Instead of a snap count it appears that Braxton now just has a clap count. Yes, Linsley does a fair job of mixing up when he snaps the ball after the clap, but I wonder how many defensive offsides penalties are negated through the course of a season when a team goes away from a verbal snap count?
Certainly not a big deal, just something I was thinking about.
My college ran the clap count. I like it. What we did was the QB would clap, and then the center would say "GO" when he snapped the ball. Our calls were mixed up very well, and when we went on two, the center yelled "GO"........"GO" (as is protocol for going on two).
I wonder if Linsley does the same, or if somehow a count is relayed to the line and Linsley is the one who says "GO" to take them off-sides..... We also ran a no huddle for a good portion of the game.... So the offensive play style I had in college was very similar now that I think about it. Strong backs in a spread, very accurate QB and posession receivers mixed in with burners and tall boys to get the jump ball....
Good insight.
vacuuming sucks
I don't remember which interview it was from, but I remember Coach Meyer saying things very similar to what DUBJAYFOOTBALL90 mentioned above. The Center (Corey Linsley) is responsible for the verbal count. Braxton's clap tells Linsley that the offense is set and they are ready for the ball to be snapped. Coach Meyer said this eliminates the need for Linsley to look back and determine whether or not everyone is ready.
I do remember a handful of times where Braxton has clapped twice before the ball was actually snapped. Not sure if that was designed to throw the defense off (kind of like a hard count), or what. I worry about when the team has to go on the road in a hostile environment like in East Lansing or Madison. I wonder if it will be difficult for Linsley to hear Braxton's clap when the fans are going nuts and doing some clapping of their own.
As stated above, the clap is not the snap count. The clap means that the offense is set and Brax is ready for the snap. Sometimes Brax will fake clap or clap more than once to see how the defense reacts when they think the ball is about to be snapped.
After Brax claps, the center gives a traditional snap count, as the QB traditionally would (Ready, ready, go, etc.). This allows the OLine to still get off the ball quickly. The center still has the ability to go on 2 and pull the defense offsides. WR always just look at the ball anyway, so they aren't affected, and the backfield can obviously see the ball snapped.
This is my speculation, but I think they prefer the clap to a stomp because it allows Brax to keep his feet square for running the zone read. If it gets too loud, I'm sure they can have the guard look back for the clap as many teams do from the shotgun now.
Source: I was at a practice where it was quiet enough to hear Linsley calling out the cadence after claps.
^^^^ nice input on the last sentence.
I like it and very good insight guys, thanks!!!
would it be a penalty if a player from the defense clapped to screw with the offense?
O H I O is the Buckeye State
If the clap means to Linsley that the offense is ready, what happens on the plays Brax claps, then him and all skill position players turn to the sideline for a different play? How does Linsley know not to snap the ball then?
@NGBUCK21
I do not know for sure, but I would think that the play would have been called on the 2nd clap, as in Linsley knows they are not ready until the 2nd clap (and Braxton will tell the line if the play has changed). Sometimes the snap does not come until after the 2nd clap but Brax just uses the time to observe the defense's movement and the whole team does not look to the sideline. I assume it's just another signal into the sideline on the initial call.
Xtremebuck - I was wondering the same thing.
"Because the rules won't let you go for three." - Woody Hayes
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