Hard Knocks.......finally

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Tomlin is a great coach... and sh#t is his favorite word. For all the Tomlinisms and gift of gab, his favorite word is rather simple but very effective.

Maybe I'm bias but Tomlin is putting on a clinic compared to what these other coaches are doing. I know they aren't showing the game plans but the messaging is so crips when it comes to Tomlin. Clearly this is a lot more than a "go out and beat your man" philosophy.

I haven't watched this week, but I think that Tomlin puts a lot of trust on the player maximizing his own impact. The example from the first week was Herbig facing Zeus Brown. What you saw wasn't "he is susceptible to this technique so let's practice this move", it was "Going against Zeus, they brought him here because of what Highsmith did last year, you're going against the big man" etc. It worked. Tomlin built him up. Told him about the huge challenge he was facing and reminded him over and over, while filling him with the confidence that he knows he can do it and impact the game., and I think that players love that confidence.

I wonder if this show can have the opposite effect than the reason the Steelers don't like appearing on Hard Knocks. League wide, players already know that Tomlin is a "player's coach" but now they get to watch and see what that actually means. Are there players who will now, more than ever, want to come play in Pittsburgh because they want to be part of the culture?

[NorthCoast]

I haven't watched this week, but I think that Tomlin puts a lot of trust on the player maximizing his own impact. The example from the first week was Herbig facing Zeus Brown. What you saw wasn't "he is susceptible to this technique so let's practice this move", it was "Going against Zeus, they brought him here because of what Highsmith did last year, you're going against the big man" etc. It worked. Tomlin built him up. Told him about the huge challenge he was facing and reminded him over and over, while filling him with the confidence that he knows he can do it and impact the game., and I think that players love that confidence.

I wonder if this show can have the opposite effect than the reason the Steelers don't like appearing on Hard Knocks. League wide, players already know that Tomlin is a "player's coach" but now they get to watch and see what that actually means. Are there players who will now, more than ever, want to come play in Pittsburgh because they want to be part of the culture?

It's a good point sfto. But I think for 90% of FAs, it's about the money. Lifetime is too short in the NFL. Maybe FAs at the end of their careers might consider culture as a big deal, but the Steelers usually target FAs looking for the second contract, not the last one.

[Oviedo]

I think it also puts to bed the ridiculous narrative that Tomlin isn't an X's and O's guy and only coaches from his gut.

That will never be put to bed for haters along with so many other false narratives

[feltdizz]

That will never be put to bed for haters along with so many other false narratives

I know, but those folks always talk like they are inside the building so its fun to actually see inside the building and have actual vide evidence.

But you are correct, as soon as they saw a photo of Tomlin in the draft room a few years back they had all types of theories.

[WindyCitySteel]

Watched a little last night, had to turn it off. Nobody is the same on camera as off, everything feels staged and forced. For all four teams.

Not sure how people can watch this dreck.

[feltdizz]

Watched a little last night, had to turn it off. Nobody is the same on camera as off, everything feels staged and forced. For all four teams.

Not sure how people can watch this dreck.

I know this is a rough season for you.. lol.

If we lost on Sunday I bet folks use this "dreck" as evidence.

I loved the Porter segment. "Don't let the neck surgery fool you, I was bobbing and weaving 20 years ago"

[WindyCitySteel]

I know this is a rough season for you.. lol.

I was commenting on the lack of candor on a fake show about four teams, not just the Steelers. I imagine past seasons had the same kind of play-acting for the cameras.

Sorry to burst your bubble — reality shows are the fakest **** out there. Everyone acts differently when they know the world is watching.

[feltdizz]

I was commenting on the lack of candor on a fake show about four teams, not just the Steelers. I imagine past seasons had the same kind of play-acting for the cameras.

Sorry to burst your bubble — reality shows are the fakest **** out there. Everyone acts differently when they know the world is watching.

Of course its not going to show intel or coaches and players arguing about serious topics.

but we know that on the way in..

[WindyCitySteel]

Of course its not going to show intel or coaches and players arguing about serious topics.

but we know that on the way in..

