Martin Rucker at Chiefs tryout

[The Franchise]

Adam Teicher ‏ @adamteicher

Among tryout players is former Missouri tight end Martin Rucker. He was drafted by Cleveland in '08 when Browns were coached by Crennel

http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com/?q=node/2023

Martin Rucker among rookie camp participants

Former Missouri tight end Martin Rucker is among 10 players participating in the Chiefs' rookie camp on a trial basis. Rucker, who is from St. Joseph, has played with the Browns, Cowboys and Jaguars. He was drafted by Cleveland in 2008 when the Browns were coached by Romeo Crennel.

One other tryout player, linebacker Leon Williams, was drafted by the Browns in 2006, also when they were coached by Crennel.

Another player of note is quarterback David LeGree, who began his college career at Syracuse before transferring to Hampton. The Chiefs have only three quarterbacks under contract and would prefer to take four to training camp. LeGree could eventually be that quarterback.

Otherwise, the Chiefs are mostly taking a look at specialists. They will look at three deep snappers (Tom DeTemple of Cincinnati, James Winchester of Oklahoma and Clint Mower of Utah), a kicker (Jason Cunningham of Montana State) and a punter (Paul Hershey of Ohio).

The others are an offensive lineman (Jacob Phillips, who played in college at Belhaven in Mississippi) and a defensive back (Dominique Ellis of South Carolina State).

In all, the Chiefs will have 38 participants, including eight draft picks, 15 undrafted rookies under contract, the 10 tryout players and five of their younger veteran players: fullback Shane Bannon, running back Shaun Draughn, wide receiver Jamar Newsome and offensive linemen Ron Bruggeman and Luke Patterson.

Read more here: http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com/?q=...#storylink=cpy

[Bambi]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Don't be all mad because Todd Reesing is.....is........

Where the hell is Todd, again?

huh?

I better comparison would be Tim Biere. Where's he again?

Oh, that's right. He plays for the Chiefs.

[nychief]

Putting aside all the school bickering, good to see Ruck get a shot with his hometown team (close enough)... that being said, doubt he makes the team barring an injury.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Cool.

Let's hope he can replicate a little of what he did at Mizzou

Like not blocking?

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by O.city

I always thought those MU tight ends would have a spot in the NFL. They are pretty much perfect for the new TE spot in the NFL.



He isn't going to be asked to block, just be a wr that happens to play TE. I can live with that.

I don't get it. Where in the NFL does a spread TE belong?

You are saying a Chiefs TE isn't going to be asked to block? Why are our #1 and 2 TE's just conveniently as highly regarded for their blocking as they are their receiving?

The running game is a BIG part of this offenses game, blocking is huge. Especially with as much as our TE's stay in to block on passing plays. Hopefully Winston will allow us to buck that trend, but it's not a coincidence that Richardson, stat wise, looked like he might be able to make it at RT. He had Tony Moeaki helping him the majority of the time.

The reason Rucker hasn't made it is b/c he doesn't bring anything as a blocker and is only adequate as a receiver thus far. While guys like Pope, Jake O'Connell, Steve Maneri, Scott Chandler, Tom Crabtree hang around in the league. They might not be great receiving TE's, but they have a nice balance to their game that makes them valuable.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by aturnis

I don't get it. Where in the NFL does a spread TE belong?

You are saying a Chiefs TE isn't going to be asked to block? Why are our #1 and 2 TE's just conveniently as highly regarded for their blocking as they are their receiving?

The running game is a BIG part of this offenses game, blocking is huge. Especially with as much as our TE's stay in to block on passing plays. Hopefully Winston will allow us to buck that trend, but it's not a coincidence that Richardson, stat wise, looked like he might be able to make it at RT. He had Tony Moeaki helping him the majority of the time.

The reason Rucker hasn't made it is b/c he doesn't bring anything as a blocker and is only adequate as a receiver thus far. While guys like Pope, Jake O'Connell, Steve Maneri, Scott Chandler, Tom Crabtree hang around in the league. They might not be great receiving TE's, but they have a nice balance to their game that makes them valuable.

How great of a blocker is Jimmy Graham? Or Hernandez?

[milkman]

Originally Posted by O.city

How great of a blocker is Jimmy Graham? Or Hernandez?

I haven't seen Rucker, so I can't compare, but both Graham and Hernadez are passable blockers.

They would not be voted all pro for their blocking, but they get the job done well enough, and Graham has improved.

[O.city]

Rucker isn't or atleast wasn't a good blocker at all at MU. He wasn't asked to block at MU is more like it.



The reason I said that, is that with all the tight end sets teams are running now, TE's are becoming more one dimensional, IMO. It's great to have a guy who can excel at both, but I think it's moving more towards pass catchers who can block a little and blockers who can catch a little.


If Mo can stay healthy, the Chiefs have two really good all purpose guys and a good blocking TE. I think they are looking for that WR/TE type guy.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by O.city

Rucker isn't or atleast wasn't a good blocker at all at MU. He wasn't asked to block at MU is more like it.



The reason I said that, is that with all the tight end sets teams are running now, TE's are becoming more one dimensional, IMO. It's great to have a guy who can excel at both, but I think it's moving more towards pass catchers who can block a little and blockers who can catch a little.

Yes and no. The type of athletes playing TE has changed quite a bit, more athletic, former B-Baller's, making them a greater weapon, but I'm hard pressed to think of a single successful TE who isn't at least a decent blocker.

Your TE doesn't need to be an all world blocker, but it certainly makes your offense more versatile and unpredictable. If your TE can't set a block on the edge, your outside run turns into a 2+ yard loss quick. If he's a great receiver and can at least get in the way enough to let the RB get to the edge, he'll do.

Never learning how to block in college might just make him a huge liability. If he comes out and the better blocker comes in, gotta watch run. If it's a 2 TE set on 3rd/4th and short, or goal line, gotta assume it's going away from him.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by milkman

I haven't seen Rucker, so I can't compare, but both Graham and Hernadez are passable blockers.

When they're asked to block.

Which is somewhere south of "hardly ever."

Rucker's an obvious candidate for the practice squad. Work on his blocking, see if he can be developed.

Solid emergency option if he can.

[O.city]

Just drawing back on the memory from a few years ago, but iirc Rucker was a pretty good athlete with good hands and pretty good speed.


Just have to see what happens, but he seems to have a much better chance of becoming something than O'Connell.

[BigCatDaddy]

And he's out with a torn ACL. Another year of Jake O'Connell