The debut episode of "Hard Knocks" from Falcons camp wasn't exactly exciting but I must admit there was some genuine humor and behind-the-scenes insight. Also, I should never underestimate the ability of NFL Films to make football look so cool.
Here are five things we learned about the Falcons, as depicted by “Hard Knocks” on HBO Tuesday night:
1. The Falcons want to be tough but they don’t want to fight . . . or maybe they do. . . or something
Coach Mike Smith sets the tone before camp starts in a meeting with his coaches:
“We want to make sure we emphasize smart, tough football. That’s one of the things we didn’t do a good job of last year. Every day we are going to make sure our practices are tough. Every day, every practice, every meeting—we are competing. I don’t believe what people say, we are not a tough football team. You are tough if you play this game and we’ve got some tough guys.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank is one of those “people” who say the Falcons are not a tough football team. Awkward. In Smith’s defense, Blank probably said that because that’s what he’s heard the customers say.
Anyway, “Hard Knocks” has a lot of good footage of assorted fights between players (see No. 2). Some of these are interspersed with footage of Smith and his assistants saying that toughness doesn’t mean fighting.
However, there's also a scene in which Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff are clearly pleased that rookie tackle Jake Matthews "has a thing going" with veteran defender Kroy Biermann. By that, they mean the Matthews and Biermann got in a fight 90 minutes into the first practice of camp.
Later, we overhear a conversation between Smith and Biermann during a break in that practice.
“You had to start it on the first day, huh?” Smith says to Biermann.
“Take no (bleep), right?” Biermann responds.
“That’s right, take none,” Smith says.
In summary: Be tough but don’t fight, unless you want to show you take no stuff, in which case go ahead and fight.
Got it?
2. The offensive linemen really don’t like rookie linebacker Jacques Smith
The cold open featured Jacques Smith getting frisky with o-linemen Joe Hawley, Ryan Schraeder and Lamar Holmes. Schraeder eventually comes to blows with Smith.
“You hear that (bleeping) rookie?” Hawley says in disbelief to his teammates. “He got in my face. He called me out.”
Later in the show we get audio of Hawley’s confrontation with Smith.
“You’re a rookie!” Hawley protests.
“I don’t give a (bleep),” Smith retorts before later assuring Schrader “you don’t want any of this (bleep).”
OK, then.
3. Donte Rumph’s nickname is/was “cupcake”
According to Rumph, defensive line coach Bryan Cox gave Rumph the name because he thought Rumph was being dramatic about an elbow injury suffered during a practice. We hear Rumph complaining to teammates about the moniker, which he feels is not deserved.
“Cupcake, you make some plays I’ll call you Donte,” Cox tells Rumph during a practice. “Until then you are cupcake.”
We get the obligatory shots of Rumph struggling, followed by a montage of him getting better.
Cox is pleased.
“Yesterday he went back to Donte because he had two good days of practice,” Cox tells the camera.
Right, coach, tell that to the fans who will call Rumph “cupcake” at open practices for the rest of camp.
4. Running backs coach Gerald Brown is really bummed that Steven Jackson is hurt
HBO's cameras pick up coach Mike Smith on the practice field sidelines giving Brown the news that starter Steven Jackson suffered a hamstring injury. Smith says Brown is going to have to do without Jackson for "a couple weeks" (Smith told reporters Jackson would return for the season opener on Sept. 7).
"Weeks?" Brown says incredulously before appearing to silently curse his fate.
It’s easy to see why Brown is concerned. There is no other proven feature back on the roster.
“Hey, that will get Devonta some more work,” is Smith’s pep talk to Brown.
He was talking about rookie Devonta Freeman, the team’s third-round draft pick.
Later we see Freeman pick out an apartment as he explains his humble background and how he's always dreamed about taking take care of his family. That makes it cool to see him so excited about the tan carpet and bathtub in the unit, which look like those in a million other suburban apartments.
5. Dorm roommates Steven Jackson and Matt Ryan are the odd couple
Because, you see, Jackson doesn’t sleep much while Ryan sleeps all the time! Also, Jackson swiped the good pillows from Ryan’s room! Chemistry issues starting already for the Falcons!
Not really. Both players say they get along great as roommates.
Hey, I said it wasn’t exciting.
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