| Spring Blog • April 14, 2015 |
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HOW MUCH DO PENALTIES BY FIRST DOWN HELP OR HURT?
Penalties can be a great equalizer when studying a football game. One thing that I found is that it’s not only the number of penalties a team has called on them or for them but how many first downs these penalties translate into.
By looking at the FD BY PENALTIES COLUMN you can scroll to Navy and see that were #1 LY having penalties cause ONLY 6 FIRST DOWNS on the season, which translates into .46 FD’s/gm.
On the flip side USC had penalties cause 43 FIRST DOWNS for their opponents or an average of 3.31 FD’s/gm. That means that from the fewest to the most FD that are caused by Penalties, USC’s allowed 2.85 more FD’s per game then Navy’s did.
Now let’s look at the FIRST DOWNS ALLOWED BY PENALTIES COLUMN and you can see that both Arizona and California each benefited from 3.0 FD’s per game from their opponents. The obvious difference in the penalties versus column is that passing teams get most of their pen FD’s via pass inference penalties which is very obvious by looking at the top 20.
On the flipside you will find all 4 option teams in the bottom 10 as well as those offense which are heavily slanted towards the run game.
Now, check out the third column and find out which teams had the largest MARGIN between penalties by and versus. I would expect a well coached team to be on top of this chart so seeing Kansas St and Bill Snyder there is no surprise.
The Wildcats were #4 in FD’s by PEN category and #25 in the FD’s Allowed by PEN meaning that in the course of LY’s 13 game season they were +17 FD’s or +1.3 FD’s/gm just by having Fewer penalties. It’s QUITE surprising to me that Georgia St is the ONLY in the Top 20 list to not have earned 6 wins.
As I always do let’s check out the flipside and the win/loss records to not necessarily coincide. Many defenses prefer aggressive DL’s that may have roughing penalties or get caught off sides while those same teams may play a lot of man-to-man defense having their cornerbacks take a penalty if their going to get beat.
| Per/ | Per/ | MARGIN OF PEN FD'S | ||||||||
| FD BY PENALTIES | # | Game | Rank | FD ALLOWED BY PENALTIES | # | Game | Rank | (BY PEN - VS PEN) | # | Rank |
| Air Force (10-3) | 16 | 1.23 | 32 | Air Force (10-3) | 15 | 1.15 | 99 | Kansas St (9-4) | 17 | 1 |
| Akron (5-7) | 32 | 2.67 | 122 | Akron (5-7) | 23 | 1.92 | 34 | Fresno St (6-8) | 17 | 2 |
| Alabama (12-2) | 12 | 0.86 | 11 | Alabama (12-2) | 16 | 1.14 | 106 | Iowa (7-6) | 15 | 3 |
