[KWH]

When I began officiating I was in Texas, (1979-1982), and wing men counted their sidelines and utilized the method JasonTX has descibed above.
When I left Texas I discovered there was an entirely different brand of football being played everywhere else (except Massacusetts) in the United States and Canada. I discovered that this other brand of football had its own set of rules and its own set of mechanics. Some or the differences made sense, and the ones that did not were however easier to learn and enforce as they lack (and still do) an infinite number of exceptions to rules.
Texas does things their own way, always have and always will. They may have worked under six flags, but they only know one set of football rules and mechanics. That's not a bad thing, rather it is merely stating a known facts. (But you juss kint beet, mesquite barbaqued brisket)

The only important thing is for all crews to take responsibility for counting both teams and check the offensive formation on every play.