Was Raiders’ first ‘Hard Knocks’ episode really that bad?
As the bad boys of the NFL, the Raiders seemed like a perfect fit for HBO’s annual “Hard Knocks” series. But, using social media reaction as our barometer, they didn’t quite measure up to the hype Tuesday night.
Despite some predictably golden moments from coach Jon Gruden, the consensus among many was that the first episode was mostly lackluster.
Or, in the eyes of some, even worse.
That was the worst episode of Hard Knocks….maybe ever. Boring
— David S (@DSahimi) August 7, 2019
“This is boring,” live-tweeted SiriusXM NFL analyst and former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz, who later provided a more succinct recap.
Breaking news … the show was still boring https://t.co/dsunlrsWpG
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 7, 2019
He wasn’t alone in his disappointment in what some felt was a series primed for must-see TV status.
That’s one of the worst episodes I’ve ever seen. And I’m someone who said it could be the best season ever. https://t.co/5p4cbWflTv
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) August 7, 2019
Man, I never would have believed the Raiders on Hard Knocks would be this boring. But this is pretty uninteresting.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 7, 2019
Well this year’s Hard Knocks is off to a boring and putrid start
— Ari Gilberg (@arigilberg) August 7, 2019
The best part is there’s probably a bunch of “Raider Nation” group texts out there full of a bunch of Raider fans trying to convince themselves that that episode of Hard Knocks was cool
— Kyle Pearson (@PearsonKyle21) August 7, 2019
Not even short bursts of injured and opinionated receiver Antonio Brown and his contrived arrival to training camp via air balloon moved the needle much for some viewers. Sure, there was some intrigue from brash-talking rookie safety Johnathan Abram as well as some nods to the Raiders’ rich history with shots of John Madden and talk of recently deceased great Cliff Branch. But the show was otherwise devoid of any real drama or intrigue.
Great open to Hard Knocks. But other than the Antonio Brown updates, episode 1 feels tedious. Not even an undrafted guy to root for.
— Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) August 7, 2019
The acting on this years Hard Knocks is rough.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) August 7, 2019
And that’s undoubtedly how the Raiders wanted it to go.
New general manager Mike Mayock was conspicuously absent from nearly all of the footage from Tuesday’s episode. The former NFL analyst and Gruden never hid their disdain for having the 32-person NFL Films crew on hand to document camp in Napa.
“Bottom line for me, Jon and I are kind of old school and the reason you go to training camp is to get away from all the distractions, get together, bond, learn your assignments, no distractions, no intrusions,” Mayock said recently. “Hard Knocks is an intrusion.”
As this news organization reported a couple of weeks ago, there was a belief within the Raiders building that both Mayock and Gruden wanted to be more stingy in allowing Hard Knocks access to sensitive meetings.
That desire for secrecy could be one of the reasons why viewers weren’t treated to what could have been compelling TV when “Last Chance U” star and defensive line hopeful Ronald Ollie was cut. Some of HBO’s most moving moments during the 13-year run of its show came when coaches were breaking the bad news to a player who had hoped to make the team. But, in Ollie’s case, we only saw footage of his locker being cleared out.Only time will tell if the NFL Films crew will be allowed to bring viewers into the room while coaches deliver bad news to would-be Raiders.
Things would have been downright tame if HBO hadn’t strayed from last year’s game plan to bleep out profanity while documenting the Browns. As it stands, we (fortunately?) get potty-mouthed Gruden in full effect.
In the meantime, some viewers seemed to want to see less of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, whom the film crew devoted plenty of time to on Tuesday.
Every scene with Carr is so awkward. I’m not imagining it right?
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 7, 2019
Too much sleeveless Carr. I figured he was a goober and I think this show will confirm it.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 7, 2019
Then again, not everyone had an issue with Carr.
Hard Knocks MVP: Deacon Carr. pic.twitter.com/ctlFY0NkAn
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) August 7, 2019