I don’t think everyone in this thread knows that going in, some are lapping it up with a spoon.

[feltdizz]

I don’t think everyone in this thread knows that going in, some are lapping it up with a spoon.

I think everyone knows it, only the miserable would think less of Steeler fans.

Hard Knocks is entertainment. It isn't a crime doc dude.

I know seeing us win AND getting a glimpse behind the scenes is painful for you. lol

[NorthCoast]

I was commenting on the lack of candor on a fake show about four teams, not just the Steelers. I imagine past seasons had the same kind of play-acting for the cameras.

Sorry to burst your bubble — reality shows are the fakest **** out there. Everyone acts differently when they know the world is watching.

It's not fake, but you also won't see the whole story. Teams have final edit control.

From Baltimore:

And here’s the disappointing reality: When teams get creative control over a show’s final cut, as they do in “Hard Knocks,” “all-access” becomes “no coverage” at the snap of a finger.

The division’s biggest off-field storyline last week was the Ravens’ decision to suspend wide receiver Diontae Johnson for a game over what general manager Eric DeCosta said was his refusal to enter their Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Yet, in the season premiere, there was no footage of the sideline drama swirling around Johnson and the Ravens’ offense. And in an episode ostensibly intended to capture the fallout from that defeat, there was not a single indication of the headlines it created. No interviews, no news reports, no clues that anything had gone awry. Like Johnson himself, the situation was conspicuous in its absence.

[feltdizz]

It's not fake, but you also won't see the whole story. Teams have final edit control.

From Baltimore:

And here’s the disappointing reality: When teams get creative control over a show’s final cut, as they do in “Hard Knocks,” “all-access” becomes “no coverage” at the snap of a finger.

The division’s biggest off-field storyline last week was the Ravens’ decision to suspend wide receiver Diontae Johnson for a game over what general manager Eric DeCosta said was his refusal to enter their Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Yet, in the season premiere, there was no footage of the sideline drama swirling around Johnson and the Ravens’ offense. And in an episode ostensibly intended to capture the fallout from that defeat, there was not a single indication of the headlines it created. No interviews, no news reports, no clues that anything had gone awry. Like Johnson himself, the situation was conspicuous in its absence.

yeah, usually hard knocks shows a guy on the bubble getting cut. They aren’t going to highlight a situation that is still unfolding.

[Starlifter]

I'm enjoying it very much so far. Of course it's not an entirely accurate look 'behind the curtain', but it's more than we've ever had before and I'll never complain about getting more entertainment from my favorite team.

On a side note, I don't think the argument has ever been that Tomlin isn't an X's and O's guy - rather I think the argument has been he's a fundamental X's and O's guy, but not an innovative coach. That's why he has consistent success throughout the season, yet struggles in the post season when coaches are bringing out the new stuff. Tomlin will enter the HOF when his coaching career is over for the total overall performance. It will not be because he transformed the game, nor made a contribution that hadn't been seen before.

[Steelerphile]

I was commenting on the lack of candor on a fake show about four teams, not just the Steelers. I imagine past seasons had the same kind of play-acting for the cameras.

Sorry to burst your bubble — reality shows are the fakest **** out there. Everyone acts differently when they know the world is watching.

This is an extreme take and I don't think this is true. That would be like saying players are faking when they are playing games because they know millions of people are watching them. Players forget millions of people are watching them when they are playing and just do what comes naturally.

I think that's true for Hard Knocks also. They may feel some awareness at first that they are on camera, but it is impossible for all of these individuals who never took acting lessons to assume fake personas spontaneously. They soon just do what they would do normally.

[NorthCoast]

This is an extreme take and I don't think this is true. That would be like saying players are faking when they are playing games because they know millions of people are watching them. Players forget millions of people are watching them when they are playing and just do what comes naturally.

I think that's true for Hard Knocks also. They may feel some awareness at first that they are on camera, but it is impossible for all of these individuals who never took acting lessons to assume fake personas spontaneously. They soon just do what they would do normally.

I agree, especially the actor analogy.