Hard Knocks Episode 3

[Alphadawg7]

13 hours ago, Goin Breakdown said:

Tre White ringing out his socks was a thing. Wanted to laugh and barf. 

 

Then he shook Max hand after - 🤮

[K-9]

10 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Yes, the Peregrine Falcon's range is every continent except Antarctica. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the species, aside from it's speed when stooping, is that like the Coyote, it has become a very successful urban dweller, often living on skyscrapers and feeding on pigeons... like the one that lived on Buffalo City Hall for years.

Peregrine falcons regularly nest in the Mackay tower at UB south campus. Been there for years.

[BobbyC81]

On 8/19/2025 at 7:05 PM, MasterStrategist said:

McD set the tone with a great speech, and made it clear what he wants to start seeing (less complacent attitudes, more intensity/emotion).

 

Babich, Brady, and rest of staff echoed the need for that intensity level to rise.

 

A complete embarrassment might be what we need in the locker room.  We need our leaders to step up inside the locker room and raise the bar/set expectations from here on out.  We have "alpha" mentality guys that will naturally start to become more dialed in, as week 1 approaches.  They have to get that "chip" on their shoulder heading into a physical week 1 against the Ravens.

I bet that was something Von Miller’s leadership brought.

On 8/19/2025 at 7:23 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

Definitely the best episode so far. Getting into the football side of it.

 

Lots of good content. Mustve KILLED Josh to lose that bippity bop game. He might ask Beane to let him personally be the one to cut that kid who won!

Yeah, for winning bippity bop, here’s a pink slip.

[JerseyBills]

who yall think McDermott was referring to in the opening?

I want to feel guys i felt in previous years, that I'm not feeling right now..

 

Definitely sent a message to someone or multiple guys 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, JerseyBills said:

who yall think McDermott was referring to in the opening?

I want to feel guys i felt in previous years, that I'm not feeling right now..

 

Definitely sent a message to someone or multiple guys 

 

Was thinking about that as well. Probably no one and everyone. It's just a way for coaches to challenge all the players and get more out of them.

 

There might have been something he saw from a couple specific guys. But I imagine he was going to say something like that no matter what.

[saundena]

On 8/19/2025 at 10:33 PM, T.E. said:

That's me every time I see a highlight of the Norwood kick.

McDermott is pretty milquetoast and not a very inspiring speaker, but it hasn't seemed to matter before. I think that element of coaching might be overrated at the professional level.

 

Yeah it's not a strength of his, his lie elsewhere. I suspect players respond to his consistency and approach.  And although I don't know how he is one on one- I get the feeling he's good behind closed doors, face to face when talking to individuals.

 

He's caring, genuine and process (lol) oriented and that goes a long way with players I think.  Plus, hard to argue with results.  While it hasn't resulted in a SB yet, we've won more game in the last 4 or 5 years than I think all other teams except maybe KC.

Edited Thursday at 12:38 PM by saundena

[DrDawkinstein]

15 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

I'll stand by assessment that McDermott is a poor speaker but that doesn't make him a poor coach. And though I've always felt that fire and brimstone speeches are overrated, in a big game with evenly matched teams the players will just have to find motivation from elsewhere, IMO. He's not gonna light a fire under anyone's ass... at least not mine but hopefully he's a good enough coach to get them to the Super Bowl.

 

 

I dont totally disagree with this. There have been multiple times over the years where we've said "That game should be a wake up call, let's see if McD can light a fire under these guys" and then they come out flat again next game. I think it was 2023 where we were saying that like every week. The one thing this team has been missing is a real killer instinct, we are not "the bully". We have stood up to bullies and played them well (Lions, Ravens), so I'll give him that. But it does seem like he leaves it to the players to find motivation.

 

That all said, I do think his stories/presentations are pretty good. At least when he isnt praising Al Qaida...

