hard count

Quarterback's vocal fake

In American football, a hard count is a quarterback's use of varied snap-count cadence to draw the defense offside.

The quarterback emphasizes certain sounds or pauses unexpectedly, trying to trick defenders into crossing the line before the ball is snapped: Rodgers is famous for his hard count.

A successful hard count results in a free play or penalty yards.

deception

bluff

Calculated false front

feintDeceptive mock attack
trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
ruseDeliberate act of deception

gambit · ploy · deceit · guile · subterfuge · manipulation · misdirection · fake · disguise · stratagem

football

snap

Sudden sharp sound

cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
audibleCapable of being detected by ear
hikeExtended walk outdoors

signal · formation · scrimmage · huddle · down · quarterback · center · offense · defense · line of scrimmage

Categories

Quarterback Callsaudible, cadence, hike, hut, check
feintsfeint, fake, juke, deke, head fake
football playsplay-action pass, slant, draw, sweep, handoff
Quarterbackingpassing, throwing, accuracy, arm strength, quick release

Opposites

snap timing strategy

hard countquick snap

Rapid informal photograph

quantification method

hard countestimate

Informed guess at quantity

rough count · approximation · projection · ballpark figure · guesstimate

Family

hard, count, harder, hardest, hardly, hardness, harden, hardened, hardening

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Mostly American · Timeless · Rated G