Coaching Spotlight: Tracy Rocker
TRACY QUINTON ROCKER
Age: 43 (born 4/9/66)
College: B.A. from Auburn, 1992.
Playing career: Spent his career at Auburn, signing in 1986 and earning a slew of awards for his work. He later spent time in the NFL with Washington and spent a short period of time with Orlando of the World League.
Coaching career:
•Auburn, defensive line (current)
•Ole Miss, defensive line (2008)
•Arkansas, defensive line (2003-07)
•Cincinnati, defensive line (2002)
•Troy State, defensive line (1997-2001)
•West Alabama, defensive line (1995-96)
•Auburn High, defensive coordinator (1992-94)
Mentor:
Rocker has identified several. It was Larry Blakeney, though, who gave Rocker the biggest lift -- including a job (in 1997) at Troy University.
Previous Auburn experience:
Rocker was an outstanding defensive tackle for the Tigers and was the first lineman to win the Lombardi and Outland awards in the same season.
Coaching philosophy:
Rocker is a tough guy. That's the bottom line. It's not born out of hostility. Rocker played under Pat Dye and the two men use a similar approach toward football. They want results. In Rocker's mind, all the talking in the world can't touch the value of trial-and-error experience on the field.
To that end, Rocker is more motivator than strategist. Several defensive linemen spent the spring telling tales of how different things had become. Gone are the days of technique-oriented assessments. Rocker isn't too worried about hand placement or leverage. He'll adjust them if necessary, but he's not grading on that. He believes each player has his own way to best affect the offensive. Rocker gives his players the freedom to find that avenue and perfect it.
Mike Blanc provides an ideal example. Blanc is a bull rusher. That's his thing. Former assistants Don Dunn and Terry Price pushed Blanc to develop different methods to pressure quarterbacks and disrupt rushing lanes. Rocker, though, has worked with Blanc to enhance his bull rush -- believing the bull rush provides Blanc his best chance for a positive outcome.
Rocker doesn't make players conform to his specifications. He adapts to theirs.
Like most position coaches, Rocker is keen on building personal relationships with his players. Players say he's remarkably blunt behind closed doors and on the field, but doesn't embarrass players in front of their teammates. He screams rarely -- even on the field.
Personality profile:
Nearly 20 years after his career ended, Rocker still is an imposing presence. He's a big man, a strong man, a heavy man. He has a look that screams: I'd hate to be a bouncer if this guy goes off in a club.
He's careful with his words. He doesn't believe in criticizing players publicly, so it's rare that reporters get a glimpse of Rocker's true opinions. He speaks highly of everyone.
With that said, he's not a happy-go-lucky guy. Rocker is task-oriented. I don't see him laugh very often.
He's an important cog in the Tigers' recruiting enterprise. Rocker plays the realist role, meaning he works opposite of Trooper Taylor and his remarkably sunny demeanor. Rocker tells recruits that being great requires a ton of work. Recruits often see him as the anchor -- the guy whose opinions are most real and, to many, most valuable. Recruiting is 90% flash and 10% substance.
Rocker provides most of that 10%.
Age: 43 (born 4/9/66)
College: B.A. from Auburn, 1992.
Playing career: Spent his career at Auburn, signing in 1986 and earning a slew of awards for his work. He later spent time in the NFL with Washington and spent a short period of time with Orlando of the World League.
Coaching career:
•Auburn, defensive line (current)
•Ole Miss, defensive line (2008)
•Arkansas, defensive line (2003-07)
•Cincinnati, defensive line (2002)
•Troy State, defensive line (1997-2001)
•West Alabama, defensive line (1995-96)
•Auburn High, defensive coordinator (1992-94)
Mentor:
Rocker has identified several. It was Larry Blakeney, though, who gave Rocker the biggest lift -- including a job (in 1997) at Troy University.