| Appalchan St (7-5) | 19 | 1.58 | 65 | Appalchan St (7-5) | 32 | 2.67 | 6 | Georgia St (1-11) | 14 | 4 |
| Arizona (10-4) | 29 | 2.07 | 109 | Arizona (10-4) | 42 | 3.00 | 1 | Louisiana Tech (9-5) | 14 | 5 |
| Arizona St (10-3) | 15 | 1.15 | 24 | Arizona St (10-3) | 25 | 1.92 | 31 | Old Dominion (6-6) | 14 | 6 |
| Arkansas (7-6) | 13 | 1.00 | 13 | Arkansas (7-6) | 22 | 1.69 | 51 | Appalchan St (7-5) | 13 | 7 |
| Arkansas St (7-6) | 24 | 1.85 | 86 | Arkansas St (7-6) | 21 | 1.62 | 59 | Arizona (10-4) | 13 | 8 |
| Army (4-8) | 14 | 1.17 | 27 | Army (4-8) | 9 | 0.75 | 126 | Houston (8-5) | 13 | 9 |
| Auburn (8-5) | 37 | 2.85 | 126 | Auburn (8-5) | 10 | 0.77 | 123 | Penn State (7-6) | 13 | 10 |
| Ball State (5-7) | 16 | 1.33 | 41 | Ball State (5-7) | 22 | 1.83 | 42 | West Virginia (7-6) | 13 | 11 |
| Baylor (11-2) | 43 | 3.31 | 127 | Baylor (11-2) | 27 | 2.08 | 23 | Buffalo (5-6) | 12 | 12 |
| Boise State (12-2) | 20 | 1.43 | 53 | Boise State (12-2) | 17 | 1.21 | 92 | Arizona St (10-3) | 10 | 13 |
| Boston College (7-6) | 14 | 1.08 | 19 | Boston College (7-6) | 17 | 1.31 | 84 | LSU (8-5) | 10 | 14 |
| Bowling Green (8-6) | 25 | 1.79 | 83 | Bowling Green (8-6) | 32 | 2.29 | 14 | Virginia Tech (7-6) | 10 | 15 |
| Buffalo (5-6) | 13 | 1.18 | 31 | Buffalo (5-6) | 25 | 2.27 | 15 | Arkansas (7-6) | 9 | 16 |
| BYU (8-5) | 30 | 2.31 | 114 | BYU (8-5) | 22 | 1.69 | 52 | Cincinnati (9-4) | 9 | 17 |
| California (5-7) | 32 | 2.67 | 123 | California (5-7) | 34 | 2.83 | 4 | Duke (9-4) | 9 | 18 |
| Central Michigan (7-6) | 22 | 1.69 | 72 | Central Michigan (7-6) | 22 | 1.69 | 53 | Ohio (6-6) | 9 | 19 |
| Cincinnati (9-4) | 13 | 1.00 | 14 | Cincinnati (9-4) | 22 | 1.69 | 54 | Notre Dame (8-5) | 8 | 20 |
| Clemson (10-3) | 19 | 1.46 | 54 | Clemson (10-3) | 16 | 1.23 | 91 | UMASS (3-9) | 8 | 21 |
| Colorado (2-10) | 32 | 2.67 | 124 | Colorado (2-10) | 36 | 3.00 | 2 | Bowling Green (8-6) | 7 | 22 |
| Colorado St (10-3) | 24 | 1.85 | 87 | Colorado St (10-3) | 17 | 1.31 | 85 | Michigan (5-7) | 7 | 23 |
| Connecticut (2-10) | 23 | 1.92 | 95 | Connecticut (2-10) | 22 | 1.83 | 43 | Southern Miss (3-9) | 7 | 24 |
| Duke (9-4) | 14 | 1.08 | 20 | Duke (9-4) | 23 | 1.77 | 44 | Ball State (5-7) | 6 | 25 |
| East Carolina (8-5) | 33 | 2.54 | 118 | East Carolina (8-5) | 33 | 2.54 | 8 | Florida St (13-1) | 6 | 26 |
| Eastern Michigan (2-10) | 17 | 1.42 | 45 | Eastern Michigan (2-10) | 12 | 1.00 | 115 | Hawaii (4-9) | 6 | 27 |
| Florida (7-5) | 24 | 2.00 | 103 | Florida (7-5) | 13 | 1.08 | 107 | Idaho (1-10) | 6 | 28 |
