BYU Football: 6 Things We Learned From Houston
By Jeff Hansen
3. Penalties are going to be a theme this year
Nov 24, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A yellow penalty flag is seen during a game between the Carolina Panthers and the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. The Panthers won 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
BYU had 11 penalties for 98 yards last night. That brings the season total up to 32 penalties for 288 yards. Yes, you heard those numbers right. BYU is averaging over 10 penalties per game for just under 100 yards per game. That’s an outrageously high amount of penalty yards every game and it’s really hurting some of this team’s drives or defensive stops.
Some penalties are going to happen and some calls are questionable by the refs, no doubt, but this team has got to be more disciplined on the football field. Late hit penalties, ineligible receivers down field and illegal procedure penalties can all be cleaned up and, really, it shouldn’t be that hard to do. Bronco Mendenhall has said that he doesn’t mind a few aggressive penalties every game, and I would agree with that, but when you have half as many penalty yards as you do passing yards, there is a problem.