Throughout this episode and the next, several characters state that they were "only following orders" or "I have orders to follow." HYDRA was originally a Nazi-offshoot organization. "I was only following orders" was a defense used several times by Nazi officers and soldiers at the Nuremberg Trials.
When Coulson uncovers the Cybertek files on the Deathlok program, he notes how the program goes back to the 90's. The original Deathlok (Luther Manning) was introduced in 1974, but set in a post-apocalyptic future of 1990.
The second Deathlok (John Kelly) was introduced in his own comic series in July 1990.
When Phil Coulson ( Clark Gregg ) and Melinda May ( Ming-Na Wen ) are in Cybertek's storage center, two cabinets they pass by are labeled 'Brand Corporation Security' and 'Metrobank Correspondence.' In the comics, Metrobank is a New York bank owned by the Brand Corporation. Brand is owned by Roxxon, making all three Hydra cover businesses.
In a flashback scene, Garrett drives a red Dodge Ram. Bill Paxton, who plays Garrett, starred in Twister (1996), where his character, Bill Harding, also drove a similar red Dodge Ram.
"Ragtag" originally aired on ABC on May 6, 2014, and according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 5.37 million viewers.