Among the weirdness that coated Alabama football’s 2022 season, one of the most concerning elements was the amount of laundry on the field.

The penalties issue was an anomaly for a Nick Saban-led program and a common question through the spring, and now fall camp, has been what Alabama is doing to curb the miscues. On Monday, senior defensive back Malachi Moore revealed the Tide’s old-school fix.

For a defender’s first penalty, a player is tasked with 10 up-downs after practice. For each ensuing flag, the player’s whole position group will do 10 more. Returning defensive coordinator Kevin Steele discussed the reasoning on his lone pre-season press conference on Sunday:

“Penalties, those type things, when you have something to correct, then you place an emphasis on them,” Steele said. “We have officials at practice. We chart the officials. There are repercussions for your actions, and it stays in front of you. In most cases in life, if you keep something that you need to correct in front of you continuously, most people learn.”

Nearly eight times a game a year ago, the Crimson Tide committed a penalty. Its 103 infractions were third-most by a single school, behind Tennessee (105), Syracuse and Utah State (both at 111). Overall, UA granted its opponents 893 free yards. Comparatively, Alabama’s opponents committed 87 infractions against the Tide, giving it 663 yards.

Saban has said a majority of the Tide’s mistakes came from mental errors — like Will Anderson Jr. learning the college tackling rule in Texas a year ago when Anderson pushed down a ball carrier after he had already fallen down.

During Alabama’s open practice in Bryant-Denny Stadium, starting right tackle JC Latham appeared to be called for a holding call and was subsequently rotated out of the drill.

“Really, penalties is the main thing we’ve been focusing on,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said on Aug. 4, “Making sure everybody is doing their job and no mental errors. That’ll lead to points.”

The giveaways were a hindrance in Austin, Texas, but they ultimately cost the Tide in a 17-flag outburst at Tennessee. Alabama was called for a record number of penalties for a Saban-led team and gave the Volunteers four first downs in the 52-49 thriller.

The Tide will be able to showcase its renewed discipline on Sept. 2 when it hosts Middle Tennessee State to open the season.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].