Everyone has answered how they would handle it. I will attempt to say how I would prevent it in the future.
On a goal line play, most officials are going to want to pinch in and help, but on a muffed snap, I think the short wings (or wings in a 5-man crew) should stay wide. The Back Judge should probably stay on the end line and would probably be in the best position to see if someone comes out of the pile with the ball early. In other words, trust the digging official to find the ball. Everyone else should be dead ball officiating.
I'd love to see the play in question to see what the other officials were doing.
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Mike Sears
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