HBO released their second episode of “Hard Knocks” for the season featuring the New York Jets, and it did not disappoint.

The show, which was a constant hit in its early days, has become a little bit hit-or-miss the last few seasons depending on the coach and the storylines. The Jets season has set the ground running to be one of the best in recent years.

I tried something a little different while watching the first episode. I watched with a pen and paper and jotted down my thoughts as the episode progressed. It worked out the first time so I figured I would try it again.

Top takeaways from the Jets' second episode of Hard Knocks

• Call me naive, but the mentalist thing blows my mind. I hope they bring him in to every team that does Hard Knocks forever. The guys reactions are the best part.

• I would totally root for a team named the “Goldfish”.

• Roster fights happen at every training camp in the NFL. As someone who is currently visiting Florida where it is hot and humid, I totally get it. The heat, along with the physical exertion and the pressure. I would want to fight someone too.

• Garrett Wilson yelling “chill” proves just how calm he is. I can’t imagine a DB getting in his head too often.

• Micheal Clemons is a bad man.

• Quinnen Williams is the cutest, baddest man in the NFL.

• Aaron Rodgers took it personally when the other QB’s were able to guess which plays were runs and which were passes. I’ll bet he works even harder at the nuisance of his play fakes. His football IQ and competitiveness are ridiculous.

• Will McDonald is an interesting dude, which makes sense. Look at some of the best pass rushers in the game (not the McDonald is anything like that yet) and they are all very eccentric.

• The refs interactions with players and coaches are always fun to watch because we usually view them as always cantankerous. Rodgers having fun with a first-year ref is fun.

• “Those who live in hype die in shit” is a great saying.

• I said after the Panthers preseason game, this defensive line is relentless and if the Jets can play with a lead, it will be very hard for teams to come back.

• I wonder if Rodgers looks at Josh McCown as his “ghost of football future”.

• It almost seemed like Saleh and Rodgers realized what I have been saying for weeks. The offensive line will be the Achilles heel of this team. I was both surprised and relieved that Saleh called out the o-line and the offense in general. He even called them out for last year.

• One thing I look forward to every year on Hard Knocks is the rookie talent show. This year’s rookie show was jumping the shark. So disappointing.

• Something I can’t wait to see this year, is Rodgers using his hard count. It is such an underrated weapon for an offense and leads to a lot of big plays and a very frustrated defense.

• Rodgers calling the Kuntz touchdown from the sideline is almost as awe inspiring as the mentalist from the beginning of the show.

While I am enjoying this season of Hard Knocks, I am missing the fringe roster guys are nowhere to be found on the show. Whether it is because of the Jets demands in being on the show, or the producers going a completely different route, I am missing rooting for guys to make the team.

With the addition of Dalvin Cook coming this week as well as the return of Breece Hall, I imagine we will continue to see more stars and less players who might not make the team.

There’s plenty to discuss when it comes Jets’ first episode of Hard Knocks

HBO released their first episode of “Hard Knocks” for the season featuring the New York Jets, and it did not disappoint. The show, which was a constant hit in its early days, has become a little bit hit-or-miss the last few seasons depending on the coach and the storylines. The Jets season has set the […]

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