Other than that, it was also, obviously, a way to show that walkers are not the only threat and what kind of groups are out there.

 

Does anyone know who they were torturing before Rick woke up?

 

By the time Rick had a fist fight with the Gov Hershel had already had his head chopped off - not much life to endanger by then. he still could and should have shot him while hiding behind the bus instead of fisticuffs.