Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[ColinKSU]

Super weird hearing Mike Frank talk about how Tommy can be an amazing OC if he has the talent at WR, QB, RB and OL he needs to work with.

I wonder who's been responsible for making sure they get that talent on offense the last few years. Whoever the OC has been until this season, Tommy should take up his complaints with that guy.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

This is Tommy's third season as OC. His first recruiting class as OC are the current sophomores.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Dan Devine was hung in effigy on campus. I doubt this staff & players let silly fans on message boards concern them.

They certainly do not.

 

[pkt77242]

Super weird hearing Mike Frank talk about how Tommy can be an amazing OC if he has the talent at WR, QB, RB and OL he needs to work with.

I wonder who's been responsible for making sure they get that talent on offense the last few years. Whoever the OC has been until this season, Tommy should take up his complaints with that guy.

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To be fair, we don’t know how much control Rees had vs Kelly. Maybe Kelly controlled QB and other positions. Maybe he mandated the “safe option” which seems to be true the past few years.

 

[NDMatt91]

Here are the QB's that Tommy was the primary recruiter for:

Brendon Clark
Drew Pyne
Tyler Buchner
Ron Powlus III
Steve Angeli

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Anything about recruiting up to this point is pissing into the wind. Nobody can do or undo anything about that. TR has to call one play at a time and step up his recruiting efforts, and I'm sure he's aware of this.

Something more current and fresh to bring to the conversation: Logan Diggs made the most of his second chance, and I think much of that has to do with Freeman/Rees/McCullough giving him that opportunity as opposed to doghousing him for the rest of the season. I think it is good for the rest of the offense to see that not only did Diggs make the most of the opportunity but that he was actually given one. Other guys can pick up their own personal habits in practice and see this coaching staff won't necessarily quit on them. A lot of coaches, not naming any names, will doghouse a guy after a couple of strikes and you never see him again getting any kind of playing time. I like how Diggs played and I like the message it sends.

The second half of the Cal game and the UNC game going into a bye week should change everyone's current perception of the offense. Rees called a great game, Pyne played very well. There is room for optimism for even the most miserable twats out here.

 

[Dale]

This is a pretty decent example of Rees being a very momentum, sequential play caller. It can be beautiful when cooking but also leads to the 3 and outs and feeling of being in mud when not. OU and Arkansas fans saw similar with Lebby and Briles this weekend.







Why don’t we do this more, the natural question. I don’t think Tommy trusts B can be called without A and that’s where things get very conservative. He wants A to lead to B to lead to C, not well let’s just try C because C is a good play.

 

[NDdomer2]

This is a pretty decent example of Rees being a very momentum, sequential play caller. It can be beautiful when cooking but also leads to the 3 and outs and feeling of being in mud when not. OU and Arkansas fans saw similar with Lebby and Briles this weekend.







Why don’t we do this more, the natural question. I don’t think Tommy trusts B can be called without A and that’s where things get very conservative. He wants A to lead to B to lead to C, not well let’s just try C because C is a good play.

its plays like that second tweet where i wonder why we didnt see more with Buchner.

 

[Irish4life]

its plays like that second tweet where i wonder why we didnt see more with Buchner.

It's all the more confusing because that's the same play Buchner threw a 50 yard TD pass on last year....

 

[ulukinatme]

Super weird hearing Mike Frank talk about how Tommy can be an amazing OC if he has the talent at WR, QB, RB and OL he needs to work with.

I wonder who's been responsible for making sure they get that talent on offense the last few years. Whoever the OC has been until this season, Tommy should take up his complaints with that guy.

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The Sophomores that makeup half of our offense this year are literally from Tommy's first class. The lack of upperclassmen skill players aside from Mayer and Tyree are a result of BK and Long's failed recruiting in the 2019 and 2020 classes. Imagine where we might be without Alt, Fisher, Estime, Diggs, Styles, and to some extent the injured brethren Buchner and Colzie. They've all contributed in some capacity since they were freshmen, the most contribution from a freshman class at ND in as long as I can remember.

Needless to say the future is bright offensively if our future classes hold up. We'll fill some holes at QB and WR as well as get some added depth on the OL. Rees put together some decently potent offenses despite a lack of talent at some skill positions, particularly at WR. It's impressive we even managed to make the playoffs in 2020 with a starting WR trio of McKinley who was more of a glorified TE, a Northwestern transfer in Benny Sko, and a coverted QB in Avery Davis. Love all those guys for stepping up, but I don't feel like I'm telling secrets when I say that's not a very scary WR group.

 

[Irish4life]

This is Tommy's third season as OC. His first recruiting class as OC are the current sophomores.

While this is true....it's his 6th year as QB coach.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I still want to see what THIS staff puts together offensively come February 2023. They are on a very good path at the moment and still have time to fill in the spots they still need. The guys like Love and Lyons may not be making decisions on a timeline that acceptable and convenient to some of the people here, but let's wait it out. Any negative recruiting narrative has flipped in the last two weeks. They get a bye week to regroup on the trail and get out there.

I'd like to see what Freeman/Rees/McCullough/Stuckey/Parker/Hiestand come up with in the end. I think it's only fair. If they don't manage to sign a QB in the 2023 class, that's a glaring hole left open and it will be a disappointment in what should be an otherwise very good offensive class. Either way, let this group put something together and we'll judge the finished product come February.

 

[Free Manera]

While this is true....it's his 6th year as QB coach.

Yeah there is nothing anyone can say that gives him a pass for that. I don't know what's worse, QB or WR. But they are both like dire situations and ND will need either true freshmen or transfers at both positions next year to compete for a playoff spot.

