'10 IL QB Tommy Rees (Notre Dame Man)

[Buster Bluth]

I've been on the Tommy bandwagon since Everett left school. I think he'll surprise the naysayers and do very well. He's simply a more cerebral player than Golson and Kelly will get to use more and more weapons as a result. Not being a mobile guy hurts, as does average arm strength, but I think being able to make a third or forth read and check to different plays is huge.

I think 2013 Tommy will be better than 2012 Golson. 2013 Golson would have been preferred, but we'll be fine.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Maybe I'm delusional but this just seems like ND lore in the making. Tommy has been far better than given credit for his entire career and now he gets one last shot to go down in history as one of the greats. I like it and I'm setting myself up here for mockery and great disappointment. Gotta love the last month chatter counting down to kickoff.

I'm with you on that. No CFB player that has done more for his team and been appreciated less than Rees. Perfectly setup for a fairy tale ending.

We probably exaggerate Rees' physical limitations, as it's easy to simply lump instances of poor technique and decision-making into it. There's not a single defense on our schedule that Rees can't beat soundly with his current toolset if he's made strides in improving his technique and decision-making. If he's looking significantly better on designed roll-outs, we'll be in good shape.

 

[ulukinatme]

I've been on the Tommy bandwagon since Everett left school. I think he'll surprise the naysayers and do very well. He's simply a more cerebral player than Golson and Kelly will get to use more and more weapons as a result. Not being a mobile guy hurts, as does average arm strength, but I think being able to make a third or forth read and check to different plays is huge.

I think 2013 Tommy will be better than 2012 Golson. 2013 Golson would have been preferred, but we'll be fine.

I'm in this boat as well. Tommy stuck it out, true Notre Dame man, and he ended up being our guy to start the 2013 season. He's got my support, just as if Everett had remained on the team for this season. I expect good things from the offense this year. I don't expect records to be shattered, but I expect a better offense than last year.

 

[PANDFAN]

I want to see Tommy carried off the field on the shoulders of the team ...lou holtz style!!!!

 

[ulukinatme]

I want to see Tommy carried off the field on the shoulders of the team ...lou holtz style!!!!

Need to Photoshop a picture of Tommy on the Rudy cover

[EDIT] nm, I'm lazy and someone already did a half *** job:

 

[Ndaccountant]

I've been on the Tommy bandwagon since Everett left school. I think he'll surprise the naysayers and do very well. He's simply a more cerebral player than Golson and Kelly will get to use more and more weapons as a result. Not being a mobile guy hurts, as does average arm strength, but I think being able to make a third or forth read and check to different plays is huge.

I think 2013 Tommy will be better than 2012 Golson. 2013 Golson would have been preferred, but we'll be fine.

When has he demonstrated the ability to do that? In the games he played last year, the Purdue game was largely reads at the snap. The UM game his feet won the fight by a great call by BK. The Stanford game was hit and miss, but when he hit Theo and TJ in the OT, those were pre-snap reads as well.

I cannot think of many times where TR has thrown to the 3rd or 4th read. That isn't a knock on him, many QB's struggle with that. But, I think expecting TR to have a season that goes down in ND lore seems based largely on hope rather than evidence.

I personally think TR will be a better QB than he was in 2011. However, I still think he is limited and against good defensive coaches, TR will have many struggles. I expect him to have some really good games and lay an egg or two.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

I've been on the Tommy bandwagon since Everett left school. I think he'll surprise the naysayers and do very well. He's simply a more cerebral player than Golson and Kelly will get to use more and more weapons as a result. Not being a mobile guy hurts, as does average arm strength, but I think being able to make a third or forth read and check to different plays is huge.

I think 2013 Tommy will be better than 2012 Golson. 2013 Golson would have been preferred, but we'll be fine.

i actually like tommy the closer/relief pitcher role. knowledge of the game, too huge not to count as a positive. but, i cannot see '13 tommy being better than '12 golson--better is such a relative term. stats wise passing? sure. maybe. rushing? nope. not even close.

this is like comparing rocky to apollo in rocky 2. theyve both done it. one is quick and exciting the other just stands in front of you takes a punch and can deliver a knockout, but will take his lumps. a LOT of them.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Don't forget Rees has also had release-point issues. Arm-strength hasn't been his only weakness, but it probably has been the biggest.

 

[NDWorld247]

i actually like tommy the closer/relief pitcher role. knowledge of the game, too huge not to count as a positive. but, i cannot see '13 tommy being better than '12 golson--better is such a relative term. stats wise passing? sure. maybe. rushing? nope. not even close.

this is like comparing rocky to apollo in rocky 2. theyve both done it. one is quick and exciting the other just stands in front of you takes a punch and can deliver a knockout, but will take his lumps. a LOT of them.

Rocky won that match. Just sayin'.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

Rocky won that match. Just sayin'.

there is a a reason i picked rocky 2. and i am completely aware of the outcome. he also won by 1 second--i'm saying it will be a close call, stats-wise. can tommy win? sure. but, in the end, Rocky was total of 80 Fights, 57 Wins [54 KO’s], and 23 Losses.

dropping some movie nerdom.