Previous Auburn experience:
Rocker was an outstanding defensive tackle for the Tigers and was the first lineman to win the Lombardi and Outland awards in the same season.
Coaching philosophy:
Rocker is a tough guy. That's the bottom line. It's not born out of hostility. Rocker played under Pat Dye and the two men use a similar approach toward football. They want results. In Rocker's mind, all the talking in the world can't touch the value of trial-and-error experience on the field.
To that end, Rocker is more motivator than strategist. Several defensive linemen spent the spring telling tales of how different things had become. Gone are the days of technique-oriented assessments. Rocker isn't too worried about hand placement or leverage. He'll adjust them if necessary, but he's not grading on that. He believes each player has his own way to best affect the offensive. Rocker gives his players the freedom to find that avenue and perfect it.
Mike Blanc provides an ideal example. Blanc is a bull rusher. That's his thing. Former assistants Don Dunn and Terry Price pushed Blanc to develop different methods to pressure quarterbacks and disrupt rushing lanes. Rocker, though, has worked with Blanc to enhance his bull rush -- believing the bull rush provides Blanc his best chance for a positive outcome.
Rocker doesn't make players conform to his specifications. He adapts to theirs.
Like most position coaches, Rocker is keen on building personal relationships with his players. Players say he's remarkably blunt behind closed doors and on the field, but doesn't embarrass players in front of their teammates. He screams rarely -- even on the field.
Personality profile:
Nearly 20 years after his career ended, Rocker still is an imposing presence. He's a big man, a strong man, a heavy man. He has a look that screams: I'd hate to be a bouncer if this guy goes off in a club.
He's careful with his words. He doesn't believe in criticizing players publicly, so it's rare that reporters get a glimpse of Rocker's true opinions. He speaks highly of everyone.
With that said, he's not a happy-go-lucky guy. Rocker is task-oriented. I don't see him laugh very often.
He's an important cog in the Tigers' recruiting enterprise. Rocker plays the realist role, meaning he works opposite of Trooper Taylor and his remarkably sunny demeanor. Rocker tells recruits that being great requires a ton of work. Recruits often see him as the anchor -- the guy whose opinions are most real and, to many, most valuable. Recruiting is 90% flash and 10% substance.
Rocker provides most of that 10%.
443 Comments:
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Norm said...
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Aeronaut said...
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Jet said...
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chip chip said...
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depressesdSalsaMom said...
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wartiger said...
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chip chip said...
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Seanzie said...
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Seanzie said...
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Seanzie said...
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Seanzie said...
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Seanzie said...
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Tar Heel Tiger said...
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Tar Heel Tiger said...
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chip chip said...
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Seanzie said...
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Scott Chocolate said...
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Seanzie said...
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Tar Heel Tiger said...
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wartiger said...
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«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 443 of 443
THAT'S IT!!! New page smell. How refreshing.
salsa is a troll. Poor fella does not have any life. He trolls on every Auburn forum out there.
Where have you encountered Tuna before, Aero?
Sour grapes?? I haven't seen sour grapes from anyone on this blog, except the bammers.
Excuse the Guppy, he excited.
He's having a family reunion this weekend.
shark, if greatness = humping your cousin he is well on his way.
Hello, everyone. I would like to apologize for my son's behavior on your blog. His father and I are also brother and sister. It's a long story, but basically we were watching "Bear" in our single-wide, and, well, one thing led to another and 9 months later Salsa arrived. Our whole family was so proud we all had a picture made in our "Got 12??" cut-off t-shirts. I hope this helps explain his behavior.
depressedsalsamom- LOL!!
salsa shmuck's job IS to troll AU boards. nosepicker, mouthbreather, doorstop, paperweight, pooper scooper and legal assistant were taken on the REC job board.
they gave him one a them thar lookity box thingys with them fancy writn's un it and mousey doohicky and if he can type something that makes him and bammers look completely stupid he gets a cookie.
