Does UGA Football Have a Problem with Penalties? Maybe... Maybe Not So Much
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ATHENS - So far UGA Football has committed 25 penalties for 240 yards in three games this season - a record high for a three-game stretch during the Kirby Smart era.
Its a not-so-pleasant trend for the Dawgs, but all penalties are not created equally. Georgia’s nine infractions during the No. 1 Dawgs’ 13-12 win over Kentucky were when the penalties were most noticeable. Part of that was because Georgia was trailing until the fourth quarter in a one-score game.
But Georgia committed three defensive penalties during plays that would have resulted in a punt from the Wildcats - extending drives and keeping Cat hopes alive in that edgy contest. It was not what Kirby Smart wanted to see.
“We've never, we have been a low penalty, smart team, and I can't figure it out. I don't know if it's the way it's being called. Is it being called tighter?” Kirby asked following the game with Kentucky.
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Still, none of the penalties on Georgia’s defense led directly to a Kentucky score. Damon Wilson's hold, Jalon Walker's roughing the passer coupled with Jamal Jerrett's personal foul and Maliki Starks' holding only resulted in first downs for the Cats - not scores. On the other hand, it is hard to know if Dylan Fairchild's false start in the third quarter prevented UGA from scoring more than a 30-yard FG on that drive.
Arian Smith's block in the back on UGA's 10th drive of the game was likely the most costly infraction of the game - taking away an 11-yard run that would have come close to putting the game away. Georgia ended up punting a few plays later, but not after taking a delay of game penalty.
A false start on Dominic Lovett cost UGA a shot as a two-point conversion again Clemson in the third quarter of that game. Wilson’s roughing the passer foul helped Clemson get 15 yards further down the field for the Tigers’ only score of the game.
Tate Ratledge and Earnest Greene were flagged for holding calls on drives against Tennessee Tech that still resulted in touchdowns.
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Of Georiga’s 25 penalties, four have been delay penalties on special teams - in other words fouls that Georgia was happy to have happen. Six infractions have come during the blowout stages of the Clemson and Tennessee Tech games. Those six accounted for half of Georiga’s 15-yard infractions so far this season as well as three more 10-yard fouls, which means 75 of UGA’s 240 yards have been committed by young players or reserves like Ellis Robinson, Justyn Rhett, Daniel Calhoun and Jahzare Jackson.
Justyn Rhett has committed the most yards in penalties (30) and is tied with Arian Smith, Damon Wilson and Earnest Greene with the most infractions on the team with two each.