Tennessee Titans won't let NFL's latest crackdown impact them in Week 1 against Chicago Bears

If you watched the Ravens-Chiefs season opener, you were likely perplexed by the number of Illegal Formation penalties Baltimore's offensive line received.

OT Ronnie Stanley was the primary culprit, getting called for lining up too far off the line of scrimmage 3 times during the game. In total, the Ravens were penalized 5 times for Illegal Formation.

Stanley went on the record after the game to make it clear he felt he was being made an example of by the officials. Curious enough, we saw this trend of tackles getting called for lining up in the backfield gain traction in last year's season opener thanks to Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor. Taylor finished 2023 as the most penalized player in the entire league, in large part because of his proclivity to play so deep on passing downs.

As the league continues to crack down on what they perceive to be egregious bending of the alignment rules, at least one NFL Head Coach was surprised to see it so heavily emphasized once again:

“that was a little bit surprising to see that much that early, because usually when the league emphasizes something they emphasize it in the preseason really heavily, and so you have some inkling of that being the case." Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan said Friday.

"Obviously, we didn't have any of those called on us, so to see that many that quickly was to me, just as a fan, it was surprising. I guess I know what they're trying to do. They're trying to make sure that the offense doesn't keep maintaining their advantage, and they're set because they're so far back from the defense, it's a competitive advantage thing, and I understand why they're doing it. I was just, I was surprised to see that much of it and that early in the game, but, yeah, we better get our ass up!”

I asked around in the Titans locker room about the recurring call we all watched Thursday night. Why is this an issue? How are they failing to get up on the line over and over again? What's the disconnect here?

Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry explained to me his perception of the rule. "They have to be, I think along the beltline of the center. If you're a tackle who likes to line up a little farther back, I guess you have to, in your stance, lean forward so they can see at least your head on the beltline of the center."

When I asked rookie tackle JC Latham about the recurring penalty, he was adamant he doesn't plan on it being an issue for him: "that doesn't pertain to me". RT Nicholas Petit-Frere didn't seem too concerned about his alignment either.

I asked Cushenberry if the failure to adjust over and over by certain guys is a result of trying to bend the rules as much as possible without getting in trouble. "It's about playing within the rules of the game" he emphasized.

Titans linemen and Brian Callahan alike said this emphasis by the league is something they've discussed, and nobody seems worried about it being an issue for them like it has been for other teams.