Funny thing about the Shark is, I've seen him in action on his own forums and I don't think people there even respect this kid.
wartiger, how's life in Mass.? How's the job search?
Seanzie, why do you even bother going to those forums??
Salsa's job is to be the rip off king, starting with his handle, which was lifted from a Kevin Smith movie. He probably thinks he's cultured because he's seen Clerks but really everyone has seen that movie. He also takes things others say on the forums he visits and posts the same rubbish here. And he will occasionally start new threads to ask other folks to rename him so he can "evolve" and then he'll start other threads to get Bammer feedback on the same tripe he posts here. Sad really.
Luv, I went on a hot tip from Gnome, I wanted to see what he was like in his own environment. Of course, I chose not to post and make an arse of myself in front of a bunch of complete strangers.
Just another Bammer pos if you ask me.
Buford sums him it up nicely. Well done.
There was supposed to be a / between him and it.
David Carradine was found hanging in his hotel room.
I assume you mean hanging as in dead, and not out?
I'll miss the Little Grasshopper. May he R.I.P.
from scout.com on WR demarco cobbs tulsa, ok:
"Cobbs now says that his top 10, in alphabetical order, is Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Southern California."
loop and troop continue to hang with the big boys. they are hanging around on a lot of these big time recruits. gus has some pull with this guy too. keep up the good work fellas, it is going to pay off more and more as time goes by.
I think I'm going to take my supposed Sour Grapes and make myself a nice Pinot Noir.
Tar Heel, yes dead. He was 72.
Good idea, Seanzie!
What does Milliner's commitment mean?
It means we made them play a card. It was a commitment they had in their back pocket. They've had it all along, and we knew that.
But we chased him for two reasons: 1. to see determine the level of his commitment to UAT; and 2. to force them to expend a little energy.
After BCW, they needed something to get happy about. So they played the card that available to them.
I am personally happy that they felt it necessary to play the card now.
Who's the first big name/highly rated guy Auburn will get to commit?
My money's on Seastrunk.
For some reason, I am reminded of the old joke ...
Guy falls 20 stories and dies.
Policeman asks the CSI, "What do I put on my report as the cause of death? The fall?"
CSI says, "No. It was the landing."
Norm, I am planning to have a booth at the ATL AU Club event in July. Stop by if you're there. I'm actually off to the ATL this weekend to take the kids to Six Flags and a Braves game. I am looking forward to it, but can already feel the heat-induced crankiness of the day at Six Flags coming on. I just don't know whether it will be me, the kids, or Mrs. Chocolate.
For some reason I am craving a Diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper.
I'm about to reconvene with my posse at this conference and eat buffet lunch, gag.
Me too and I'm in a dadgummed hurry.
Diablo Sandwich
ah, theme parks with the kids. I miss Sea World (San Antonio) and Kennywood (Pittsburgh). We always had a great time at those places. I don't have any fondness for others.
Good luck Chocolate.
Luv-Not to bad. I got a pretty solid lead working for the electricians union and am actually hoping for a phone call today. I have spent the past couple of weekends on Martha's Vineyard trying to find a place to live for the summer without selling a kidney on the black market. I have a job there but it's just seasonal. So I'm still in limbo but things are starting to roll along. Thanks for asking..
Food topics, huh?
Well, all you Barners you better pack your lunch because next fall will be a long one!!!
(Have to admit that was good.)
This comment has been removed by the author.
We need a bigger boat for Tomato Paste Tuna and his load of bull****.
...crickets...
where's FSJ been lately?
Hey wartiger,
I'm in Worcester/Shrewsbury for two days.
The weather here in Mass is nice. 63 degrees last night!
looks like it's about time for 2nd lunch.
I landed at the Providence, RI airport yesterday. Walking through the airport I saw a kid with a Momma Goldberg's t-shirt on. We exchanged "War Eagles" just like the commercial.
Worcester - home of American Antiquarian Society, a fantastic research library
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