Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[NDRock]

I think they key word is autonomy. I have been more critical of Tommy than most. But, it appears BK was heavily involved, more than perhaps people thought. So I am willing to wipe the slate clean. #FreeReesus

Just going off the interview, I don't think Kelly was that involved but he was involved and I'm sure Rees would like total control. Who wouldn't.

One thing that was interesting was the timeline with Swarbrick. I think Rees came back late Monday/early Tuesday and Jack wanted to meet with him on Thursday. Rees made it clear that that would be too late (he'd have taken the LSU job by then). I don't think Jack appreciated how quickly he had to move if he wanted to keep Rees in the fold.

 

[FWIrish4]

Russillo brought up 2012 and Tommy getting benched for Golson.

Tommy’s response of “I got arrested, I didn’t get benched.” was laugh out loud funny.

 

[Riddickulous]

Russillo brought up 2012 and Tommy getting benched for Golson.

Tommy’s response of “I got arrested, I didn’t get benched.” was laugh out loud funny.

Great interview. Wild how close he was to bailing for LSU.

 

[NDRock]

Russillo brought up 2012 and Tommy getting benched for Golson.

Tommy’s response of “I got arrested, I didn’t get benched.” was laugh out loud funny.

Yeah, that was funny. Tommy comes off really well as was quite forthcoming in the interview.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm not one for podcasts, but that one with Rusillo was pretty good. As mentioned he was talking to Rees about what went down during BK's offer, growing up hating ND and one visit to campus changed everything. Drinking bourbon by the fire while contemplating his next career choice. The yoyo nature of getting benched, booed, called back in.

Here's a link if anyone wants to check it out. It's the first 24 minutes of the podcast.
https://www.onefootdown.com/2021/12/...d-more-nd-news

In the end he said he felt the “university was under attack” and that he stayed to “fight for Notre Dame.”

 

[Rockin’Irish]

It was a really good view into what happened from Tommy’s perspective!

 

[NorthDakota]

"I got arrested. I wasn't benched." - tommy

 

[pumpdog20]

Kinda weird hearing how excited he was to go to LSU.

 

[ulukinatme]

Kinda weird hearing how excited he was to go to LSU.

New challenge, coaching against Saban, lots of southern talent, and at the time he was getting offered $400,000 more than he was getting (No idea what he's increased to now). Plus, we have to remember, at the time he didn't have an offer on the table yet to stay yet and with the HC job up in the air he didn't know he would mesh or be a bad fit with the new administration. In fact, one of the deals in place it sounds like is that if Freeman comes on board, Rees gets retained. Pretty cool, actually.

 

[NDdomer2]

New challenge, coaching against Saban, lots of southern talent, and at the time he was getting offered $400,000 more than he was getting (No idea what he's increased to now). Plus, we have to remember, at the time he didn't have an offer on the table yet to stay yet and with the HC job up in the air he didn't know he would mesh or be a bad fit with the new administration. In fact, one of the deals in place it sounds like is that if Freeman comes on board, Rees gets retained. Pretty cool, actually.

Let's not act like Freeman also didn't initially tell Kelly yes. "Well I need a job"

 

[BabyIrish]

Let's not act like Freeman also didn't initially tell Kelly yes. "Well I need a job"

That was his initial response on the phone conversation. But when he went home to talk to his wife, he told her I can’t leave these kids, these are my guys.

 

[IrishLax]

Let's not act like Freeman also didn't initially tell Kelly yes. "Well I need a job"

He was also the top head candidate for the Duke job at that time AND had a standing Ohio State to be the highest paid DC in the country, as well as some other schools expressing interest. I’ve heard he wasn’t close to following Kelly and was going to take the Duke job if he wasn’t offered the ND job.

 

[BobbyMac]

I think MF had an informed idea of what was going to happen almost immediately. Usually the ND process is long and drawn out... and real. This process was too well documented, like a reality show.

ND only had two choices here. Hire the hottest recruiter / hottest coach (HC or Coordinator) in the game who was in house and was going to ensure continuity or...

Pay Saban whatever the number was to come. That's the only move that would've squelched the backlash that ND would have gotten by passing on Freeman.

That said, I have a friend from home who's friends/classmates with a name that everyone knows at ND. He had said for 20 years that ND would never hire another coach who didn't have HC experience again (like it was carved into the cornerstone of the Basilica). Well his tune changed this season and he promised me Freeman was the next HC when the time came. When I said BK's gonna stay too long to keep Freeman on the staff, he doubled down. I'll get the entire story at the Fiesta Bowl.

 

[GreenGemsOmally]

New challenge, coaching against Saban, lots of southern talent, and at the time he was getting offered $400,000 more than he was getting (No idea what he's increased to now). Plus, we have to remember, at the time he didn't have an offer on the table yet to stay yet and with the HC job up in the air he didn't know he would mesh or be a bad fit with the new administration. In fact, one of the deals in place it sounds like is that if Freeman comes on board, Rees gets retained. Pretty cool, actually.

