What is the 'Mike' in football? Why QBs yell a uniform number with that call before plays
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What is the 'Mike' in football? Why QBs yell a uniform number with that call before plays originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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There's one thing that football fans often hear over the on-field microphones that is a little less familiar.
"Mike 58," or "Mike 54," or that word, "Mike," with any uniform number. The quarterback often shouts it out to his offensive linemen before the snap.
It's football terminology, and it's important.
Why?
Here's the answer.
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What is the Mike in football?
The word Mike, in this case, refers to the middle linebacker.
The quarterback doesn't always yell out the general middle linebacker as the "Mike," though.
The key to the "Mike" call is to set up the blocking assignments for the offensive line.
Essentially, the "Mike" is the pivot guy for the line. Who are they treating as the middle of the defensive group they're looking at? That's the "Mike."
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If they're shifting left or right based on a given player, they use that "Mike" as their common reference point.
The QB identifies it so all the offensive linemen are on the same page.
If they get prepared right before the snap, they've got a chance to make a play once the ball is snapped.
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