 

[Emcee77]

When has he demonstrated the ability to do that? In the games he played last year, the Purdue game was largely reads at the snap. The UM game his feet won the fight by a great call by BK. The Stanford game was hit and miss, but when he hit Theo and TJ in the OT, those were pre-snap reads as well.

I cannot think of many times where TR has thrown to the 3rd or 4th read. That isn't a knock on him, many QB's struggle with that. But, I think expecting TR to have a season that goes down in ND lore seems based largely on hope rather than evidence.

I personally think TR will be a better QB than he was in 2011. However, I still think he is limited and against good defensive coaches, TR will have many struggles. I expect him to have some really good games and lay an egg or two.

This argument proves too much. He'll be better at pre-snap reads than Golson would have been, in fact he's shown a great talent for it, and the team will be better off for it.

Not saying you are wrong in the final analysis, just that to whatever extent Buster just meant that Tommy is a better QB than Golson from a mental standpoint, he's not wrong either.

 

[greyhammer90]

Need to Photoshop a picture of Tommy on the Rudy cover

[EDIT] nm, I'm lazy and someone already did a half *** job

The funny thing is that the ND fanbase plays the role of Rudy's dad in that movie.

We tell him, you can't do it. He does it. Then we cheer.

 

[ulukinatme]

The funny thing is that the ND fanbase plays the role of Rudy's dad in that movie.

We tell him, you can't do it. He does it. Then we cheer.

So true...although I think the fanbase would rather have Rudy in the pocket over Rees. They probably think he's more athletic

 

[irishog77]

The funny thing is that the ND fanbase plays the role of Rudy's dad in that movie.

We tell him, you can't do it. He does it. Then we cheer.

Wait, did you just call me Ned Beatty???

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[Bogtrotter07]

Post 660-667 670, and a couple more.
This ^

Read the One Foot Down Analysis, Whiskey's commentary, and field reports. They changed his basic techniques related to running the offense where needed. No longer Molner's offense. Salient point of the season: Legend waiting to happen!





(Squeal like a pig, hog!)


{Has a ring to it, don't it?}

 

[anarin]

Love the optimism guys! Unfortunately I believe he'll lose us atleast 1 game by himself. He isn't very accurate and his arm strength isn't very good. I really hope the defense steps up and makes him look better.

 

[Grahambo]

I've been on the Tommy bandwagon since Everett left school. I think he'll surprise the naysayers and do very well. He's simply a more cerebral player than Golson and Kelly will get to use more and more weapons as a result. Not being a mobile guy hurts, as does average arm strength, but I think being able to make a third or forth read and check to different plays is huge.

I think 2013 Tommy will be better than 2012 Golson. 2013 Golson would have been preferred, but we'll be fine.

Couldn't have said it any better.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

Love the optimism guys! Unfortunately I believe he'll lose us atleast 1 game by himself. He isn't very accurate and his arm strength isn't very good. I really hope the defense steps up and makes him look better.

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[Booslum31]

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I apologize for saying this a few times. But if the O-Line can give him time (make the game look like a 7 on 7 session we are going to be fine. Yes, he can check to the third receiver (like Tom Brady) if he has time. Hey, Tommy look awesome in 2012 when he had time.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

He isn't very accurate...

His career completion rate is ~64%. That's very respectable on its own, and significantly better than the ~59% Golson threw last season.

...and his arm strength isn't very good.

It's definitely not "elite", but it doesn't have to be. As the OFD article linked above describes, some of the interceptions that we chalked up to Rees' weak arm were more likely due to poor technique. Pair that with recent reports of Tommy looking stronger and more athletic in early practices, and I'm cautiously optimistic about where he can lead us this season.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

His career completion rate is ~64%. That's very respectable on its own, and significantly better than the ~59% Golson threw last season.



It's definitely not "elite", but it doesn't have to be. As the OFD article linked above describes, some of the interceptions that we chalked up to Rees' weak arm were more likely due to poor technique. Pair that with recent reports of Tommy looking stronger and more athletic in early practices, and I'm cautiously optimistic about where he can lead us this season.

Don't you agree that he has always had the level head for it? And even with all the skill the quarterback position requires, isn't that the hardest part to find?

 

[IrishJayhawk]

His career completion rate is ~64%. That's very respectable on its own, and significantly better than the ~59% Golson threw last season.



It's definitely not "elite", but it doesn't have to be. As the OFD article linked above describes, some of the interceptions that we chalked up to Rees' weak arm were more likely due to poor technique. Pair that with recent reports of Tommy looking stronger and more athletic in early practices, and I'm cautiously optimistic about where he can lead us this season.

This. I've been hurt before...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Don't you agree that he has always had the level head for it? And even with all the skill the quarterback position requires, isn't that the hardest part to find?

He definitely has exceptional poise. Grading his decision-making and defense-reading is harder, since there are so many confounding variables (play-calling, quality of OL, etc.)

