NFL speaks regarding Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Officials should dictate the pace of the game.

I don't think that should ever be the case deliberately.

This issue was discussed here several years ago. There is no reason the officials should make the ball ready for play slower than possible. However, nobody's going to notice if they do, as long as nobody wants to play the ball. You only notice it when somebody wants to play the ball and it's not ready. It's not a matter of one team's dictating the pace, it's only a matter of their making visible a possible defect in game administration. If that results in the officials' being conscious of the problem when an offense is trying to hurry up, so the officials make the ball ready for play faster than they do otherwise, so be it. The officials should always have been readying the ball at that pace, but it was inconsequential most of the game. If that looks like favoritism, that's just a misperception on observers' part.

Suppose a cashier wasn't giving correct change, but none of the customers complained until one finally did. If the cashier gives that person correct change, is that cheating? No, it was the cashier who was cheating previously, but nobody cared about it so it didn't matter.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I don't think that should ever be the case deliberately.

Why not? Officials are the ones that get the ball, put the ball back in play and you cannot do a thing without us being in position. We do it deliberately all the time. And certainly no officiating crew is going to just move faster only because a team wants to move faster. You also have to go at somewhat the pace that the ball boys do their job and are in position to give us another ball when mechanics dictate.

Peace

[Rob4092xx]

Working my first HS game in the 2013 season next week....yahoooooo!

Both teams are supposed to run a similar "fast" offense. Gonna be interesting!

Walter Duane Robinson
Walter D. Robinson Phoenix

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Why not? Officials are the ones that get the ball, put the ball back in play and you cannot do a thing without us being in position. We do it deliberately all the time. And certainly no officiating crew is going to just move faster only because a team wants to move faster. You also have to go at somewhat the pace that the ball boys do their job and are in position to give us another ball when mechanics dictate.

Peace