How Alabama is Working to Minimize Penalties at Practice

The Crimson Tide was ranked 123rd in penalty yards per game last season, and Malachi Moore revealed how the team is working to fix that problem in 2023.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Last season, Alabama was 123rd of 131 teams in penalties, averaging 68.7 yards and 7.9 penalties per game. The Crimson Tide had some costly penalties, particularly in its losses. 

In the loss at Tennessee, Alabama had 17 penalties for 130 yards, and nine penalties for 92 yards at LSU. The infractions were committed on both sides of the ball, but defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said the issue is something the defense is working on at practice.

"When you have something to correct, then you place an emphasis on it," Steele said Sunday. "There are repercussions for your actions, and it stays in front of you. In most cases in life if you keep something you need to correct in front of you continuously, most people learn and it gets corrected."

On Monday, Senior safety Malachi Moore shared what exactly those repercussions are for the defensive players, and how it is helping them get better. 

"With the penalties, the first penalty that you get, you’ve got 10 up-downs by yourself after practice," Moore said. "After that, if you get more than one, it’s 10 up-downs for every penalty that your position group gets. So that keeps guys conscious of mental mistakes or mistakes that are going to put us back.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban often references how 100 penalty yards basically equals a touchdown for the opponent. And that proved true for the Crimson Tide several times last season. 

Mistakes are inevitable, especially for young players in the early days of fall camp still getting acclimated to practice and new systems. But according to Saban, it's about learning from them now at practice so that they are minimized when the season happens. 

"Bad habits have a price, and they cost you," Saban said. "Now is the time to develop good habits. You're never going to play perfect. Every player is going to make mistakes. We want to minimize those mistakes, and the degree of those mistakes relative to how it impacts and affects the outcome of the game.

"As soon as one of us makes a mistake, it impacts everybody on the team. I don't know that that's ever something that - you used the word forgive - you try to learn from those mistakes, so that you can improve in the future. They're all opportunities, teaching moments, whatever you want to call it. You never want to give up a failing. You never want to tolerate mistakes, but you also want to learn from the ones you make."

See also:

What Nick Saban Said at Alabama Coordinator Media Day

Could Deontae Lawson Become the Next Great Alabama Middle Linebacker?

Kevin Steele Excited to be Back at Alabama, Keeping Process Consistent