Chip Kelly and the Eagles to test officials Monday night

Sep 8, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Officials confer after the opening kickoff between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The kickoff was ruled a safety after the returned backed into the end zone with the ball. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /

Vice president of NFL officiating Dean Blandino believes that refs are ready for Chip Kelly’s high octane offense. With so many NFL teams incorporating no huddle and quick pace schemes, they better be. In an interview with the Associated Press, Blandino discussed the official’s readiness:

“Our guys might not be used to seeing it,” Blandino says. “Maybe they saw it when they were (working) in college, but not much here. So they have been watching lots of tape and the four preseason games have been very helpful to the game officials. We used to have NFL Europe as a proving ground, but now it’s repetitions and video, and the more snaps you see, the better off you are.”

Blandino says officials will make the effort to help ensure that the defenses are set and that the game pace is fair for both sides.

“We have re-emphasized the mechanics for us with the no-huddle and the quick offenses,” he says. “They can’t snap the ball before everyone has a chance to be in position. I guess it becomes a matter of how fast is too fast.”

Blandino’s theory has already been put to the test with the start of the NFL regular season this week, but Monday night figures to be the first big test with Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles’ brand of quick-pace offense taking on the Washington Redskins.

Home/NFL