A network component comprising pre-transmit logic coupled to a transmitter that transmits packets, wherein the pre-transmit logic is configured to determine whether a scrambling sequence for a packet complies with at least a threshold line pattern criteria, and if not, delay transmission of the packet to at least partially offset the scrambling sequence used for the packet, wherein the pre-transmit logic comprises a sequence evaluator that determines whether a scrambled packet complies with at least the threshold line pattern criteria.