
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Lum is beyond a fraud. By the way, DA completed more passes to Winslow than any other player. I posted the research earlier on these very boards. So, DA wouldn't agree with your assessment. No person watching a single NFL game would agree. Nothing new.
I hope Rucker pans out. Having Winslow creating match problems is a luxury we won't have with Heiden/Royal.
Lum is beyond a fraud. By the way, DA completed more passes to Winslow than any other player. I posted the research earlier on these very boards. So, DA wouldn't agree with your assessment. No person watching a single NFL game would agree. Nothing new.
I hope Rucker pans out. Having Winslow creating match problems is a luxury we won't have with Heiden/Royal.
Yeah, Andra Davis didn't complete any to Winslow!
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Winslow was a first round pick, Rucker a 4th.
Problem with looking at that is K2 shredded his knee and lost some speed in the process. Winslow minus the bike could have been the next Shannon Sharp but bigger and faster, a TE we would have NEVER parted ways with.
Savage was pathetic on 2nd day picks folks, so I'm not going to be riding high on Rucker.
Yes, it looks like his situation his primed him to be a pro and should turn out to be at least a decent TE.
Like I said though, low expectations and he'll be a pleasant surprise if he turns out.
Winslow was a first round pick, Rucker a 4th.
Winslow was NFL ready, and Rucker needs some seasoning. Nobody seriously can come close to what Winslow was his first training camp. I mean he was really the best prospect at the position in a long time. WR speed at the TE position, freakishly good hands, maybe the best in the league. Well, we know how that ended. Rucker, if he has the heart and head, can be almost like that. Great hands and speed on this kid - lets see how he progresses this season. He has a high ceiling - if he can achieve it.
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Winslow was a first round pick, Rucker a 4th.
Winslow was NFL ready, and Rucker needs some seasoning. Nobody seriously can come close to what Winslow was his first training camp. I mean he was really the best prospect at the position in a long time. WR speed at the TE position, freakishly good hands, maybe the best in the league. Well, we know how that ended. Rucker, if he has the heart and head, can be almost like that. Great hands and speed on this kid - lets see how he progresses this season. He has a high ceiling - if he can achieve it.
Winslow was NFL ready, and Rucker needs some seasoning. Nobody seriously can come close to what Winslow was his first training camp. I mean he was really the best prospect at the position in a long time. WR speed at the TE position, freakishly good hands, maybe the best in the league. Well, we know how that ended. Rucker, if he has the heart and head, can be almost like that. Great hands and speed on this kid - lets see how he progresses this season. He has a high ceiling - if he can achieve it.
I pretty much agree, though I wonder about Rucker's speed: he was a 4.73 guy at 250, not sure what he is now.
Pluto said in a recent podcast that he's heard good things about Rucker, but the folks at the OBR say that he's only occasionally flashed the Winslow lite potential Savage & many here see in him. Personally, I'll feel more comfortable if Heiden is able to come back from his knee injury. As Russ has pointed out, the guy is seriously undervalued (and, according to Pat McManamon, is one of the nicest guys on the team).
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It will be interesting to watch Rucker develope, but I would have to rate blocking ability at least as important as receiving at the TE position. I expect Royal to start with Heiden seeing significant action if healthy, but I'm certainly not qualified to make that call. We'll see what happens.
Mike
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Heiden is the TE, not Rucker.
and no there will be no dropoff at that position.
Heiden is still coming off of an injury that he has yet to practice on, and he is 33 as of September 21st of this year. Although I love Heiden's game, the type of injury he suffered (ACL/MCL tear) is not an easy one to come back from as a young guy, much less one in his 30's.
Add to that the fact that Heiden was never fast...and he is probably not going to be much more than a 3rd down TE.
Heiden is still coming off of an injury that he has yet to practice on, and he is 33 as of September 21st of this year. Although I love Heiden's game, the type of injury he suffered (ACL/MCL tear) is not an easy one to come back from as a young guy, much less one in his 30's.
Add to that the fact that Heiden was never fast...and he is probably not going to be much more than a 3rd down TE.
Heiden looked fully recovered in OTAs and minicamp. From everything being said, he will be 100% for the start of camp. Also, don't worry about his speed. He never was a burner but expect him to just as effective settling into seams and running quick outs and slants.
Heiden then Royal are more Mangini type TEs then Rucker. If both are healthy it will be hard for Rucker to get on the field often. They were using Heiden and Royal in some Hback situations which would help get Rucker on the field. I wouldn't expect to see Rucker if they get into their grind it out mold.
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I have all of the Brown's games taped from the last two year on my DVR. I watched the Monday night game w/ Browns vs Giants a few weeks ago.
A 32 year old TE named Steve Heiden put one of the BEST DEFENSIVE ENDS on his A_SS twice in the game when he was the solo blocker against Justin Tuck. I only could really see two plays where Tuck was able to get around a the TE (TE, Not Lineman) Heiden, and both times he was ate up by Shaffer when he did. Heiden was the reason DA stayed clean that game. If for some reason Tucker isn't our RT, Heiden's SUPERIOR blocking ability on the outside will help out whatever RT we use. I see Heiden being the #1 and Rucker coming in as #2. The Browns play ALOT of 2 TE's so if this OC uses alot of two TE as well we should see alot of Rucker.
If Tucker starts at RT, I say give Rucker his shot early to prove himself, but with a bad RT (other then Tucker) I want Heiden in. Quinn already got hurt all to easily, lets give the kid a chance without being creamed. Hopefully he doesn't have an injury prone career (I doubt it, just how easily he got hurt scares me)
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