Yeah, I won't begrudge anybody who wants to compete against Alabama on a yearly basis for thinking that opportunity could be exciting. There's definitely a lot there for a young coach to go "holy shit that could be awesome" at.

But what I like the best is that when he thought about it more, he felt like Notre Dame was under attack and that he needed to defend his home. That speaks volumes to me, and I think it's indicative of the team's mood and optimism going forward. They're going to come out absolutely fired up and hungry vs OkSU. I'm letting my homer optimism speak but I want a blowout, especially because their DC is leaving for Ohio State and isn't coaching in the bowl game.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

He caught himself saying he was excited to coach the "best" kids if he went to LSU.
He has to be careful along with MF in disrespecting the players already here when they talk about recruiting better players.

We all know what they mean, and agree, but they still have to tread lightly.

 

[NDRock]

He caught himself saying he was excited to coach the "best" kids if he went to LSU.
He has to be careful along with MF in disrespecting the players already here when they talk about recruiting better players.

We all know what they mean, and agree, but they still have to tread lightly.

Yeah. Noticed that as well.

 

[NorthDakota]

Yeah. Noticed that as well.

I caught it too. I know he means Justin Jefferson and J'Marr Chase but... ya gotta be careful. Should phrase it like "coaching in a different environment" or a "different challenge" or whatever.

 

[Dale]

When Tommy was on Redline Radio today, it sounded like of any changes or things he didn’t like that BK did was mainly running practice. Made it sound like game plan, play calling all of that he was already doing but had a bit of a tone of annoyance with I think he said certain things BK always wanted in practice

 

[clashmore_mike]

Starts at around the 18 minute mark:

 

[ND88]

That was his initial response on the phone conversation. But when he went home to talk to his wife, he told her I can’t leave these kids, these are my guys.

This is confirmed?

 

[IrishBoognish]

Starts at around the 18 minute mark:

Lol...

what I've learned about adult Tommy since this interview and Rusillo is my guy likes to drink.


Love it.

 

[ulukinatme]

Lol...

what I've learned about adult Tommy since this interview and Rusillo is my guy likes to drink.


Love it.

I think we've known that since 2012

"I didn't get benched, I got arrested."

 

[Rogue219]

Tommy is going to be a mad man out there on the road recruiting receivers these next few years. MF, TR and whoever the WR coach are will be front and center starting now.

Going to be an interesting ride.

 

[BabyIrish]

This is confirmed?

This was a direct quote from his wife to Pete Sampson

 

[NDRock]

Any chance our offense next year uses some of the Raven’s concepts. I think if TB is the man, he can do some of what Lamar does. I’d personally like to see a lot of Power running, TEs in the passing game, QB runs, and play action deep throws.

 

[IrishTusker]

Did the offense make any adjustments at halftime? Because it was completely shut down in the second half. It certainly seemed like we kept at the air raid game plan long after it had stopped working.

Did MF tell Rees to run the ball more? Or maybe switch to Buchner? Is MF even in a position to do so? You'd think, as HC, this would not be a question. The post-game comments suggest that MF deferred to Rees, even though it was clear that OSU's D had adjusted and we had not.

 

[Irishbounty28]

Did the offense make any adjustments at halftime? Because it was completely shut down in the second half. It certainly seemed like we kept at the air raid game plan long after it had stopped working.

I feel like there could have been a little bit more dedication to the run throughout the entire game, but overall Tommy’s plan was pretty good. ND wasn’t going to have great success in the run game no matter what they did. Even in the second half the plays were there to be made in the pass game, but execution was an issue(drops, overthrows, etc). Additionally, there were quite a few times in the second half where Coan took shots, when a check down would have likely been the better decision. I distinctly remember three off the top of my head, which likely would have prolonged drives.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Problem is our adjustment should have been running the ball but without our stud RB they didn't want to try

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Defense was gassed.
tommy had to slow down.
Slowing down slowed them down, too much.

Should have kept tempo,while getting longer drives imo.

 

[Rogue219]

The lack of WR and DB depth was evident yesterday. So was having a QB that can't run and extend plays or make something out of a broken play. I'm not asking for Vince Young, but FFS someone that doesn't have cement in his pants would be fine.

I thought Tommy called a good game overall and for most of the year considering injuries, early OL issues, etc. The primary offensive weapon is a second year tight end. You need to have speed on the edges in order to win a championship and a QB that can not only throw but run either by design or when shit goes bad. I like the stable of RB they have for 2022. Your bookends will be back and better. One more year of Mayer.

Those first 29 minutes were about as positive as we could have seen. Then the third quarter they didn't make nearly enough plays and put up no points.