| Florida Atlantic (3-9) | 17 | 1.42 | 46 | Florida Atlantic (3-9) | 12 | 1.00 | 116 | Illinois (6-7) | 6 | 29 |
| Florida International (4-8) | 18 | 1.50 | 58 | Florida International (4-8) | 14 | 1.17 | 93 | Nebraska (9-4) | 6 | 30 |
| Florida St (13-1) | 18 | 1.29 | 37 | Florida St (13-1) | 24 | 1.71 | 49 | Ole Miss (9-4) | 6 | 31 |
| Fresno St (6-8) | 14 | 1.00 | 15 | Fresno St (6-8) | 31 | 2.21 | 18 | TCU (12-1) | 6 | 32 |
| Georgia (10-3) | 19 | 1.46 | 55 | Georgia (10-3) | 18 | 1.38 | 77 | Tennessee (7-6) | 6 | 33 |
| Georgia Southern (9-3) | 14 | 1.17 | 28 | Georgia Southern (9-3) | 11 | 0.92 | 119 | Mississippi St (10-3) | 5 | 34 |
| Georgia St (1-11) | 9 | 0.75 | 2 | Georgia St (1-11) | 23 | 1.92 | 35 | NC State (8-5) | 5 | 35 |
| Georgia Tech (11-3) | 15 | 1.07 | 17 | Georgia Tech (11-3) | 13 | 0.93 | 118 | Tulane (3-9) | 5 | 36 |
| Hawaii (4-9) | 19 | 1.46 | 56 | Hawaii (4-9) | 25 | 1.92 | 32 | UCF (9-4) | 5 | 37 |
| Houston (8-5) | 20 | 1.54 | 61 | Houston (8-5) | 33 | 2.54 | 9 | UNLV (2-11) | 5 | 38 |
| Idaho (1-10) | 19 | 1.73 | 75 | Idaho (1-10) | 25 | 2.27 | 16 | UTEP (7-6) | 5 | 39 |
| Illinois (6-7) | 23 | 1.77 | 78 | Illinois (6-7) | 29 | 2.23 | 17 | Alabama (12-2) | 4 | 40 |
| Indiana (4-8) | 24 | 2.00 | 104 | Indiana (4-8) | 18 | 1.50 | 68 | Colorado (2-10) | 4 | 41 |
| Iowa (7-6) | 12 | 0.92 | 12 | Iowa (7-6) | 27 | 2.08 | 24 | Memphis (10-3) | 4 | 42 |
| Iowa State (2-10) | 22 | 1.83 | 84 | Iowa State (2-10) | 23 | 1.92 | 36 | Navy (8-5) | 4 | 43 |
| Kansas (3-9) | 23 | 1.92 | 96 | Kansas (3-9) | 10 | 0.83 | 121 | North Texas (4-8) | 4 | 44 |
| Kansas St (9-4) | 10 | 0.77 | 4 | Kansas St (9-4) | 27 | 2.08 | 25 | San Jose St (3-9) | 4 | 45 |
| Kent State (2-9) | 26 | 2.36 | 116 | Kent State (2-9) | 23 | 2.09 | 21 | Stanford (8-5) | 4 | 46 |
| Kentucky (5-7) | 17 | 1.42 | 47 | Kentucky (5-7) | 18 | 1.50 | 69 | Wyoming (4-8) | 4 | 47 |
| Louisiana Tech (9-5) | 15 | 1.07 | 18 | Louisiana Tech (9-5) | 29 | 2.07 | 27 | Boston College (7-6) | 3 | 48 |
| Louisville (9-4) | 14 | 1.08 | 21 | Louisville (9-4) | 17 | 1.31 | 86 | Louisville (9-4) | 3 | 49 |
| LSU (8-5) | 11 | 0.85 | 10 | LSU (8-5) | 21 | 1.62 | 60 | South Carolina (7-6) | 3 | 50 |
| Marshall (13-1) | 36 | 2.57 | 120 | Marshall (13-1) | 22 | 1.57 | 62 | Western Kentucky (8-5) | 3 | 51 |
| Maryland (7-6) | 22 | 1.69 | 73 | Maryland (7-6) | 20 | 1.54 | 63 | California (5-7) | 2 | 52 |
| Memphis (10-3) | 23 | 1.77 | 79 | Memphis (10-3) | 27 | 2.08 | 26 | Northwestern (5-7) | 2 | 53 |
