HBO Hard Knocks 2017: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 Viewer)

[ponchsox]

It's been the best Hard Knocks in recent memory.  VERY well done on so many levels.

I never had an opinion one way or the other on Jameis but after watching these 3 I love the kid.

Agreed this season has been terrific. I've been really impressed with Winston. He's turning into a top QB and a team leader. I've also been impressed with Dirk Koetter. He seems to have a pretty good pulse on the team. 

 

[gump]

I love the production this year...not sure if Liv has been this quiet the last few years, but he seems to be narrating a lot less than what I recall from older versions.  Which is great as talkative as this group is. 

And the more we see/hear Jameis the better. He's genuine, I've seen it backstage at a few charity events...calling me 'sir' and just a friendly, happy, engaging, charitable guy. 

And can clearly see his intelligence. Not easy for a 23 year old to (cheer)lead like that.

 

[Grahamburn]

Winston has the rah rah aspect, but he's also a quiet leader. He's pulling guys aside to give advice and instill confidence. He calls people out when they mess up. Not all players will respond to one certain type of leadership. Winston seems to employ them all which is what makes that part of him so great. If the play follows along, and from the look of things it will, he'll be tough to beat. 

Highlights from last night's episode: 

All Winston all the time.

Mike Smith basically trying to convince himself on Bullough with intangibles in the meeting and then pointing out his lack of athleticism during the game. He was pretty unhappy. 

Godwin finally getting some run. Can we put his buff lady friend in the "women you find oddly attractive" thread? She's cute, but I think she'd kick my butt. 

Lynch's girl too. Liked her. Then she's firing off cringe worthy F-bombs in the rain. 

McCoy and McDonald's Kung Fu walk through. 

Koetter spotting the girl dancing in the stands and then having McCoy bring her on the field. Dirk seems to balance the business and pleasure really well. 

 

[Grahamburn]

Oh, and Swaggy. Loved all the guys busting his balls. The rookie show was pretty hilarious. 

 

[shadyridr]

I can spend an entire hour watching Gerald McCoy watching Game of Thrones

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I think the biggest reason the show is much better this year is because it's proportion of focus toward relevant players/coaches has shifted dramatically.

If you watch any of the Hard Knocks from 3+ years ago, you find yourself asking 'who was that guy?' a lot.  Yes...making the team is a big part of any training camp for the bottom of the roster players.  But there was a guy last year during the Rams HC, where they brought him aboard like at the beginning of TC and his 3-year old daughter got more screen time than Goff.

 

[shadyridr]

I think the biggest reason the show is much better this year is because it's proportion of focus toward relevant players/coaches has shifted dramatically.

If you watch any of the Hard Knocks from 3+ years ago, you find yourself asking 'who was that guy?' a lot.  Yes...making the team is a big part of any training camp for the bottom of the roster players.  But there was a guy last year during the Rams HC, where they brought him aboard like at the beginning of TC and his 3-year old daughter got more screen time than Goff.

I just think its the star power of Winston & McCoy. Both those guys can be on TV after their careers are done.

 

[Ilov80s]

I just think its the star power of Winston & McCoy. Both those guys can be on TV after their careers are done.

Winston is great and to think of all the talk about his "off the field" problems and character coming into the draft. 

 

[shadyridr]

Winston is great and to think of all the talk about his "off the field" problems and character coming into the draft. 

@cstu must be rolling in his grave

 

[Capella]

Couldn't have been more impressed with Koetter during those cuts. First-class all the way. 

They played him up to be the bad guy but who would have a problem with what McNichols did? He didn't owe the Bucs anything, they cut him so he moved on. If you wanted to keep him then make him a part of the 53 (he sucked, he didn't deserve it imo). 

 

[shadyridr]

I'm so sick of these nfl guys. They can cut guys wily nilly but then a player decides to goto another team, which is certainly within their right, and then they get pissed at him and say they don't want that type of player in their team. Hypocrites. 

 

[Capella]

I'm so sick of these nfl guys. They can cut guys wily nilly but then a player decides to goto another team, which is certainly within their right, and then they get pissed at him and say they don't want that type of player in their team. Hypocrites. 

True but they are also showing their instant reaction. What's he going to do, smile?

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Overall impressions:

1) Understanding that Winston is still just a 3rd year player, color me more impressed with how McCoy led the Bucs.  The food trucks was a great example of a guy seeing a situation that could be improved for everyone and 'solving the problem'.  Some of his asides with guys like Godwin were also really great insights into how that type of leadership can resonate too.

2) I thought Licht was petty.  But Jeremy McNichols...in your exit interview with Koetter, you yourself talked about how you simply needed to do a better job of knowing the playbook, knowing the offense.  And then 24 hours later you sign on with a new team and a new playbook/coach that took Matt Ryan a year plus to nail?  Good luck...

3) I think Hard Knocks would be wise to move their schedule up a week...probably wouldn't happen, but I think the first episode of HC was close to 2 weeks into TC.  And it's during that time of TC when everyone is really excited about football beginning.  By the time you get to cuts, you're sick of preseason, and the idea of watching guys get cut...well, it's been done before.  Surely, they could have damp set-up/off-season/mini-camp footage to cobble together to better coincide with the start of TC.

But it's a fun watch...I'll be back

 

[belljr]

Bobo won't last the season.

Who the hell goes home during cut weekend

 

[gump]

Good year...loved the behind the scenes look at my team, but not much surprising. We've known who Winston and McCoy are...glad the rest of the world got an honest look. 

It was tight...no Martin, David, Brate, Alexander at all...but the other personalities are so big. Smart to focus there.

Everybody likes the culture now, when they start winning Dirk will have to lead more. We're right there though.