Van Ginkel’s big day gives ‘Hard Knocks’ a good storyline
The third episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: In Season with the Miami Dolphins” premiered Tuesday night with a look at the team’s preparation for the start of its December slate, among other topics.
Here are the highlights from the episode.
December redemption: In the lead-up to the Week 13 game against the Washington Commanders, coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged how last year’s five-game losing streak that began in December was fueling this season’s team. He alluded to it on multiple occasions while addressing the team.
“It’s like poetic justice,” he says during a team meeting of the Dolphins being 8-3 for a second straight season.
And after Miami’s 45-15 blowout win at Washington, he tells the team in the locker room: “Much different than the game after we were 8-3 last year. I don’t think there’s a soul in here that’s surprised.”
Addition of Jason Pierre-Paul: The Dolphins made a notable signing in the aftermath of
Jaelan Phillips’ seasonending Achilles injury, bringing in multi-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.
The episode highlights his first meeting with his position group and first practice in Miami.
“He looks phenomenal,” McDaniel says during practice.
Andrew Van Ginkel spotlight: With Phillips sidelined, the episode focused on linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, whose playing time would increase over the final month of the season.
Cameras inside Van Ginkel’s home showed his wife, Samantha, and two kids as Andrew told of his journey as a lightly recruited prospect to making the most of his opportunity with the Dolphins.
Cameras follow Samantha as she watches the road game at a local bar. Andrew was a standout, victimizing the Commanders’ Sam Howell for a pick-six.
After the game, Andrew and his wife are seen talking on the phone, and Samantha says, “We’re getting a cake,” referring to the team’s tradition of rewarding defensive players who force turnovers.
Other notable moments from the episode:
During preparation for the Commanders, wide receivers coach Wes Welker says to his position room: “If we get man coverage, it’s like stealing.” Miami would go on to score 45 points, its second-highest output of the season.
Plenty of people reacted to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf supplanting Tyreek Hill as the fastest-tracked ball carrier this season.
“You just need to put a race together . ... If you build the whole platform and everything, you can get sponsors and put up $1 million or something,” Welker says.
Hill, asked about a new dangly earring on his right ear, said it is influenced by New York Giants great Lawrence Taylor, his favorite player growing up.
The preparation for the Dolphins’ roller-coaster celebration is shown, with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle revealed as the originator of the celebration.