WR’s checking with officials when lining up

[LabattBlue]

Someone clarify…

 

Are the WR’s asking if they are onside, or are they asking about the illegal formation/covering up/not covering up?

 

I believe it is the latter, but not positive. 

[Bangarang]

I would assume all of the above 

[SoCal Deek]

It’s generally the latter. Nobody is dumb enough to be as far offside as Toney was. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 minute ago, SoCal Deek said:

It’s generally the latter. Nobody is dumb enough to be as far offside as Toney was. 

He’s almost lucky the blue line was off in the broadcast haha it’s really even worse than it looked on tv 

[LeGOATski]

I always thought they were just lining themselves up with the stick and making sure everyone outside them is behind.

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

The other thing about checking in with the ref that everyone is talking about is the fact that Toney is in the slot  close to the line. It’s quite a bit more difficult to be getting confirmation from the down judge or line judge on the sideline when you’re so far away. It’s more typical for an outside flank receiver to be checking in.

[BaaadThingsMan]

He lined up that far Offside because he had two picks to pull off

[CaptnCoke11]

It’s not the refs responsibility to line up the players 

[BillsFan4]

From ESPN:

In a pool report, referee Carl Cheffers said down judge Mike Carr saw Toney lined up offside.

"Ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they line up,'' Cheffers said. "No warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far Offside where they're actually blocking our view of the ball.

"We would give them a warning if it was anywhere close, but this particular one is beyond a warning.''

[mikemac2001]

1 minute ago, BaaadThingsMan said:

He lined up that far Offside because he had two picks to pull off

Haha ya they aren’t even talking about that he runs into kelce defender like 10 yards downfield 

[WotAGuy]

Didn’t the ref in the pool report after the game say they will give warnings or guidance if asked?

[BaaadThingsMan]

Just now, mikemac2001 said:

Haha ya they aren’t even talking about that he runs into kelce defender like 10 yards downfield 

Right! He ran into 3 defenders all together 

[Big Turk]

9 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Someone clarify…

 

Are the WR’s asking if they are onside, or are they asking about the illegal formation/covering up/not covering up?

 

I believe it is the latter, but not positive. 

 

I think all of it.  Most times, from what various players have chimed in with, they are being told to move up so that would point to an illegal formation being the concern.  Lining up ahead of the ball and the center and only inches away from Von Miller is almost unfathomable for a player who has played in hundreds of games throughout every level of football and taken tens of thousands of reps at the WR position.

[margolbe]

I thought Andy Reid's comments were quite telling in that he expected a warning from the referee regarding the illegal formation.  Is he kidding or is this evidence of the expectation of a two-tiered system regarding officiating favoring the "darling" teams.  We are luck that we had this ref crew this week.  If we had the one we had in Philadelphia, we would have lost this game.

[MrEpsYtown]

My experience with it is that they are telling the ref if they are on or off the line and confirming they are good. When receivers are wide, they sometimes need that confirmation since they are so far from the ball. Typically that conversation doesn't happen in a tight bunch like they had with Toney, just like a tight end would not check if he is on or off. He's literally right there. Toney screwed up.  

[zow2]

This morning on ESPN Rex said in all his years of coaching he’s never seen a ref warn a receiver.  If anything, they will gesture to Dline or Oline.  but that’s about it.

[Einstein's Dog]

19 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

From ESPN:

In a pool report, referee Carl Cheffers said down judge Mike Carr saw Toney lined up offside.

"Ultimately, they are responsible for wherever they line up,'' Cheffers said. "No warning is required, especially if they are lined up so far Offside where they're actually blocking our view of the ball.

"We would give them a warning if it was anywhere close, but this particular one is beyond a warning.''

Would they give the Defensive players warning if it was anywhere close?  I don't get that.

[NoSaint]

10 minutes ago, margolbe said:

I thought Andy Reid's comments were quite telling in that he expected a warning from the referee regarding the illegal formation.  Is he kidding or is this evidence of the expectation of a two-tiered system regarding officiating favoring the "darling" teams.  We are luck that we had this ref crew this week.  If we had the one we had in Philadelphia, we would have lost this game.

that’s relatively normal but not with a player inside and in a rush. Around the perimeter, light guidance is par for the course. Also if on the fence, they might nudge post play to watch it but if a yard over the line it isn’t going uncalled. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by NoSaint

[DrDawkinstein]

31 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Someone clarify…

 

Are the WR’s asking if they are onside, or are they asking about the illegal formation/covering up/not covering up?

 

I believe it is the latter, but not positive. 

 

Usually the former. It's not the refs job to tell them they have an illegal formation, but the refs will help them be on the line instead of Offside.

[US Egg]

Mahomes cried refs hadn’t been calling that on WR’s is an admission they routinely test the rules.

 

If that’s the case here, boo-hoo, they got caught.