If you watch football, then you must have noticed quarterbacks yelling out a few phrases before a snap. It is quite common to hear quarterbacks such as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers yell "White 80! White 80! Set! Hut!" as the center is ready to snap the ball.
If you are wondering what these phrases are, then we are here to explain to you the most common ones.
The cadence is what the quarterback screams before the snap. It is a series of words that are routinely used to start the game or to throw the defense offside once they become accustomed to it.
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The most common cadence used by the majority of quarterbacks is "White 80." If you think it's "180," then you are completely mistaken. The quarterback shouts "White 80" to tell the center when to snap the ball and let the offense know he is all set to start the game. It also helps wide receivers understand where they should position themselves, so the throw can be accurate.
In simple terms, "White 80" means "let's go." First, the quarterback will frequently signal for the offensive line's center, or the "mike." He will then make any additional changes or warnings required for the offensive line. The quarterback will start the cadence after he is confident with the line modifications and play call changes.
White 80 is frequently used with "set hut" by quarterbacks. This signals the quarterback to snap the ball and begin the play, which then alerts the center.
What are the other phrases used by the quarterbacks before the ball is snapped?
In the NFL, a quarterback will shout "Blue 80" to signal to his teammates that he is about to attempt a deep pass. The receivers are informed by this code word to go downfield and brace themselves for a long throw. This is often used by quarterbacks during big moments like a game-winning drive or during overtime periods.
In 2012, Peyton Manning, a former quarterback for the Colts and the Denver Broncos, started using the term "Omaha" as a verbal signal at the line of scrimmage. According to Manning, it meant, "Hey, there's just two or three seconds on the clock and I need it snapped now."
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If the quarterback is saying "Blue 31" or "Blue 32," then it means the opposing team is in coverage of one or two, respectively. You may have seen quarterbacks frequently clap before the kick, which is a signal for the center to kick the ball out.
The quarterback may use an "alert" method to signal the offense to change plays when necessary at the line of scrimmage. He does this by pointing to his head and yelling the word "alert."