CHARLOTTE — In theory, the Panthers offensive linemen have known about this all summer. The NFL will be cracking down on misalignments along the offensive line. Tackles better be exactly in position, no wiggle room, and those that are off will be called right away. When officials were on hand for training camp practices, they warned the linemen, this will be a point of emphasis this season.
In theory they knew…but to see it in practice was a bit of a reality check.
"They really were being extra about it Week 1," left tackle Ikem Ekwonu said. "Like, that's what the refs were told to emphasize this year."
The Panthers have yet to play in their Week 1 game – that will come Sunday in New Orleans against the Saints – but tackles around the league were put on notice Thursday night, as the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs opened the season, and officials called illegal formation three separate times on the Ravens opening drive.
"They came, they let us know in the offseason that it was a point of emphasis," Ekownu shared Friday. "So, I mean, I feel like we kind of adjusted on that, but honestly, there were some yesterday that I thought were a little on the line. So, it really depends, I guess, like how they call it, but I feel like we're going to be good."
In total, the Ravens were flagged for illegal formation five times during the game, with three accepted. Veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley was called three times, twice on the opening drive. The latter of those on that first possession was part of an offsetting penalty that negated a would-be 33-yard pickup on defensive pass interference.
Stanley told The Baltimore Banner after the game, "We knew that they were going to make a new emphasis on the illegal formations. And we were talking to refs in OTAs actually. We got pretty good clarification. We were doing a good job in OTAs and all of a sudden today, the refs, whatever calls they made, their decision, it didn't feel consistent with what we were told from the refs earlier on."
"So, it's a little bit upsetting. I just feel like it's kind of making me feel like I'm crazy, like I don't know where I'm lining up," Stanley continued. "I really feel like they were just trying to make an example and chose me to be the one to do that."
Whether or not Stanley's concerns were founded, he did become an example. When the Panthers linemen convened in their meeting Friday morning, coaches were using the Ravens penalties from Thursday night's game as an example of how razor thin the margin will seemingly be this season.
Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton said he always watches for the heel of his center (now Austin Corbett in his first year in the role).
"My facemask, we need to break the waistline of the center. So if I line up on the heels of the center, we won't have a problem," Moton explained. "They gave more leeway (in the past). You had more leeway, I guess. I hadn't had that problem, and those guys are pretty tight, but, you know, is a thing that typically we get warnings about it."
The warning has always been a sort of gentlemen's agreement, but an understood and expected part of the game. "I feel like I line up pretty good already. They're supposed to warn you. So, if I get a warning, then I'll adjust," Ekwonu said.
But there was a decided lack of warnings on Thursday night, according to Stanley and the Ravens. For that matter, the first flag thrown on Stanley was on the second play of the game, and the first passing play of the regular season.
So where was the warning? Dave Canales said it came during the preseason.
"That's something they communicated to all of us throughout the preseason," he said. "All of the crews that we had made sure they came up and say, 'hey, we're trying to make a point of emphasis on this. We'll tell you the first time, we'll give you a warning.'
"And then I think as the second and third game came in, they kind of gave me the warning in the locker room. They're like, 'here's your warning.'"
Offensive line coach Joe Gilbert and run game coordinator Harold Goodwin drove home the warning as much as possible to tackles during the offseason. But nothing makes the point like real life. So as the Panthers prepare to head to New Orleans and take on a Saints front that includes Cam Jordan and Chase Young, looking at what happened with the Ravens in Kansas City on Thursday night could prove to be the best teacher.
"Take notice to what they're talking about," Canales offered as a message to his players. "They send us videos weekly as well, so whatever they emphasize in those videos, it's going out to all the crews and so we know where their eyes are attuned to in those. And so we always show the team in our meetings, we'll show short clips of like, 'hey, this was a film that was sent out to each team, this past week' and just put it on their radar. These are things they're looking for."
For those in the trenches, particularly on the ends, the repercussions of being off the mark might come a bit swifter, but it doesn't change the goal: play fast and play smart.
"The deeper the tackle, the more it helps us out, right? Because it's all about getting back and getting our spot before the edge rusher does," Moton said. "But at the end of the day, it is what it is, we find a way, still have a job to do and I expect to do it and I think Ickey feels the same way."
-- The Panthers will be without two starting tight ends on Sunday, as both Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) and Ian Thomas (calf) have been ruled out. Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders will be the starter, but beyond that, he wasn't ready to reveal all of the plans at the position. Just, "we definitely need help there knowing Tommy and Ian will not be up for this week."
The Panthers signed Messiah Swinson off the Green Bay Packers practice squad earlier in the week.
For the rookie Sanders, it's a chance to prove why the Panthers were high on the Texas product, drafting him in the fourth round in April. With Tremble and Thomas' injuries this offseason, Sanders has begun taking more and more first-team reps as well.
"He's been practicing with the ones all camp. He's made great strides," Canales bragged of the rookie. "He's looked really good in what we've asked him to do. I don't think this adds pressure to him. This is a situation he's been in all camp. So, you know, this is just another opportunity for him to show us what he can do."
Sanders provides the rookie promising presence, while veteran Jordan Matthews is the old-head converted receiver to TE. He's proved a reliable target in the preseason, pulling in seven receptions for 68 yards and one touchdown.
"Jordan Matthews stepped in big for us this camp," Canales said. "So really excited to see him out there and to watch him play. Those are the guys that carried the load, they got the reps, so we feel great about going out there with them."
