Details to Watch on Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins

Tonight HBO will premier the new season of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins – a five week look at the characters and storylines in Davie leading up to the season. When the show was selecting a team earlier in the spring there were a lot of conversations about if this show and the cameras would be a distraction to the team. I don’t think we can answer that yet – initial reports are positive, and there are a lot of factors that will impact the team’s performance in 2012 – I think it will take something dramatic for us to point back at this particular decision. So, what will we see when we tune in?

It’s important to remember that this isn’t a show about the strategy of football, the specifics of the offensive or defensive system, or how the team will look to take advantage of individual match ups. At the heart, this is a show about people, and about story lines of individuals struggling to make the team, to remake their image, and to overcome adversity. What we also get is a glimpse of personalities and decision processes that most of us never get to see. When you combine those two elements with the magic that is the NFL Films team, you have “must-see” TV for football fans in general, and especially Miami Dolphins fans.

Here are a few storylines to keep an eye on:

1) Ryan Tannehill: while conventional wisdom says he won’t start the season, this show should offer us insight into what kind of person Tannehill is – how he leads, how intense he can be, and what kind of drive he has. We’ll get glimpses of how he interacts with other teammates and coaches as well, and probably get to see a fair number of throws, good and bad. As the only first round QB since Dan Marino expectations are high – and while they will be resolved on the field this is a rare chance for us to see something of the man first hand, rather than reading someone else’s impressions.

2) Coach Philbin: Miami’s new coach is still a relative unknown to fans – this is an invaluable opportunity to see how he works, learn about his relationship with GM Jeff Ireland, owner Stephen Ross, and his players – as well as how he deals with the challenge of this amount of media access and scrutiny brought on by the show itself.

3) Chad Johnson: based on the media availability last week (and I’d expect a good dose of that in tonight’s show) the old 85 is back, with the old name to boot. Johnson appears to be up to his old antics and thriving in the Miami/HBO spotlight – but there are reports of solid performance on the field as well. Watch for glimpses of both – as well as how his new teammates are reacting to front row seats at the Occhocino Show.

4) The Danny Woodhead Award: When this series last ran with the New York Jets they focused on a common camp storyline – the tough decisions to make at the final positions on the roster. That year, the Jets decided they couldn’t keep Woodhead on the final 53 and hoped to get him to the practice squad. Thanks in part to the extra coverage and awareness, the Patriots signed him and Woodhead’s played in 29 games over the last two seasons with 963 yards rushing (5.2 Avg) 623 Receiving (10.4 Avg) and 7 Touchdowns. Who will Miami pass on that takes hold elsewhere? The early buzz shows tough decisions at WR and a young player like Clyde Gates could be the Danny Woodhead of 2012.

On a sadder note, the untimely passing of Garrett Reid will bring up the tragic loss of Coach Philbin’s son Michael last January, just one week before he was hired by Miami. I expect NFL Films and HBO to handle this with the utmost respect, but it will be a very powerful moment. Please keep both families in your thoughts or prayers.

If you haven’t seen all the trailers and clips HBO has so far, here’s something to whet your appetite for tonight at 10:00.


Dolphin Talk

Coach Philbin on Rookies and Youth

The Quarterback Controversy

The Big Guys: A Conversation with Jake Long

Ask A Dolphin: Dan Campbell

(note that these work best for me from a computer, on a iOS device they tend to push you to the mobile version or app instead).

Bonus: Check out Miami's innovative 'two at once' practice style that I predict you'll see other teams picking up by next year, and certainly watch out for cameos by Lauren Tannehill!

What are you looking forward to in tonight’s show – or the entire Hard Knocks experience?

 

I get your point but I'm hoping for some nuance. That said, I think 85 has clown/jabber mouth locked up...the question is does he get aging vet too?