[Thurman#1]

15 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

I'll stand by assessment that McDermott is a poor speaker but that doesn't make him a poor coach. And though I've always felt that fire and brimstone speeches are overrated, in a big game with evenly matched teams the players will just have to find motivation from elsewhere, IMO. He's not gonna light a fire under anyone's ass... at least not mine but hopefully he's a good enough coach to get them to the Super Bowl.

 

 

Yes, the Peregrine Falcon's range is every continent except Antarctica. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the species, aside from it's speed when stooping, is that like the Coyote, it has become a very successful urban dweller, often living on skyscrapers and feeding on pigeons... like the one that lived on Buffalo City Hall for years.

 

I'm pretty sure that was a turkey vulture that they were showing.

 

 

 

Fair enough to stand by that opinion.

 

Just know there are plenty who disagree. Including me.

 

I often love his after-game speeches and plenty of others we see here and there.

 

And I'm with the others who say have said here that emotional speeches and fire and brimstone are overrated. To repeat what has already been said, plenty of the best coaches in league history were not fire and brimstone types, nor were they close.

 

Just finished this week reading my kid "My Side of the Mountain," and she really responded to Frightful, the peregrine in that great book.

 

 

[Walking Tall]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Was thinking about that as well. Probably no one and everyone. It's just a way for coaches to challenge all the players and get more out of them.

 

There might have been something he saw from a couple specific guys. But I imagine he was going to say something like that no matter what.

Yep. Just like military basic training. Even if the troops are doing well you don’t want them to feel comfortable.

[Thurman#1]

14 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I dont totally disagree with this. There have been multiple times over the years where we've said "That game should be a wake up call, let's see if McD can light a fire under these guys" and then they come out flat again next game. I think it was 2023 where we were saying that like every week. The one thing this team has been missing is a real killer instinct, we are not "the bully". We have stood up to bullies and played them well (Lions, Ravens), so I'll give him that. But it does seem like he leaves it to the players to find motivation.

 

That all said, I do think his stories/presentations are pretty good. At least when he isnt praising Al Qaida...

 

 

Gotta say, I'm not on your wavelength here at all.

 

They've had a few flat games over McDermott's term. But very few. I feel that's a strength of this team, they don't always play well, but I think they play hard with very few exceptions. Generally there's one game or so a year, but that's so with pretty much all teams.

 

Agree that he seems to leave it to the players to find motivation but NFL players don't generally make it as a career if they can't provide their own motivation. 

 

Not the bully? I mean, I guess I can see that. It's not what stands out, what stands out is Josh and the high-flying game, and very few of that type of team are though of as bullies. But if you can play with the bullies and not get run over, and I agree with you that this team generally does that. I think you're doing what needs to be done.

[MiltonWaddams]

My take, and a worrying one, after watching this episode is that McDermott’s message has grown stale. No one in the room seems excited or even bought in during players meetings that they show. I think he’s a good person and a strong coach but I can see this being his last chance in Buffalo without at least a SB appearance. At some point, we have to see the results from having the best QB in franchise history and a first ballot hall of famer in Josh.

[Sierra Foothills]

50 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

Just finished this week reading my kid "My Side of the Mountain," and she really responded to Frightful, the peregrine in that great book.

 

Of books for a certain age range, that's my favorite book of all time.

 

It made a huge impression on me when I was young and is a big reason I'm such a nature lover and outdoorsman.

 

I've bought that book as a gift to my younger family members as well as for my friends' children.

 

[Utah John]

23 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Bruh, no one can sit through the 2nd half of a preseason game and pay 100% attention. That is just another unreasonable expectation we have of these players when we forget that they are humans working a job.

 

There is chatter and jokes on the sideline of every game, let alone a preseason where no starters played.

 

R-E-L-A-X

I hope you're right.  

[SectionC3]

4 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

who yall think McDermott was referring to in the opening?

I want to feel guys i felt in previous years, that I'm not feeling right now..

 

Definitely sent a message to someone or multiple guys 

Samuel and Cook. 

