Can someone explain how a snap count works in football?

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What is a snap count? Does the QB tell his offense in the huddle how long the count will be before each play? Can the OL and DL men hear the QB when he starts it? Once the count is started, can you stop it if the QB sees something he doesn't like, make adjustments and restart the count? And is the universal call for the center to hike the ball 'Hut'? Lastly, what is a silent count and how does that work?

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Usually, it'll be part of the play call. It'll be some variation of "Blue 46 Berlin on Three". They'll go on the third hut, hike, or cheeseburger, it really does't matter.

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On a related note, sometimes I see offensive linemen look around and do all kinds of motions but don't get called for a false start. But sometimes they do so much as flinch, they get called. Why is that? Is this somehow related to the snap count?

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The center can move, others really can't unless they are in two point stances.

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Lastly, what is a silent count and how does that work?

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The Center is looking between his legs for a certain signal, usually a foot stomp. He'll then look up and snap at the same time. Thats for silent snap for shotgun. The above poster is right for regular silent count.

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Does the QB tell his offense in the huddle how long the count will be before each play?

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Usually it's 4 seconds

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Can the OL and DL men hear the QB when he starts it?

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Generally no, that's why the QB will lift his leg or touch the center's genitals. That lets him know when to snap it.

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Once the count is started, can you stop it if the QB sees something he doesn't like, make adjustments and restart the count?

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Nope, 5 yard penalty.

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And is the universal call for the center to hike the ball 'Hut'?

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Depends on where the QB is from. Timmy Chang got a waiver to allow him to use "Hiyah" instead of hut.

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Generally no, that's why the QB will lift his leg

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But when a QB is in shot gun many times he will lift one leg up and does a little head bob/jerk to the front like is he expecting the ball and ball doesn't get hiked. He then looks around and says a few more things and then the ball gets hiked. I see Drew Brees and Tom Brady do this in shotgun very often.

So you are saying lifting a leg under center is different than doing it in shot gun?

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So you are saying lifting a leg under center is different than doing it in shot gun?

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Usually, when under center, the leg lift would indicate to put a player in motion.

And going back to my question about false starts....like someone said, is the two point stance the only reason why offensive linemen don't get called for false starts even when they look around and do all kinds of motions....when at other times, even a little flinch causes a flag to be thrown?

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is the two point stance the only reason why offensive linemen don't get called for false starts even when they look around and do all kinds of motions

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False start is anything that can be construed as simulating the beginning of a play before the snap. A group of players turning their head in concert and looking into the backfield/sideline is okay (not simulating the beginning of a play).

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So you are saying lifting a leg under center is different than doing it in shot gun?

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Fwiw, he was fricking with you.

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Can someone explain how a snap count works in football?

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When a QB calls the play in the huddle he will call formation and usually numbers. For example, he might say..."Ron 32"...with Ron being the formation...it might signal Tightend to the right. The 3 signifies what running back (fullback or tailback) gets the ball and 2 identifies the hole. Each hole from center to tight end is given a number. Usually even # to the right odd numbers to the left.

Some start with center/guard gap being being high or low...for my example lets say the right center/guard gap is 8-guard/tackle-6/tackle/tight end-4 and outside the tightend is the 2 hole.

So the call in the huddle would be "Ron 32 on two". That tells the team the tight end is going to the right and the tailback is running a sweep around the right end on two.

NOW...the QB walks up to the line and looks over the defense and he will call out a color and a number. Green 22. The cadance would be, "Green 22, Green 22, set...HUT...HUT". That is how a snap count is done.

Now...the color/number/set/ready/hut/go or all different for different coaches and QB's.

The reason for the color/number/color/number is to allow the QB to change the play. Before each game it is determined that the QB will have a HOT call...usually RED.

So if the play call in the huddle is "Ron 32"...the tailback sweep around the right end...the QB might see the inside linebacker lined up outside the TE and need to change the play to in inside run.

The QB would then say, "Red 37, Red 37 set hut...hut"...now this changes the play to a tailback dive between the left side center guard gap...because the QB saw the backer moved outside leaving the middle open.

When you get into college and pro's...the snap count becomes more complex but it still means something. Same thing with the play calls and formations..but I can promise you this...the snap count has a lot to do with the play call, the formation, and the opportunity for the QB to change the play.

I hope that cleared it up for you