Secondary shakeup

AUBURN, Ala. | Will MuschampClick [rl]Here to view this Link. said it was a blown coverage on Auburn's safeties that led to Mississippi State's opening score, a 32-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Gabe Myles.

The Tigers were fortunate MSU didn't take advantage of some other errors at the position Saturday.

"We need to play better at the position. That's the bottom line," Muschamp said. "We're not getting the production. Some of the things didn't show up as far as where we could have been beaten. It didn't show up on the stat sheet.

"But certainly the next coordinator is watching them, and will on down the line and go after us in those situations. We're not getting the play we need at that position."

Muschamp shook up the position prior to the MSU game, moving Blake Countess from cornerback to safety and benching Rudy Ford. Tray Matthews, who was injured in the opener against Louisville, started for the second-straight week at the other safety position.

"We needed to move Blake to safety," Muschamp said. "He's our best safety right now. He's also our best nickel."

With Countess at safety, true freshman Carlton Davis started his first-career game at cornerback. Davis finished second on the team with six tackles and also forced a fumble.

He was beaten by junior De'Runnya Wilson on a 17-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

"Carlton, I thought played well," Muschamp said. "The ball on the touchdown was a heck of a throw and catch on their part. He was in the position to make the play. I'd take my chances again. He's a good football player."

Davis wasn't the only true freshman starting for the first time in Auburn's secondary. Jeremiah Dinson started at nickel corner.

"I thought he played well," Muschamp said. "He's seeing a lot of things for the first time. He's a really good football player. He just continues to improve and get better with every rep. He's very smart. He's a cerebral young man, and I'm very pleased where he is with his progress.

"I wish we had been a little more firm on the perimeter in the first half. I was disappointed, especially in the first drive, but we got it cleaned up after that. He is a heck of a football player. He is a very good corner, and a guy who can play nickel, and a guy who is so smart he can play a lot of positions for us."

Senior cornerback Jonathan Jones, who had six tackles, two pass breakups and recovered the fumble stripped by Davis, was also impressed with the play of the freshmen.

"They did good. I'm proud of them," Jones said. "They learn from the mistakes they made throughout the game, all of us will. I'm proud of them and how they played. They came out and fought with us."