More from T. Taylor (not the Toolman) and T. Roof

Hey everyone. The HABOTN, along with other credible news-gathering organizations, spent time Thursday discussing football and life in general with Auburn assistant coaches Trooper Taylor and Ted Roof (aka Rüf).

I provided an overview yesterday. Here is another dose of less gripping comments, though you may enjoy them more. We'll see.


TROOPER TAYLOR SPEAKS

• On how Auburn's recruiting effort should be better in 2010: "The expectations are always going to be high because I think when you're at a place like Auburn, the expectations should be. When you're going to play in a league where if you don't play your best every week, you're going to get beat. We're going to fit our needs. If that puts us in the top 10 or the top 5, that's good."
  
  
• On Auburn's specific 2010 goals: "We might have four senior offensive linemen (in 2009). Next year, offensive linemen better be a big deal for us. We might have three DBs that are graduating. Whatever that need is, we've got to make sure we're fulfilling that need. I think some schools get in trouble and you'll see them dip off because they'll go and try to get the highest-ranked kid or just the highest-ranked player regardless of position and then you stack them up. You fall short somewhere else."
  
  
• On how esprit de corps affects recruiting: "We watch tape together. I want to know what Ted Roof is looking for when he's looking for a linebacker. What is Tracy (Rocker) looking for when he's looking for a defensive lineman? At most places, most coaches, the offense watches their players and the defense watches theirs. Well, I'm going to recruit a defensive player in my area. I'd better know what (the coach) is looking for. I think those things are important. We have really put our egos in our pocket in being able to do those things."
  
  
• On pursuing (and signing) two-time LSU signee DeAngelo Benton: "I knew his coaches well. We were recruiting another kid from his school and I saw (Benton) working out still. I was like, 'Is that…?' and his coach was like, 'Yeah, that's still him.' I said, 'Well what's he got going?' 'Well he's going back to this school (ie LSU).' I said, 'Oh, he is, huh? Well, let's see if we can do something about that.'"
  
  
• On what Auburn is seeking at wideout: "You can't ever get caught up in your own pride and say: I'm going to go get me a guy that's 6-4 and fits what I'm used to having. Dez Bryant would be different in this offense than anybody else. The things (Gus Malzahn) looks for in this offense is guys that can wiggle and make people miss. That's what we're going to do."
  
  
• On Auburn recruiting more versatile kids with multi-positional backgrounds: "You have to find guys who are not locked in and say: Well, he's a Mike backer. That's all he's going to do is play Mike backer. What if he busts? Now you're stuck with a kid that – you're not going to run him off; he's somebody's family – but you're stuck with a kid that can't play and that doesn't help you. You'll be planting fruit for a living really fast. I don't want to be on the grapes. I like doing the football, myself."

TED ROOF SPEAKS

• On promising playing time to recruits: "We talk about opportunities. I think you get into some real deals when you start promising kids jobs because if they come to your school you sure don't want them thinking you're out in a living room next year promising their job to somebody else. There will certainly be opportunities and then whatever is earned, players are going to get exactly what they earn."
  
  
• On which players can contribute early in their careers: "I think the closer you are to a football, the tougher it is to play as a freshman. The reaction time is cut down, where if there's a bunch of blades of grass between you and the ball, you've got maybe a better chance of playing as a freshman. Not that it's easier to play away from the ball, but from a reaction standpoint, you've got a little bit more time."
  
  
• On if he'll be headbutting players like Will Muschamp: "I don't know if you'll see that. I got a few more gray hairs than I used to. Maybe 10 years ago you might have seen that."
  

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.