Chip Kelly on changes to clock rules: 'We'll adapt'

During UCLA‘s home opener against Coastal Carolina, head coach Chip Kelly made it clear that he’s not happy with the current clock rules in college football. In particular, he felt that they were costing both teams possessions throughout the game.

Now, however, Kelly explained that he’s just going to have to adapt to the new clock rules.

“You’ve got to look at everything,” Chip Kelly said. “So, I think that’s all part of the process. We’ll adapt because I’d be very surprised if the NCAA said tomorrow, ‘Hey, we’re gonna change it back.'”

The rule that Chip Kelly is referring to is the new clock rule where the clock continues to run after first downs, like in the NFL. Previously, the clock stopped until the ball was set. The idea is to shorten the overall length of games and the clock still stops on first downs during the last two minutes of each half.

It’s too early in the season to know the overall impact of this new rule. However, it’s expected that teams will run fewer plays in a game because of the rule. At halftime of UCLA’s first game, Kelly complained about only getting four possessions. Now, he knows it’s time to adapt.

“That’s not going to happen. So, it is what it is. I mean, that’s our job to adapt to it.”

By the end of the season, teams will have adapted to this rule change, the same way MLB teams did to clock changes. However, for now, it’s a new challenge to deal with.

Chip Kelly evaluated UCLA’s quarterback play

In that opener, Chip Kelly played two quarterbacks, Ethan Garbers and Dante Moore. He also intends on playing Collin Schlee next week.

After the game, Kelly broke down the team’s quarterback play against Coastal Carolina.

“I thought both quarterbacks played really well. We had three interceptions. Two of them, they were being hit, so there was a protection breakdown in front. But I thought, for the first time for both those guys, for extensive action, I thought they did a nice job, what those guys did. For Dante, it was his first experience. Obviously Ethan’s played for us before. We know what he can do,” Kelly said.

“But to see Dante playing in his first game, and how he handled all of it. Unlike the NFL, we don’t have preseason. We don’t have opportunities to scrimmage with other teams, to practice with other teams. So for his first action really, we’re really pleased with him.”