Auburn secondary coach Willie Martinez likes the energy of young defensive backs (video)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn's

?defense had to take a break today because the schedule-makers said so. But the Tigers' defenders will nonetheless carry some momentum into next week's game against Arkansas following a steady performance in last week's 12-10 loss to LSU.

Auburn found some energy with some young defensive backs in that game. Josh Holsey, Erique Florence, and Robenson Therezie, all of whom played significantly more against LSU than they did in the first three games. ?

Secondary coach Willie Martinez gives a detailed look at his players in this video. Are the changes surprising? Not any more. Martinez has flipped his defensive backs in the first month, changing starters and backups with regularity. Seven different defensive backs have started in the first four games, and that doesn't include backups Holsey, Florence or Therezie.

Martinez said Holsey, a true freshman, won more time because of his special teams play. Martinez said Therezie, a sophomore who started as a defensive back before moving to running before moving back to defensive back, was needed to match the physical nature of LSU. Martinez said he liked the energy of Florence, a sophomore.?

There's even a Jonathan Jones shoutout.?

Will they play more?

"They're getting better and better. Their role could get bigger and bigger," Martinez said. "It really just depends on them, how they continue to practice and continue to earn reps. They earn reps. When they got in there, they did some really good things. They weren't perfect, but they played with a lot of energy and a lot of physicality."

There's more in the video...

Follow Auburn on Twitter:

Source: http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2012/09/auburn_secondary_coach_willie.html

nick perry 30 rock live nfl draft picks 2012 space shuttle enterprise ryan leaf ryan leaf luke kuechly