Here's what we know about Tommy. He has: (1) poise; (2) experience; (3) a quick release; and (4) the respect of his teammates.

Here's what we don't know: (1) how much better he'll perform in a Martin-led offense designed around him; and (2) to what extent his known deficiencies can be corrected through improved technique.

 

[Emcee77]

Don't you agree that he has always had the level head for it? And even with all the skill the quarterback position requires, isn't that the hardest part to find?

Yep. What's always impressed me about Tommy is that even though his decision-making has been suspect at times, he never panicked. If he rushed a pass, it was only because he was trying to make a play before got sacked; it was never because he was losing his composure. He always looked ice cold out there, so when you combine that with his (by all accounts) flawless command of the offense I've always kind of thought that he had a higher ceiling than most. This year, we'll see if I was right or wrong.

 

[Booslum31]

Don't you agree that he has always had the level head for it? And even with all the skill the quarterback position requires, isn't that the hardest part to find?

I agree Bogs...not a lot of people talking about the football intellectual horsepower required and how Tommy can check that box.

 

[anarin]

His career completion rate is ~64%. That's very respectable on its own, and significantly better than the ~59% Golson threw last season.

If you're going based of stats, yes it is respectable. I also don't have the blanket pulled over my eyes and I see what his targets have done for him. One example, TJ Jones making the brilliant catch in the Stanford game.

Someone made a video recently that showed Tommy last season and his mop up duties. I couldn't help notice that a lot of his throws were off the mark and his intended target made an awesome adjustment to the ball. Am I being negative to be negative? No. But I am being real when I say I think he will lose at least one game on his own. We've all seen "bad tommy", and I really truly hope that he is leaps and bounds better than he has been in the past.

 

[Ndaccountant]

This argument proves too much. He'll be better at pre-snap reads than Golson would have been, in fact he's shown a great talent for it, and the team will be better off for it.

Not saying you are wrong in the final analysis, just that to whatever extent Buster just meant that Tommy is a better QB than Golson from a mental standpoint, he's not wrong either.

Pre-snap, yes I would agree with you. But that also lead to TR's demise. Other teams figured out what he was reading, would flash a look and drop back once he made his check. He was totally predictable. At least with EG, he could make things happen out of nothing. TR does not have that luxury.

My whole point was that if we pin our hopes on TR developing to the point that he can hit his 3rd or 4th read, we have nothing to prove that he has the capability to do it.

 

[chubler]

If you're going based of stats, yes it is respectable. I also don't have the blanket pulled over my eyes and I see what his targets have done for him. One example, TJ Jones making the brilliant catch in the Stanford game.

Someone made a video recently that showed Tommy last season and his mop up duties. I couldn't help notice that a lot of his throws were off the mark and his intended target made an awesome adjustment to the ball. Am I being negative to be negative? No. But I am being real when I say I think he will lose at least one game on his own. We've all seen "bad tommy", and I really truly hope that he is leaps and bounds better than he has been in the past.

Not intending to attack you personally, but I don't like the argument you're making about his receivers carrying the load. I just don't buy the idea that someone's receivers can carry them as a QB. Certainly, throwing to Randy Moss and Jerry Rice would make any QB's life easier, and certainly boost their stats, but if Tommy completed 64% of his passes over the course of his career, it means that he put at least 64% of the balls he threw into a place where it was easier for his man to get it than the other guy. Probably closer to 70% when you factor in drops, guys getting pushed out of bounds, etc. That's a pretty good percentage, and it's only going to get better.

 

[anarin]

Not intending to attack you personally, but I don't like the argument you're making about his receivers carrying the load. I just don't buy the idea that someone's receivers can carry them as a QB. Certainly, throwing to Randy Moss and Jerry Rice would make any QB's life easier, and certainly boost their stats, but if Tommy completed 64% of his passes over the course of his career, it means that he put at least 64% of the balls he threw into a place where it was easier for his man to get it than the other guy. Probably closer to 70% when you factor in drops, guys getting pushed out of bounds, etc. That's a pretty good percentage, and it's only going to get better.

My intention wasn't to say the wide receivers were making leaping one hand grabs every single time. And you can speak of this 64% until you're blue in the face, he can go 19 for 20 in a game and still lose. The reason? that 1 pass he missed just happened to be in the red zone when the team needed him most.

I will pull for him as I would any ND quarterback at the helm. But I am not letting my love for ND get in the way of real expectations.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

My intention wasn't to say the wide receivers were making leaping one hand grabs every single time. And you can speak of this 64% until you're blue in the face, he can go 19 for 20 in a game and still lose. The reason? that 1 pass he missed just happened to be in the red zone when the team needed him most.

If Tommy goes 19/20 and we still lose, it won't be because of him.

I will pull for him as I would any ND quarterback at the helm. But I am not letting my love for ND get in the way of real expectations.

I'd suggest your pessimism regarding Rees isn't very objective. What would Kelly's win % be without him? Would he even still be coaching here?