Catching up with Rob Bruggeman

Cedar Rapids native Rob Bruggeman has not set any goals for the upcoming NFL season, unless he's unwilling to share the details.

"I don't really make expectations for anything," Bruggeman said. "I just go try to do the best I can and go from there."

Bruggeman, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 293 pounds, is an offensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons. Following the 2009 NFL draft, Bruggeman signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He lasted with the team until the final round of cuts. He then was signed by Atlanta, which placed him on its practice team.

"(Atlanta) was a good spot for me," Bruggeman said. "I could learn from an experienced center, actually a couple of them in Todd McClure and Brett Romberg. It was a good place to be my first year. I enjoyed myself."

Bruggeman, a Cedar Rapids Washington graduate, earned second-team all-Big Ten honors at center following his senior season at Iowa in 2008. He's spent most of the offseason training in Atlanta but returned to Cedar Rapids for a few weeks. He caught up with his former teammates but rarely do they discuss football.

"To tell you the truth we kind of catch up on other stuff when we hang out," he said.

Atlanta has 12 offensive linemen on its current roster, and most NFL teams keep about eight active during the regular season. Bruggeman has worked at both center and guard with the Falcons.

"You don't want to hope that anybody gets hurt or anything, but at the same time you want to play," Bruggeman said. "I'm just excited and ready to step up if I have the chance."