Hard Knocks 2012: The Best Storylines and Most Dramatic Moments of Episode 3

The Miami Dolphins have a lot of work to do if they don't want to be terrible this season. Watching them stumble, get yelled at and lose on the third episode of the 2012 version of HBO's Hard Knocks, it is impossible to come to any other conclusion. 

This team is dealing with a ton of transition, and judging by the tone of coaches in practice and their game against the Falcons, players have yet to grasp the nuances of the system. 

This was highlighted when the team was watching film from the previous week's game and Joe Philbin started ripping the offense apart for standing around while and after Reggie Bush was smothered by the defense.

As the Sun Sentinel's Mike Berardino points out, coach Joe Philbin sternly told his team, "Get up and help your teammate."

Now all of this could easily just be the bluster of the preseason by a coach that doesn't want his team to get complacent, but the results the Dolphins are producing only serves to reinforce how much they have to improve. 

After losing to the Falcons 23-6 and being outplayed in every quarter, the coaches are going to have a lot more to get on their team about next week. 

While the Dolphins' struggles as a team were apparent, it was certainly not the centerpiece of the show. That would belong to the business of the NFL. 

This episode spent a lot of time dealing with cuts, trades and retirements. 

Player Transitions

Early in the show, 10-year NFL veteran Eric Steinbach talked to the cameras about the difficulty of getting his battered body warmed up and the reality that he had to wake up hurting every morning. 

While he was running drills, the coaches pointed out how he looked stiff, and next thing you know he was retiring. 

As he talked to his coaches about his decision, it was a great chance to see a player coming to grips with saying goodbye to not just a sport, but a way of life and an identity. 

While a retirement started the show, a trade ended it. Sprinkled throughout the episode were clips of the Dolphins coaches discussing a trade with the Indianapolis Colts for corner Vontae Davis. 

Philbin makes it known that he likes Davis, but isn't sold that he has a great future. Still, the Dolphins weren't exactly itching to trade him. One great scene had GM Jeff Ireland discussing his thinking on the process. The Sun Sentinel's David Hyde caught this quote from Ireland: 

"

I haven't said we're in. I've just said we're intrigued. Because I'm thinking a two isn't enough. ...the compensation is the only thing I'm discussing right now, in my head, what it's worth for the anguish I'm going to go through to finding another one. And what it's worth value wise, more important, to kind of walk away from a first-round pick. 

"

The decision to send him packing appeared to be made easier after Davis chucked a Falcons receiver to the ground and then made an interception. It was as blatant a defensive pass interference as you will ever see, and now Davis is a Colt. 

The episode ended with the news being broken to Davis, who upon hearing he was on his way to Indianapolis wanted to call his grandmother. 

Daniel Thomas Moving into the Doghouse 

Daniel Thomas was 15 minutes late for lifting, and Joe Philbin called him into his office to discuss it. During that meeting, Philbin reminded Thomas that last week he was late for the team plane, and he did so while not in the proper dress code. 

Philbin not so subtly made it clear he wanted this to change. Thomas would be wise to heed his advice. The second-year pro is coming off a rookie season where he tallied 581 yards in 13 games at just 3.5 yards per carry. He is certainly not irreplaceable. 

For his part, he had a solid showing in the game against the Falcons as he had six carries for 29 yards, which beat out starter Reggie Bush's five carries for 19 yards.

Funniest Moment of the Show

As a rookie QB, Ryan Tannehill has a lot to learn. While you can say that about all rookie QBs, Tannehill is a special case. 

When being quizzed about the divisions in the NFL, he admitted he didn't know them and proved that fact by guessing that the Giants were in the NFC North and the Chiefs were in the NFC East.