| Miami FL (6-7) | 28 | 2.15 | 112 | Miami FL (6-7) | 18 | 1.38 | 78 | Oklahoma St (7-6) | 2 | 54 |
| Miami OH (2-10) | 24 | 2.00 | 105 | Miami OH (2-10) | 25 | 2.08 | 22 | Oregon St (5-7) | 2 | 55 |
| Michigan (5-7) | 10 | 0.83 | 7 | Michigan (5-7) | 17 | 1.42 | 75 | Pittsburgh (6-7) | 2 | 56 |
| Michigan St (11-2) | 20 | 1.54 | 62 | Michigan St (11-2) | 14 | 1.08 | 109 | SMU (1-11) | 2 | 57 |
| Middle Tennessee (6-6) | 17 | 1.42 | 48 | Middle Tennessee (6-6) | 11 | 0.92 | 120 | Toledo (9-4) | 2 | 58 |
| Minnesota (8-5) | 23 | 1.77 | 80 | Minnesota (8-5) | 14 | 1.08 | 110 | Washington St (3-9) | 2 | 59 |
| Mississippi St (10-3) | 10 | 0.77 | 5 | Mississippi St (10-3) | 15 | 1.15 | 100 | Iowa State (2-10) | 1 | 60 |
| Missouri (11-3) | 24 | 1.71 | 74 | Missouri (11-3) | 20 | 1.43 | 73 | Kentucky (5-7) | 1 | 61 |
| Navy (8-5) | 6 | 0.46 | 1 | Navy (8-5) | 10 | 0.77 | 124 | Miami OH (2-10) | 1 | 62 |
| NC State (8-5) | 15 | 1.15 | 25 | NC State (8-5) | 20 | 1.54 | 64 | North Carolina (6-7) | 1 | 63 |
| Nebraska (9-4) | 17 | 1.31 | 38 | Nebraska (9-4) | 23 | 1.77 | 45 | Central Michigan (7-6) | 0 | 64 |
| Nevada (7-6) | 19 | 1.46 | 57 | Nevada (7-6) | 15 | 1.15 | 101 | East Carolina (8-5) | 0 | 65 |
| New Mexico (4-8) | 17 | 1.42 | 49 | New Mexico (4-8) | 9 | 0.75 | 127 | New Mexico St (2-10) | 0 | 66 |
| New Mexico St (2-10) | 14 | 1.17 | 29 | New Mexico St (2-10) | 14 | 1.17 | 94 | Texas (6-7) | 0 | 67 |
| North Carolina (6-7) | 24 | 1.85 | 88 | North Carolina (6-7) | 25 | 1.92 | 33 | Tulsa (2-10) | 0 | 68 |
| North Texas (4-8) | 17 | 1.42 | 50 | North Texas (4-8) | 21 | 1.75 | 48 | Air Force (10-3) | -1 | 69 |
| Northern Illinois (11-3) | 26 | 1.86 | 92 | Northern Illinois (11-3) | 15 | 1.07 | 113 | Connecticut (2-10) | -1 | 70 |
| Northwestern (5-7) | 16 | 1.33 | 42 | Northwestern (5-7) | 18 | 1.50 | 70 | Georgia (10-3) | -1 | 71 |
| Notre Dame (8-5) | 16 | 1.23 | 33 | Notre Dame (8-5) | 24 | 1.85 | 40 | South Florida (4-8) | -1 | 72 |
| Ohio (6-6) | 15 | 1.25 | 36 | Ohio (6-6) | 24 | 2.00 | 28 | UL Monroe (4-8) | -1 | 73 |
| Ohio State (14-1) | 28 | 1.87 | 93 | Ohio State (14-1) | 19 | 1.27 | 88 | Vanderbilt (3-9) | -1 | 74 |
| Oklahoma (8-5) | 23 | 1.77 | 81 | Oklahoma (8-5) | 14 | 1.08 | 111 | Georgia Tech (11-3) | -2 | 75 |
| Oklahoma St (7-6) | 24 | 1.85 | 89 | Oklahoma St (7-6) | 26 | 2.00 | 29 | Maryland (7-6) | -2 | 76 |
| Old Dominion (6-6) | 9 | 0.75 | 3 | Old Dominion (6-6) | 23 | 1.92 | 37 | Syracuse (3-9) | -2 | 77 |
| Ole Miss (9-4) | 14 | 1.08 | 22 | Ole Miss (9-4) | 20 | 1.54 | 65 | Wake Forest (3-9) | -2 | 78 |
