Auburn's secondary has worked this off-season to prepare to stop the SEC's potent offenses next season, while also focusing on personal goals and strengths.
"We have high expectations for the secondary this year," said defensive back coach Tommy Thigpen. "I like to use the term 'football thugs,' where football becomes one of the most important things in these player's lives. We want those guys to talk football, be around football and that is why we have them coming in all of the time to watch film and critique it."
Thigpen, a member of head coach Gene Chizik's new coaching staff, said he is excited to be in the SEC because it is the best conference for football and the most competitive, which makes every week a challenge.
"I believe our (secondary's) best strength is that we can play any type of coverage and go against anyone in the SEC or the entire nation," D'Antoine Hood, a sophomore cornerback, said.
The Tigers are working out intensely during the off-season to strengthen themselves in many different ways said Zac Etheridge, a junior majoring in public administration.
Etheridge said he is working to strengthen his hips and focusing on breaking on the ball quicker. He is also continuing to recover from his shoulder surgery last year.
Hood said he is pushing himself to improve his mobility this summer as well. He said last year he got too heavy and had to cut back his weight for this season.
"My favorite part about being a cornerback is covering the wide receivers, and how they keep us guessing," Hood said. "We can break up a pass or keep the other team from scoring, that's what puts a smile on my face."
Thigpen said it is up to the players to prepare themselves for next season during the summer. "We can't have any instructional or supplemental contact with the players during this summer," Thigpen said.
Hood said the team is quickly learning Thigpen's coaching procedures already.
"I have not found it hard at all to adapt to coach Thigpen's new coaching styles," Hood said. "He gives it to you raw and cut, which is a lot like what I had in high school. He keeps it real and does not try to baby us."
Etheridge said he agrees that he has enjoyed Thigpen's techniques so far. He said he has adapted extremely well to Thigpen and thinks the coach breaks down film the best he has ever seen, helping the team to read many different types of offenses.
Thigpen said the coaching staff has pushed the older players to become stronger in their positions and to become better leaders for younger players on the team.
Etheridge said he thinks it is important to have players in leadership roles on the field.
He said he makes sure the older teammates keep control of the younger players and act as outspoken leaders.
Thigpen said the few senior cornerbacks the team has must play important leadership roles for the others.
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