ALLEN PARK -- Sam Martin punted in 12 games for Appalachian State in 2012. He also attempted 10 field goals, 17 extra points and kicked off.

Then he kicked and punted throughout the draft process. And during rookie OTAs with the Detroit Lions. And regular OTAs. And training camp.

Oh, and there was that 16-game NFL season to consider.

Martin, a fifth-round pick last year, rewarded the Lions' faith in him. He was among the five best punters in the league for much of last season.

But all that work also took a toll.

He became more inconsistent during the second half of last season. He battled a groin injury, which was known, and also back pain, which was not.

Martin finished sixth in the league in punting (47.2 yards per attempt), 10th in net punting (40.4 yards) and was replaced by David Akers on kickoffs. And he says there is no question what was the culprit: Fatigue.

"I kicked a whole college season, a whole offseason, then a whole NFL season," he told MLive last week. "It was 100 percent due to fatigue. (Special teams coordinator John Bonamego) was really good with managing my reps in practice, but they think it was just kind of an inevitable thing."

Martin says he's better prepared for the rigors of the NFL as he enters his sophomore season with the Lions. That starts with technique.

He has modified his punt and kickoff motions to make them less violent. That should diminish the toll on his body over the long haul.

"I'm just a little more technically sound now," he said. "I've sacrificed a little torque -- violent movement -- but the ball is still going as far, and it's not as hard on my body."

Martin also has emphasized rest this offseason, which has helped to rejuvenate his leg strength. While he wasn't punting, he was maintaining his body through yoga, massages and a functional core/mobility routine that is designed to stabilize his back.

"Stuff that will be able to help me kick late into December, January -- even February -- without breaking down," Martin said.

Between the much-needed rest and the tweaks to his form, Martin could have the leg strength to punt as well as kickoff once again for Detroit. But he'll have to head off a challenge from rookie Nate Freese first.

Freese, a seventh-rounder from Boston College, said during rookie OTAs he plans to vie with Martin for kickoff duties. Martin took no offense to the comments -- "what else is he going to say?" -- but is also confident he can reclaim the job.

"Call it what you want, but I'm confident," Martin said. "He's confident too -- he had a good year kicking off in college -- and the best guy is going to kick off. Whoever's going to help the team the most, it's going to that.

"He's going to come in and compete and it doesn't bother me at all. He's confident, and he should be. I want us to win."