difference in penalties

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by OKREF

If the offense lines up incorrectly, as in across the neutral zone, its an encroachment penalty, not a false start. Isn't it?

Yes.

7.1.6 SITUATION A: When A comes to the line of scrimmage, the linemen assume their final positions such that one interior lineman has his head penetrating the neutral zone while the other linemen are all penetrating the vertical plane of the snapper’s waistline.

RULING: It is encroachment for a player to have any part of his body penetrating the plane of the neutral zone after the ready and the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball. This is a dead-ball foul and the ball will not be permitted to become live.
(2-8; 2-25-2; 2-32-9; 7-1-5; 7-2-3)