Grambling State coach Mickey Joseph is standing by his defensive staff despite another difficult outing, insisting that accountability and a closer examination of the Tigers’ scheme must come before any coaching changes.
Following Grambling’s 61-31 loss to Alabama A&M on Saturday, Joseph said on Monday he was not considering a defensive staff or scheme shake-up during the team’s bye week, even as the Tigers continue to struggle on that side of the ball.
“I think that’s off the table right now because of their commitment to me,” Joseph said. “We’ve been in this scheme. I’ve seen this scheme work.”
Instead of changing leadership, Joseph said the coaching staff must determine whether the players are capable of executing the defensive assignments they have been given and identify what needs to change.
The Tigers have endured three difficult weeks defensively, prompting the staff to reassess its approach after previous attempts to correct the problems failed to produce the desired results.
The numbers underscore the challenge facing Grambling as it enters the bye week. The Tigers have surrendered 158 points over their last three games, an average of 52.7 points per contest. They allowed 59 points to Alcorn State in a 63-59 victory on Oct. 3, another 38 to Jackson State in a 45-38 win on Oct. 10, and 61 to Alabama A&M on Saturday.
The defensive struggles have extended beyond the recent stretch. Through seven games, Grambling has allowed 39.3 points per game, while giving up 466.9 yards per contest.
The Tigers rank 11th among the 12 SWAC teams in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. Their pass defense has surrendered 281.4 yards per game, also placing near the bottom of the conference.
“We thought we identified the problem with some things, and it didn’t work in our favor,” Joseph said.
The coach credited Alabama A&M for taking advantage of Grambling’s struggles but acknowledged that the Tigers’ defensive performance has fallen well short of expectations.
Joseph also cautioned that installing a different defensive system could create even more confusion for players already working through execution issues.
“Now you’re bringing in a different system,” he said. “So now you’re really going to have them confused.”
Instead, Joseph said the responsibility begins with the coaching staff, including himself, to correct the mistakes and help players improve their understanding of the defense.
“It’s up to us coaches, starting with me, to fix it,” Joseph said. “It’s unacceptable.”
