2020 Playoffs Divisional Round Assignments

[BTFS Admin]

LAR @ GB (Sat. 4:35pm EST, FOX) - Ron Torbert
BAL @ BUF (Sat. 8:15pm EST, NBC) - Carl Cheffers

CLE @ KC (Sun. 3:05pm EST, CBS) - Clay Martin
TB @ NO (Sun. 6:40pm EST, FOX) - Shawn Hochuli

[russ]

Interesting. I have to imagine we are getting 12 Referees this year as I can't imagine Blakeman, Vinovich and Corrente all missing the Playoffs. But maybe they are. Congrats to all 4, good to see Martin back after his COVID scare. Thinking Torbert or Cheffers are probably most likely for the Super Bowl.

[mike]

Gotta agree that CC likely coming from those who have not received assignments. Too many strong names at all positions still left. Surprised that Clay Martin received an assignment as I was really unimpressed when I saw him this year.

If I had to pick a Super Bowl Crew from the DS officials and those who likely would have been assigned, I would go with the following:

R - Ron Torbert
U - Bruce Stritesky
DJ - Jerod Phillips
LJ - Tom Stephan
FJ - Aaron Santi
SJ - Allen Baynes
BJ - Dino Paganelli

[russ]

It appears as though Ellison and Santi are the only 2 eligible for the Super Bowl at their respective positions. Ellison worked a CC last season so it is very conceivable he rated first two years in a row, not that that mattered for Cheek, Steed and Banks last season but I digress. Pellis is not eligible due to not having acheived 3 playoff games in 5 seasons (only has worked the 2015 WC and 2017 DS, funny enough he would have been eligible had he worked a Playoff game last season), Killens is working his first Playoff game and is only in his second season. While I guess Bryan is technically eligible he just worked the Super Bowl 2 years ago and then had no assignment last season. Ellison seems the more likely of the two.

At FJ, Santi is in his 7th season and has worked a CC so he is good. Coleman has only worked 2018 Divisional Round in recent Playoff history so he is not eligible due to not meeting the 3 in 5 rule plus he has never worked a CC. Meslow has only worked one other Playoff Game (2014 Divisional) so he is inelgible. Dickson is working his first Playoff Game and is only in his fourth season. That leaves only Santi as eligible.

Of course it is possbile Mike is right and Stritesky was originally going to work a Divisional making him a Super Bowl contender as well. That is probably not something we will know until Super Bowl Assignments are announced.

[russ]

Congrats to Martin on his first Playoff game as a White Hat. Also congrats to Killens, Sutter and Dickson on their first Playoff Assignments. Killens and Sutter made it in their first season eligible! That's 5/6 from the 2019 rookie class that made the Playoffs on their first try. Very impressive hires from Riveron.

Also good to see Yette (2012) and Meslow (2014) back after long Playoff absences. Clearly Anderson is trying to spread out the wealth a bit more than Riveron or even Blandino did.

[mike]

Since Stritesky is the Alternate on Hochuli's crew and Killens is the listed U my speculation is that originally it was the other way around and then Stritesky was forced into action last week.

[FredFan7]

www.footballzebras.com/2021/01/torbert-cheffers-martin-and-hochuli-are-divisional-playoff-referees/

[BTFS Admin]

I wouldn't be surprised if Martin was originally supposed to work LAR/SEA (WC) with his regular season umpire (Michalek) and Hussey to work DIV with Ellison. Could very well be that Hussey/Ellison is the Super Bowl pairing but time will tell.

[ak482]

Looking at these white hat assignments, I'm wondering if the league office is going to go back to not choosing championship game officials from the Wild Card round. Hard to imagine Blakeman, Vinovich, and Corrente all missing the postseason.

[FredFan7]

Jan 11, 2021 16:41:09 GMT -5 russ said:

Congrats to Martin on his first Playoff game as a White Hat.

ktul.com/sports/content/jenks-coach-will-referee-nfl-playoff-game-after-battle-with-covid