Penalties were costly for the Bulldogs in their close win over the Fighting Irish and the Bulldogs coaches have upped the punishment on penalties in practice in hopes of solving this problem.
 
 

The Bulldogs had 12 penalties for 126 yards in their thriller with Notre Dame, but the coaches understand how costly these penalties could be down the road if they do not clean them up now. Inside linebacker Natrez Patrick said the team is trying to play more disciplined football to clean up their penalties and that the coaching staff is “upping the ante” on players who have penalties called on them in practice.
 
 

“Playing more disciplined football, just trying to play more technique, hands inside, no silly penalties, no offsides,” Patrick said concerning the defense’s efforts in cleaning up their sloppy play from last weekend. “Like I told before, the coaches have upped the ante on the punishment for the penalties during practice, so that’s definitely a big encouragement to not get those penalties.”

 
 
Defensive lineman John Atkins went into detail of how the players have to meet up with strength and conditioning coach Scott Sinclair whenever they are being punished for a penalty in practice and Patrick went on to describe the feeling of a player having their name called after practice for a penalty.
 
 

“Hearts drop, Hearts drop instantly as soon as he calls them names,” said Patrick.

 
 
However, Patrick mentioned that names are being called less and less after the coaches upped the ante on the punishments for penalties in practice. The Bulldogs defense had a stellar performance against the Fighting Irish, but penalties were definitely a low point for this group. If they are able to clean up their penalty woes, then this defense has the potential to be elite.