The offensive line, the most scrutinized position group on the Baltimore Ravens this preseason, did little to ease fan concerns in the season opener.
Ronnie Stanley says the offensive line’s lackluster performance at Arrowhead Stadium, in a 27-20 loss to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, was partially due to the officiating.
The starting left tackle and veteran anchor of the unit believes that the officials made an example of him this season as they strove to be more diligent in calling illegal formation penalties.
While Stanley was flagged 11 times last season, not one of those 11 penalties was due to illegal formation in 2023. Stanley racked up three of those infractions last night.
“I thought it was a little different,” Stanley said.
“And then the way it was going through the game, I really feel like they were just trying to make an example and they chose me to be the one to do that. As far as I saw, they weren’t doing it on both sides of the ball, and I know that I was lined up in good position the majority of those calls they made.
“But we’ll go back and watch the film and we’ll make sure of it and we’ll send it in [to the league office].”
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said both teams were informed that illegal formation would be a sticking point with the refs this season.
However, he had no problem pointing out that Kansas City was not penalized once for illegal formation.
Meanwhile, the Ravens were hit with that infraction on five different occasions last night.
Stanley was pretty blunt in his putting the refs on notice. He didn’t think they were calling it both ways.
“I’m looking at their tackles, especially the right side, and I know I’m lining up in front of that guy,” Stanley said.
“And they didn’t call him one time. It’s a little bit of making me feel like I’m crazy, [that] I don’t know where I’m lining up. I feel like we’ll watch the film.
“They just need to be held accountable if that’s what it is.
“If it’s that egregious that they are making those calls — and they shouldn’t be — they should be held accountable.”
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said it himself last week: There are going to be some growing pains with this offensive line this season.
The last thing they need to contend with is “home cooking” from the officials (if that’s happening here), which also goes against them.
Harbaugh added that he won’t take issue with how illegal formation is called this season, provided its called both ways and called consistently.
“It’ll be interesting to see if they call it the same way the whole season,” Harbaugh said. “I’ll challenge them to call it the same way they called it tonight the whole season, so hopefully they’ll be consistent about that.”