Hard Knocks episode 2

Brian Quick and Kenny Britt Flip Recreational Vehicle During Training Camp

‘Hard Knocks’ Episode 2, in which the Rams get all Spruce-d up

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/remote-726042-dummy-ridiculousness.html

The existence of dinosaurs and mermaids, the prospects of an injury caused by a remote-controlled robotic tackling dummy and the ridiculousness of allowing players to drive dune buggies on a college campus – you couldn’t see that accident coming? – could be the immaterial takeaway from Episode 2 of the HBO docuseries “Hard Knocks” focused on the Rams.

But those kinds of things are beginning to come off as just colorful distractions from the real storylines that have ramped up as exhibition games are played, cuts have to be made and, in case of rookies Nelson Spruce and Austin Hill, careers could be launched or crushed in one otherwise historic Saturday night.

Spruce, the 23-year-old possession receiver out of Westlake High who broke the Pac-12 career receptions record at Colorado, ended up with the Rams as an undrafted free agent. But from the HBO airtime he caught for his second-half performance at the Coliseum against Dallas, a 28-24 come-from-behind win in which he caught six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, the viewer could better understand how social media got behind Spruce as that game unfolded.

As his highlight reel played out, and we heard ESPN’s Jon Gruden call him “my sleeper on the Rams,” and teammates start chanting his name during the game and in the locker room, and family members embraced him afterward, the contrast shots came from the brooding Hill.

The receiver out of Arizona and son of former Rams tight end David Hill who also signed as a free agent earlier this month, didn’t get into the contest at all against Dallas. The HBO cameras and microphones caught him upset on several occasions as he stood on the sidelines, saying how ticked off he was, even as his team was engineering the “comeback” in the exhibition game.

Does that kind of media help or hurt Hill’s chances going forward? Especially since it came out (in the news, not on the HBO episode) that Spruce injured a knee in that exhibition and could be out a couple of weeks.

Another tug-o-war for a position – and a number – was played out between rookie safeties Brian Randolph and Jordan Lomax.

Randolph, a former standout at Tennessee known as “Rhino,” was pestering Lomax to trade numbers with him. Randolph said he felt he was owed No. 37, which he wore his entire career, but was now stuck with No. 43.

With the NFL Films mike and camera nearby, Lomax said he would consider trading numbers – for $10,000. Randolph tried to negotiate with him but was still wearing No. 43 when he played Saturday, and then tore his ACL. Two days later, the Rams released Randolph (news not included in the episode). Lomax, and his No. 37, lived to see another day.

Perhaps the Randolph release had more to do with his position coach identifying him in a scene as a “N.A.F.” during an earlier practice (you’ll need to watch the episode to get the specifics on that abbreviation, but it’s not good).

As for what else emerged in this second of five episodes for the series that runs through Sept. 6:

• Rams coach Jeff Fisher said last week that he got a call from his mother, unhappy with the language she (and everyone else) heard him use in Episode 1.

If Fisher intended to tone it down, he might have done so during shots of him in team meetings, but not when his mike was open during some captured sideline reaction during the Saturday exhibition.

Fisher seems to become more likeable as HBO and NFL Films also went back to the vault to show him as a young defensive coach for the Rams back in 1991. He admitted how back then, camp was just all about hitting with pads and scrimmaging in the heat, getting the players in shape. But since today’s players stay fit year around, Fisher said the focus now is more “on recovery.”

• A recent post on MMQB.com notes how “Hard Knocks” can turn viewers into consumers, as they see something they deem as cool (like Fisher’s sunglasses or center Eric Kush’s tank tops) and then go in pursuit of it.

Based on Episode 2, we’ll guess more NFL fans seek out the bold-lettered T-shirts that Will Hayes (“Stay Humble”) or Austin Hill (“Money In the Clutch”) wore, the TACKMA gear sported by defensive back T.J. McDonald, or the Roger Goodell portrait socks won by receiver Tavon Austin.

• Rookie QB Jared Goff may get a Darwin Award for his knowledge of sunrises and sunsets from Episode 1, but Hayes, a 31-year-old defensive end from Winston-Salem State, must have skipped some history classes based on his beliefs revealed that he doubts dinosaurs ever existed but is much more open to the idea of mermaids.

It seems as if Fisher tipped the NFL Films crew about this, which led to him going on camera to say with sincerity: “I just think it’s bull(expletive) to be completely honest with you. I just can’t fathom a T-Rex walking around here, something man has never seen.”

He’s then shown telling a teammate: “The government makes up that (expletive) up all the time. If you want to be ignorant and believe in that, great. That’s on you.”

• More Darwinism: No doubt receivers Brian Quick and Kenny Britt will end up on the DL if Fisher allows them to continue riding a dune buggy around the UC Irvine campus. Even with a GoPro camera attached to the windshield, they didn’t seem all that flustered when they managed to roll over in the car and somehow escape injury. Could they have negotiated with HBO to not have that footage used? It didn’t lead to any disciplinary action, but …

• Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may have been kidding – and commissioner Goodell’s laugh tried to defuse it – but asking Rams owner Stan Kroenke before Saturday’s game if he had “any idea how bad we’re going to kick your (rear end) tonight” sounded a bit passive-aggressive in light of Jones’ help in getting the NFL owners to approve Kroenke’s move from St. Louis back to L.A. this past offseason.

• It’s seriously OK if we don’t have any more footage of a girlfriend/wife/mom/baby momma, along with the vapid commentary. As one said before Saturday’s exhibition, noting the Coliseum at near capacity: “This is way more fans than they would probably ever have.”

off the net from MamaRAMa

Excessive f-bombs are pretty much par for the course. When Hard Knocks covered the Jets, Rex Ryan, who was the HC at the time, was one of the worse F-bombers of all time. It would have been interesting to have Hard Knocks cover the Colts while Tony Dungy was the HC. It probably wouldn’t have been spicy enough for viewers.

However I wouldn’t say that the stupidity and childishness we see this year on Hard Knocks is the norm. I don’t recall any of the previous Hard Knocks series showing too much in regards to x’s and o’s. Prior shows seem to take time to focus on one or two players trying hard to make the team. It has shown them during practice, individual drills, studying, and even their home life…. clear up to cut day and whether or not they make the team. It has also shown more of coaches evaluating players in meeting rooms (although they skillfully omitted names). I’m surprised there’s not more focus on Goff, since he’s the golden boy. In my opinion, the fact that it’s Los Angeles, i.e. Hollywood… has had an impact on the way this year’s Hard Knocks is being filmed. What I’m seeing is the Hollywood “mentality” beginning to envelop the team. A lot of fluff and not much substance but that’s what reality shows do. They’re in L.A., now, the entertainment capital of the world. I guess it’s to be expected. I think the NFL brass probably has no problem with it

If you’ve never seen the series before and want to compare this year’s to something, go here (below). On the right hand side, you’ll see some episodes from previous seasons. It’s not the whole season and they’re not in order, but if you want an idea of how previous seasons were filmed, this should do it.

link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24gie3_atlanta-falcons-hard-knocks-season-9-episode-3_sport