General
hard count
What does hard count mean?
A tactic in which the quarterback shouts the signals forcefully or unpredictably to bait the defense into jumping across the line before the snap.
"He drew them offside with a hard count for a free five yards."
Origin
American football; the QB uses an emphatic 'hard' vocal count.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hard count in football?
It's when the quarterback shouts the signals forcefully or changes the cadence to try to bait the defense into jumping across the line early for an offside or neutral-zone penalty.
Why do quarterbacks use a hard count?
A successful hard count draws the defense offside for a free five yards, or reveals how the defense reacts before the snap.
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