I think it was bratschewurst who suggested there may well have been no need for any (substantial) pilot stick input at first knockings.
That I can get behind, possibly one of the better observations here
Another might be that if the Captain upon entering the cockpit could have seen immediately a very obvious AoA and a very obvious stick position, perhaps this thread wouldn't exist...
..which leads also to the thought that he surely must have noticed the deck angle upon his return ot the cockpit, if only by energy exerted per yard of progress ?
If so, then did he realise what the PF was doing, indeed is there any CPN and PF dialogue along those lines?