ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- One of the more concerning things about Kyle Whittingham's Michigan football team through two games is that it's been abysmal when it comes to committing penalties.
The Wolverines are 127th thus far this season out of 138 FBS teams, after Michigan was just 15th last year (Utah was 40th). So, something has to give if the maize and blue are to play clean football.
On Monday, Whittingham discussed the troubling trend and lack of discipline in that regard. We've already seen several offensive drives killed due to holding and illegal formation calls, while personal fouls have wiped out multiple defensive stands. He's not happy with where the team is on that front and notes that if it doesn't improve, then it could find itself in some
real trouble.
"It's a process, and we've got to get that corrected. That'll cost us somewhere down the line," Whittingham said. "We had another 80, 90 yards of penalties this past week to match the 80 or 90 yards in Week 1. Players have got to understand there's consequences with penalties.
"If you're on offense, they're essentially drive killers. The chances of moving the chains when you're starting the series first and 20 after a penalty is not real high. Offensively, they're drive killers. Defensively, they're drive extenders for the opponent. On special teams, they're big factors in field position. We have got to get that reduced and under control.
"Personal fouls are concerning. It's a matter of continuing to teach and continuing to demand. Eventually, we'll get what we need, but right now, we're not where we're at. We're too undisciplined in that regard."
Michigan has one more week of nonconference play, and a real chance to win a game without it coming down to the last play, as it has in the first two weeks. The slate will get tougher in short order, starting with the Week 4 game hosting Iowa, and Whittingham shared where he would like to see the team go in regard to discipline and what number he believes would show marked improvement.
"Cleaning up the penalties would be a good start," Whittingham said. "We're never going to be penalty-free, but if we cut them in half, that's about what we need to do. If you're in the 35-to-50-yard-per-game range, that's acceptable. If you're playing hard, there's going to be some penalties, but that would be something that right out of the gate needs to happen."
Michigan, at least, is getting some opponent penalties thus far. While Western Michigan and Oklahoma weren't getting flagged nearly as much as the Wolverines were, the maize and blue are sitting at 57th overall in opponent penalties, averaging 58 yards a game.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Kyle Whittingham sounds alarm over Michigan's lack of discipline