[947]

I can't believe it's more than halfway over & we haven't seen anything other than a passing background shot of so many key guys.

 

I think people would prefer seeing Spencer Brown, Milano, Shakir, Benford, Bernard, Rousseau, even Bosa- over random names fighting for the final roster spot or practice squad. I know Hard Knocks always features some roster-bubble guys, but how about showing some of the heart & soul of the team too?

 

 

[uticaclub]

3 minutes ago, 947 said:

I can't believe it's more than halfway over & we haven't seen anything other than a passing background shot of so many key guys.

 

I think people would prefer seeing Spencer Brown, Milano, Shakir, Benford, Bernard, Rousseau, even Bosa- over random names fighting for the final roster spot or practice squad. I know Hard Knocks always features some roster-bubble guys, but how about showing some of the heart & soul of the team too?

 

 

Injuries and limited use in practice. Can't film what is not happening

[DrDawkinstein]

2 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Gotta say, I'm not on your wavelength here at all.

 

They've had a few flat games over McDermott's term. But very few. I feel that's a strength of this team, they don't always play well, but I think they play hard with very few exceptions. Generally there's one game or so a year, but that's so with pretty much all teams.

 

Agree that he seems to leave it to the players to find motivation but NFL players don't generally make it as a career if they can't provide their own motivation. 

 

Not the bully? I mean, I guess I can see that. It's not what stands out, what stands out is Josh and the high-flying game, and very few of that type of team are though of as bullies. But if you can play with the bullies and not get run over, and I agree with you that this team generally does that. I think you're doing what needs to be done.

 

Again, I like McD as a speaker for the most part. My beef with him is more about in-game decisions. But he never has the juice that a Dan Campbell has, and I think Campbell is well balanced and doesnt go as far as throwing chairs through windows, but can light a fire.

 

We had issues the entire 2023 season, and it wasnt just because of Dorsey.

 

 

It started with that Jags game, and lasted all the way through the Bye. McD couldnt wake the team up. And even after the Bye, the Chargers and Pats games were way too close, we let Easton Stick look like a Franchise QB.

 

Between 2022 and 2023 there were so many games that were way too frustrating even tho we won.

 

I'll admit it was better last season. The games were much more fun to watch, and the wins were way more satisfying. So maybe we've turned that corner. 🤞

22 minutes ago, 947 said:

I can't believe it's more than halfway over & we haven't seen anything other than a passing background shot of so many key guys.

 

I think people would prefer seeing Spencer Brown, Milano, Shakir, Benford, Bernard, Rousseau, even Bosa- over random names fighting for the final roster spot or practice squad. I know Hard Knocks always features some roster-bubble guys, but how about showing some of the heart & soul of the team too?

 

 

 

But what is the story with those guys? "Look how good they are. Isnt that awesome?"?

 

Good players just doing their job is about as exciting and interesting as filming any of us at work all day.

 

There just isnt anything there to publish

[JerseyBills]

54 minutes ago, 947 said:

I can't believe it's more than halfway over & we haven't seen anything other than a passing background shot of so many key guys.

 

I think people would prefer seeing Spencer Brown, Milano, Shakir, Benford, Bernard, Rousseau, even Bosa- over random names fighting for the final roster spot or practice squad. I know Hard Knocks always features some roster-bubble guys, but how about showing some of the heart & soul of the team too?

 

 

Ya i said episode 1, Hard Knocks isn't what it once was, feel like teams have much more control on what gets put out and obviously they're going to keep things as exclusive as possible.  But ya , maybe these guys just weren't interested in having the cameras on them 🤷‍♂️

[The Tomcat]

On 8/20/2025 at 10:02 AM, Just in Atlanta said:

I don’t know what a slobber knocker is exactly but it sounds like something that they should not be doing with each other. 

 

 

 

 

Git off my lawn...... all the Shenanigans round here

[GoBills808]

i thought the last one was a solid episode, maybe they're picking up steam

 

still feels a little watered down compared to previous seasons