| Oregon (13-2) | 28 | 1.87 | 94 | Oregon (13-2) | 25 | 1.67 | 56 | Arkansas St (7-6) | -3 | 79 |
| Oregon St (5-7) | 31 | 2.58 | 121 | Oregon St (5-7) | 33 | 2.75 | 5 | Boise State (12-2) | -3 | 80 |
| Penn State (7-6) | 15 | 1.15 | 26 | Penn State (7-6) | 28 | 2.15 | 19 | Clemson (10-3) | -3 | 81 |
| Pittsburgh (6-7) | 16 | 1.23 | 34 | Pittsburgh (6-7) | 18 | 1.38 | 79 | Georgia Southern (9-3) | -3 | 82 |
| Purdue (3-9) | 19 | 1.58 | 66 | Purdue (3-9) | 10 | 0.83 | 122 | Kent State (2-9) | -3 | 83 |
| Rice (8-5) | 21 | 1.62 | 69 | Rice (8-5) | 15 | 1.15 | 102 | Oregon (13-2) | -3 | 84 |
| Rutgers (8-5) | 17 | 1.31 | 39 | Rutgers (8-5) | 10 | 0.77 | 125 | Utah State (10-4) | -3 | 85 |
| San Antonio (4-8) | 32 | 2.67 | 125 | San Antonio (4-8) | 14 | 1.17 | 95 | Florida International (4-8) | -4 | 86 |
| San Diego St (7-6) | 25 | 1.92 | 100 | San Diego St (7-6) | 18 | 1.38 | 80 | Missouri (11-3) | -4 | 87 |
| San Jose St (3-9) | 10 | 0.83 | 8 | San Jose St (3-9) | 14 | 1.17 | 96 | Nevada (7-6) | -4 | 88 |
| SMU (1-11) | 14 | 1.17 | 30 | SMU (1-11) | 16 | 1.33 | 82 | Troy (3-9) | -4 | 89 |
| South Alabama (6-7) | 29 | 2.23 | 113 | South Alabama (6-7) | 20 | 1.54 | 66 | Army (4-8) | -5 | 90 |
| South Carolina (7-6) | 21 | 1.62 | 70 | South Carolina (7-6) | 24 | 1.85 | 41 | Eastern Michigan (2-10) | -5 | 91 |
| South Florida (4-8) | 17 | 1.42 | 51 | South Florida (4-8) | 16 | 1.33 | 83 | Florida Atlantic (3-9) | -5 | 92 |
| Southern Miss (3-9) | 23 | 1.92 | 97 | Southern Miss (3-9) | 30 | 2.50 | 10 | Texas State (7-5) | -5 | 93 |
| Stanford (8-5) | 18 | 1.38 | 44 | Stanford (8-5) | 22 | 1.69 | 55 | Virginia (5-7) | -5 | 94 |
| Syracuse (3-9) | 19 | 1.58 | 67 | Syracuse (3-9) | 17 | 1.42 | 76 | Indiana (4-8) | -6 | 95 |
| TCU (12-1) | 13 | 1.00 | 16 | TCU (12-1) | 19 | 1.46 | 71 | Michigan St (11-2) | -6 | 96 |
| Temple (6-6) | 21 | 1.75 | 76 | Temple (6-6) | 15 | 1.25 | 89 | Middle Tennessee (6-6) | -6 | 97 |
| Tennessee (7-6) | 14 | 1.08 | 23 | Tennessee (7-6) | 20 | 1.54 | 67 | Rice (8-5) | -6 | 98 |
| Texas (6-7) | 17 | 1.31 | 40 | Texas (6-7) | 17 | 1.31 | 87 | Temple (6-6) | -6 | 99 |
| Texas A&M (8-5) | 24 | 1.85 | 90 | Texas A&M (8-5) | 14 | 1.08 | 112 | UAB (6-6) | -6 | 100 |
| Texas State (7-5) | 17 | 1.42 | 52 | Texas State (7-5) | 12 | 1.00 | 117 | Wisconsin (11-3) | -6 | 101 |
| Texas Tech (4-8) | 30 | 2.50 | 117 | Texas Tech (4-8) | 23 | 1.92 | 38 | Colorado St (10-3) | -7 | 102 |
| Toledo (9-4) | 21 | 1.62 | 71 | Toledo (9-4) | 23 | 1.77 | 46 | Rutgers (8-5) | -7 | 103 |
