[Mick]

I've wondered if one way to beat WSU's system is to go on a silent count, but have the snap triggered by the first sign of shift by the defensive linemen, with your understood "silent kill" run call to the opposite side of the shift. 

By doing that, you'd have your offensive linemen driving on their blocks while their opposing DLs are in mid-shift, going laterally and in the wrong direction, and utterly vulnerable.

Interesting concept.  I really like it.  Two thoughts:

1)  When do you snap the ball if the line doesn't shift?  Does the OL and everyone else then key on the center?  Does it return to a manual count?

2)  I think you would really have a problem with referees.  I don't think people in positions of authority do well with unexpected approaches, even if you warn them ahead of time.  I remember in high school we had a very basic snapping sequence; e.g., "Down...set...hut...hut" etc.  The fastest we would ever go was on "set."  We installed a play to go on "Down," the first word out of the quarterback's mouth.  We had practiced it a lot, and it got flagged.  Why?  the ref had never seen it before.  We proved by video that no one moved before the snap.  Didn't matter.  Surprised the other team, and it surprised the refs...ALL OF WHOM WE HAD INFORMED OF THE PLAY BEFORE THE GAME.

[Mick]

I've wondered if one way to beat WSU's system is to go on a silent count, but have the snap triggered by the first sign of shift by the defensive linemen, with your understood "silent kill" run call to the opposite side of the shift. 

By doing that, you'd have your offensive linemen driving on their blocks while their opposing DLs are in mid-shift, going laterally and in the wrong direction, and utterly vulnerable.

Interesting concept.  I really like it.  Two thoughts:

1)  When do you snap the ball if the line doesn't shift?  Does the OL and everyone else then key on the center?  Does it return to a manual count?

2)  I think you would really have a problem with referees.  I don't think people in positions of authority do well with unexpected approaches, even if you warn them ahead of time.  I remember in high school we had a very basic snapping sequence; e.g., "Down...set...hut...hut" etc.  The fastest we would ever go was on "set."  We installed a play to go on "Down," the first word out of the quarterback's mouth.  We had practiced it a lot, and it got flagged.  Why?  the ref had never seen it before.  We proved by video that no one moved before the snap.  Didn't matter.  Surprised the other team, and it surprised the refs...ALL OF WHOM WE HAD INFORMED OF THE PLAY BEFORE THE GAME.