Southern Illinois defensive tackle Amir Dwight posted career highs last season with 20 tackles and three sacks for the Salukis. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
Southern Illinois added six defensive linemen from the transfer portal this off-season.
They made another addition who doesn’t wear a jersey that has proven just as impactful.
The March hiring of defensive tackles coach Jake Kulig gave the Salukis a pair of D-line coaches, a growing trend among FCS programs.
“That was a big deal for us,” defensive coordinator Lee Pronschinske told Prairie State Pigskin. “You look around in the (Missouri Valley Football Conference) and there’s a lot of programs that already have two defensive line coaches.”
SIU is now one of six MVFC schools – according to team websites – that have a pair of coaches with defensive line titles. Second-year assistant coach Darius Davis – who coached the entire line last season, is now in charge of the defensive ends.
Junior defensive tackle Amir Dwight, who had career highs in tackles (20) and sacks (three) last season said the addition “changed the game big time.”
“It has impacted us wonderfully,” Dwight said. “We have two sets of eyes to watch both groups. It’s very beneficial to have both of them.”
Dwight and Pronschinske said the change has allowed for more individual coaching in drills and a more thorough process of installing defensive schemes.
“You can have extremely individual-based teaching for the tackles and the ends,” Pronschinske said. “It has been big time for us.”
Along with his defensive coordinator duties, Pronschinske also coaches the SIU safeties. He said having only one defensive line coach is like using only one defensive backs coach.
“I’ve used the comparison of if I had to coach the cornerbacks and the safeties,” he said. “I would be busy 24/7. I would have a hard time setting up drills for the corners and safeties.”
SIU is hoping the two-coach approach helps the defensive line improve their run defense.
Last season, the Salukis ranked eighth among 10 MVFC teams by allowing 194.1 rushing yards a game.
“That’s been preached every day,” Pronschinske said. “Everyone in the Missouri Valley talks about how you need to stop the run to be extremely successful.”
Along with their portal additions, SIU is banking on being more well-versed in the defensive scheme in Pronschinske’s second season.
“Now we have a lot of guys who have been in the system for two springs, two fall camps and a whole season,” he said. “The more you can build things in your scheme, it’s going to be better.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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