Courtesy of Grambling State Athletic Communications:
Grambling State University football program is doing a nine-part series, as we look to breakdown each position. Today, we wrap up the defense with the defensive backs.
Position Coaches:Saeed Lee (cornerbacks) and Tim McTyer (safeties)
When Saeed Lee and Tim McTyer arrived at Grambling State University in the early winter, they didn’t know they would be gifted with the amount of depth at cornerback and safety. Both coaches come from a tremendous athletic background, having played professional football.
McTyer spent three seasons in the National Football League, two with the Philadelphia Eagles and his last season, 1999, with the Cleveland Browns. Lee, for his part, played collegiately at Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe Alabama State and played one season with the Atlanta Falcons.
McTyer said the key to this defensive back group has been energy.
“The energy has been up,” McTyer said. “We’re trying to change some things. We have to have big energy and coach (Hue Jackson) has big energy. We all need to follow the energy and play with importance.”
Lee echoed McTyer’s thought by saying the energy has been high and there are a lot of expectations, not just with the defensive backs, but also as a whole.
With both coaches having played in the NFL, Lee said it would take a tremendous work ethic for the players to reach their next goal.
“They have to understand how to work,” Lee said. “They’re still learning. Once they understand what it takes to be a professional, which is a process, they will give themselves a chance.”
The main focus for the defensive backs during fall camp is to continually get better each day and raise their football IQ.
With Hue Jackson at the helm, Lee said the team has gotten better and are conducting themselves like professionals.
“I think there are a lot of things from the practices, to the structure, to our meeting times, to things the guys get, such as iPads, which gives them the ability to handle themselves as professionals,” Lee said.
With the season nine days away, McTyer said the main goal is to change the culture.
“We want to win and in order to do that, we need to do things the right way,” McTyer said. “We know we can be successful, but it takes us doing things the right way, for us to accomplish our goal.”
Key Returners:Lawrence Asiedu, Marquis Britten, Taylyn Druilhet, Rey Estes, Ryan Fields, Donald Lee, Xavier Lodge, Quincy Mitchell, Ken Pierre-Charles, Myron Stewart and Tyrin Vessel,
Newcomers:Jaydon Brunson, Devin Bush, Chris Daigre, Trajon Freeman, Norey Johnson, Patrick Marshall, Chris Satterfield, Kevin Thomas and Robert Wilson
Coming up next: Special Teams
Season Opener: Saturday, September 3, 2022 | at Arkansas State | 6 p.m. | Centennial Bank Stadium | ESPN+