 

[NDMatt91]

Yeah there is nothing anyone can say that gives him a pass for that. I don't know what's worse, QB or WR. But they are both like dire situations and ND will need either true freshmen or transfers at both positions next year to compete for a playoff spot.

Most of the WR issues are because of Del, IMO.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I think Ulukinatme is right. We are two years out. The WR corp is good but not elite. The freshman coming in next year may not be elite but they should be much better.

The QB situation has to be remedied this offseason. No way we take Pyne and TB into next year with just Angeli as the 3rd option. I am not thrilled at the thought of Carr reclassifying as the complete solution. We need a stuffed QB room next year - that would include a Transfer. Is RPIII taking a Scholly?? That needs to be really looked at. I think you should have 4 QBs with 3 that are ready to compete for the starting job.

Then its up to the OC to sort of this out for next year with the 2024 year to be the year ND takes a legit shot at the Playoffs or Natty.

Buchner getting hurt and the Marshall lose is the reality check that this is a rebuild to back to where Kelly had us. Hopefully we do that and then really challenge Saban in a couple years.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Most of the WR issues are because of Del, IMO.

That could mostly be right. They need to get Tobias to either progress or get him some serious touches or another Elite WR might transfer. What I don't get is MF talks openly about Tobias's desire and expectations to play but he is not ready as Freshman yet Seniors have been making some really dumbass mistakes (Lenzy false starts and dropped passes).

I think if you bring in Top 100 WRs they expect PT or they will leave.

 

[Dale]

another Elite WR might transfer.

What elite WR has transferred out of ND recently? I count one elite recruit

 

[Irish4life]

Yeah there is nothing anyone can say that gives him a pass for that. I don't know what's worse, QB or WR. But they are both like dire situations and ND will need either true freshmen or transfers at both positions next year to compete for a playoff spot.

WR is definitely worse IMO.

 

[irishff1014]

Most of the WR issues are because of Del, IMO.

But the WR coach also falls with in the OC’s offensive plan. So we were either recruiting the wrong ones or Del couldn’t teach them. Which I think is a combination of the two.

 

[Free Manera]

Most of the WR issues are because of Del, IMO.

Agree. I wasn’t putting that on Rees. I was just saying that QB is bad enough that it is comparable to the WR situation which everyone says is tire fireish.

 

[NDPhilly]

Speaking of "elite WRs", Jordan Johnson is yet to record a catch for UCF in his 2 years there.

 

[Irishdrunk]

What elite WR has transferred out of ND recently? I count one elite recruit

Jordan Johnson. Top 50 kid transferred prior to last season.

 

[Dale]

Speaking of "elite WRs", Jordan Johnson is yet to record a catch for UCF in his 2 years there.

Jordan Johnson. Top 50 kid transferred prior to last season.

CC: what Philly said. Jordan Johnson is not an elite WR. He was an elite recruit. He did not transfer because he was elite WR not getting PT, he transferred because he knew he wasn’t good, and frankly, didn’t deserve the PT.

 

[irishff1014]

If Rees had half of a pulse we would have beaten Marshal. But we also have a new head coach that wouldn’t tell Rees to pull his head out of his ass.

This is 2 years in a row we will be probably 5 or 6 games in the season before the offense is really up and running.

We can talk about the offensive skill all you want but Rees has done a below average in the Qb recruiting and development. And he has been on the staff since 2017. That’s unacceptable.

We can talk about Carr too. He is Avery good QB that was recruited well but I put him in the category with Jaylon. A top talent that also really wanted to be at ND.

 

[NDPhilly]

IMO there was way too much staff and player turnover to expect everything to be clicking Day 1. Would have been nice to have it showing signs of life before the 2nd half of game three tho.

 

[317Irish]

IMO there was way too much staff and player turnover to expect everything to be clicking Day 1. Would have been nice to Not lose to Marshall under any conditions tho.

FIFY

 

[Irishdrunk]

CC: what Philly said. Jordan Johnson is not an elite WR. He was an elite recruit. He did not transfer because he was elite WR not getting PT, he transferred because he knew he wasn’t good, and frankly, didn’t deserve the PT.

Its not a good look, regardless Dale. If Tobias leaves that isn't a good look, either. We need more elite recruits to stay not go. Then they can become elite college players.

We are hardly a destination for Top 50 much less Top 100 playmakers. We need to change that perception.

How a 6-4 Tobias Merriweather hasn't got decent action is troubling to me.

 

[Dale]

Its not a good look, regardless Dale. If Tobias leaves that isn't a good look, either. We need more elite recruits to stay not go. Then they can become elite college players.

We are hardly a destination for Top 50 much less Top 100 playmakers. We need to change that perception.

How a 6-4 Tobias Merriweather hasn't got decent action is troubling to me.

I don’t really care how Johnson’s transfer looked whatever that is supposed to mean. If a player isn’t even AAC contributor good, he should transfer. It’s healthy roster churn. Lawrence Keys who at least sees the field for Tulane or Michael Young were more detrimental transfers than Johnson.

At last check Merriweather hasn’t entered the portal. Seem to be a little ahead of ourselves.

 

[IrishLax]

Its not a good look, regardless Dale. If Tobias leaves that isn't a good look, either. We need more elite recruits to stay not go. Then they can become elite college players.

We are hardly a destination for Top 50 much less Top 100 playmakers. We need to change that perception.

How a 6-4 Tobias Merriweather hasn't got decent action is troubling to me.

Because he has fucked up in his limited reps.

 

[irishff1014]

IMO there was way too much staff and player turnover to expect everything to be clicking Day 1. Would have been nice to have it showing signs of life before the 2nd half of game three tho.

How many other teams had the same issue though?