| Troy (3-9) | 18 | 1.50 | 59 | Troy (3-9) | 14 | 1.17 | 97 | San Diego St (7-6) | -7 | 104 |
| Tulane (3-9) | 23 | 1.92 | 98 | Tulane (3-9) | 28 | 2.33 | 12 | Texas Tech (4-8) | -7 | 105 |
| Tulsa (2-10) | 23 | 1.92 | 99 | Tulsa (2-10) | 23 | 1.92 | 39 | BYU (8-5) | -8 | 106 |
| UAB (6-6) | 19 | 1.58 | 68 | UAB (6-6) | 13 | 1.08 | 108 | New Mexico (4-8) | -8 | 107 |
| UCF (9-4) | 25 | 1.92 | 101 | UCF (9-4) | 30 | 2.31 | 13 | Washington (8-6) | -8 | 108 |
| UCLA (10-3) | 33 | 2.54 | 119 | UCLA (10-3) | 18 | 1.38 | 81 | Akron (5-7) | -9 | 109 |
| UL Lafayette (9-4) | 20 | 1.54 | 63 | UL Lafayette (9-4) | 8 | 0.62 | 128 | Minnesota (8-5) | -9 | 110 |
| UL Monroe (4-8) | 16 | 1.33 | 43 | UL Monroe (4-8) | 15 | 1.25 | 90 | Ohio State (14-1) | -9 | 111 |
| UMASS (3-9) | 24 | 2.00 | 106 | UMASS (3-9) | 32 | 2.67 | 7 | Oklahoma (8-5) | -9 | 112 |
| UNLV (2-11) | 23 | 1.77 | 82 | UNLV (2-11) | 28 | 2.15 | 20 | Purdue (3-9) | -9 | 113 |
| USC (9-4) | 43 | 3.31 | 128 | USC (9-4) | 19 | 1.46 | 72 | South Alabama (6-7) | -9 | 114 |
| Utah (9-4) | 27 | 2.08 | 110 | Utah (9-4) | 15 | 1.15 | 103 | Miami FL (6-7) | -10 | 115 |
| Utah State (10-4) | 27 | 1.93 | 102 | Utah State (10-4) | 24 | 1.71 | 50 | Texas A&M (8-5) | -10 | 116 |
| UTEP (7-6) | 10 | 0.77 | 6 | UTEP (7-6) | 15 | 1.15 | 104 | Florida (7-5) | -11 | 117 |
| Vanderbilt (3-9) | 21 | 1.75 | 77 | Vanderbilt (3-9) | 20 | 1.67 | 57 | Northern Illinois (11-3) | -11 | 118 |
| Virginia (5-7) | 24 | 2.00 | 107 | Virginia (5-7) | 19 | 1.58 | 61 | UL Lafayette (9-4) | -12 | 119 |
| Virginia Tech (7-6) | 16 | 1.23 | 35 | Virginia Tech (7-6) | 26 | 2.00 | 30 | Utah (9-4) | -12 | 120 |
| Wake Forest (3-9) | 22 | 1.83 | 85 | Wake Forest (3-9) | 20 | 1.67 | 58 | Western Michigan (8-5) | -12 | 121 |
| Washington (8-6) | 28 | 2.00 | 108 | Washington (8-6) | 20 | 1.43 | 74 | Kansas (3-9) | -13 | 122 |
| Washington St (3-9) | 28 | 2.33 | 115 | Washington St (3-9) | 30 | 2.50 | 11 | Marshall (13-1) | -14 | 123 |
| West Virginia (7-6) | 24 | 1.85 | 91 | West Virginia (7-6) | 37 | 2.85 | 3 | UCLA (10-3) | -15 | 124 |
| Western Kentucky (8-5) | 20 | 1.54 | 64 | Western Kentucky (8-5) | 23 | 1.77 | 47 | Baylor (11-2) | -16 | 125 |
| Western Michigan (8-5) | 27 | 2.08 | 111 | Western Michigan (8-5) | 15 | 1.15 | 105 | San Antonio (4-8) | -18 | 126 |
| Wisconsin (11-3) | 21 | 1.50 | 60 | Wisconsin (11-3) | 15 | 1.07 | 114 | USC (9-4) | -24 | 127 |
| Wyoming (4-8) | 10 | 0.83 | 9 | Wyoming (4-8) | 14 | 1.17 | 98 | Auburn (8-5) | -27 | 128 |
If you find other interesting trends feel free to tweet them to @PhilSteele042!