I’ve been hearing the term “hard count” in terms of a method of signalling the snap of the football - used as a measure to try to draw the defense offsides. What exactly does it mean?
The quarterback will say the wrong signal for the snap with gusto. Such as…1, 2, 3 when the snap is actually on 4.
This is one of those questions that is much easier to answer in person because it requires voice inflection. But you can imagine on a typical play, the quarterback lines up behind the center and makes his normal count before the ball is snapped. This is typically something like “hut-one, hut-two”, etc. In the huddle the quarterback has told the offense which sound to “go” on. He might say for instance, “on first hut”. Usually his cadence at the line of scrimmage is somewhat monotone. If he wants to try to draw the defense off sides, he might call “on third hut” in the huddle, but at the line he will emphasize the second “hut” in his cadence. It’s kind of a psychological warfare against the defensive line. When the quarterback raises his voice on the second “hut” he’s trying to “flinch” the defensive line into reacting.
It seems to be especially effective when the QB has called the same snap count for a while, e.g. calling the snap on the second “hut” for several plays, and then going on the third, but calling #2 louder.
it is also one of those not really interesting strategic ploys that doesn’t really amount to much.
(like calling a time out to ice the kicker; or the long count also to draw the defense offsides)
that commentators love to harp on to fill 5 minutes of air time, and old coaches keep on trying out of apparent nostalgia for the one time it worked.
but in my admittedly non-scientific experience of playing/coaching/watching American football for 20+ years it works so rarely as to be barely worth mentioning.
(please note slight tongue-in-cheek to much of this)
Using a hard count to draw the defense offside is a pretty low risk, high reward strategy however. Sometimes an offense will try the hard count with absolutely no intention of running a play. In those situations, the defense will usually won’t buy it.
But some QBs would be able to do it at other times. Steve DeBerg seemed to be able to do it pretty well. But it was usually when he was playing against the Raiders and that team notoriously jumps offside with great frequency.
Personal anecdote:
When playing as a down lineman, you are on edge, raring to go. When the hard count happens and you’re not thinking about it, you mentally start to go. Of course, most of the time, your body doesn’t follow because your brain caught it in time. However, now you are no longer on edge. So, when the ball actually is snapped, your reaction is slightly delayed, giving that much more advantage to the offense who knows when to go and where. Defense usually has to react to the offense, so this strategy could work.
Of course, I’m talking about personal experience in High School football. The Div I college and pro players are without a doubt much better than I was. Both physically and mentally. In regards to the game, that is.
[I was special teams and linebacker. Sometimes, a linebacker will line up as an extra down lineman.]
Ah, it seems to have at least some effect. I know last week the Browns got the Raiders to jump offsides quite a bit. And there would be other value, as **NoClueBoy] states: Even if it doesn’t draw them offsides, it makes them sit back a little more and not be quite as ready to go.