Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[stlnd01]

Who was the best WR we’ve had in the last three years? Probably Ben Skowronek?

 

[IrishLax]

Who was the best WR we’ve had in the last three years? Probably Ben Skowronek?

From a talent standpoint it's Benny Sko and not really that close. The most productive were McKinley and Austin, but neither has shown the ability to make it in the NFL.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I can only speak for myself, but Kelly apparently didn't have a thorough nation-wide search for a OC when he moved on from Chip Long. I don't recall a single article, let alone a single insider, mentioning that there was a thorough search. It appears it was just a lazy, safe, comfortable hire for Kelly. For a program like ND that's not a good look and it pissed me off as a fan. That's not Tommy's fault, though.

The thing I can't quite understand is that there is still such a large portion of the fan base that wants him back as OC. Chip Long's offenses from 2017-2019 were all higher nationally in the ranking of PPG and YPG than this year's offense. The majority of the fan base, including myself, wanted Chip Long gone at the end of 2019. I just don't know what is different. Is it because Tommy is younger than Chip was and people want to give him more time? Is it because he used to play football for Notre Dame? Is it because Kelly is no longer here and people want to see how he does under a new HC?

Chip Long as OC
2017: 34.2 PPG (25th), 448.2 YPG (27th)
2018: 31.4 PPG (42nd), 440.1 YPG (32nd)
2019: 36.8 PPG (13th), 431.2 YPG (44th)

Tommy Rees as OC
2020: 33.4 PPG (30th), 448.5 YPG (26th)
2021: 35.2 PPG (19th), 426.2 YPG (45th)
2022: 30.7 PPG (52nd), 382.7 YPG (73rd)

I can only speak for myself. I don't have an issue with Tommy as OC because I trust those who are smarter than me at evaluations. I think the one thing I can understand and speak on is his QB recruiting choices, which have been weak. He's made some major mistakes on who he wanted in different classes.

I think he's been working with far less talent than Chip and still produced good, not great numbers. If we can get a transfer QB to make up for the bad QB evals and/or (develop a QB to play better than expected) then I'd really like to see what Rees' offense would look like.

This year, he was stuck calling plays that had the ball going a max of 30 yards with an occasional bigger strike, that is not a recipe for success. And he had roughly 6 scholarship WRs, none of which were NFL caliber, at least at this point. He had a great TE, which he/Pyne utilized extensively.

But I cant' speak to how he calls a game because I don't understand or appreciate football at that level. I don't know why our offensive plan changed from week to week, in an effort to exploit certain gaps/issues with the opposing defenses. I don't fully appreciate how a series of plays can set the defense up for a big mistake on the following play that breaks tendencies.

I really enjoy playing chess at a middling level but when I watch two grandmasters play against each other and I see the last couple moves before a win, I'm often thinking..."How many moves prior to that did he/she set this up because I never saw it coming" and that's talking about a game that I understand fairly well.

Some of you must have a really high football IQ and experience and that's great. Feel free to dissect and explain the pitfalls in Tommy's offensive decisions. I'm always looking to learn.

 

[Dale]

I wanted this guy fired so why shouldn’t we want this guy fired too is pretty flawed approach and I’ll let anyone who thinks that way into a secret: you’re gonna want the next guy, and the next guy and the next guy fired too then.


I definitely didn’t want Long fired based off strictly on field performance but he was just a gigantic POS and his “guy” Del is one of the main culprits of a lot of our issues.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Who was the best WR we’ve had in the last three years? Probably Ben Skowronek?

From a talent standpoint it's Benny Sko and not really that close. The most productive were McKinley and Austin, but neither has shown the ability to make it in the NFL.

Talent standpoint, it's Austin, and it's not that close

Talent/productivity combo? Benny and it's not close

 

[ulukinatme]

Rees drew up Mitch-a-Palooza after seeing the Chiefs do something similar. With our TE room this would be another good play to get our young TEs involved:

 

[T-Boone]

I wanted this guy fired so why shouldn’t we want this guy fired too is pretty flawed approach and I’ll let anyone who thinks that way into a secret: you’re gonna want the next guy, and the next guy and the next guy fired too then.


I definitely didn’t want Long fired based off strictly on field performance but he was just a gigantic POS and his “guy” Del is one of the main culprits of a lot of our issues.

The HC just needs to be getting the best coordinators and QB coach they can. There are better out there.

 

[T-Boone]

I’m just blah about Rees. Properly sick of hearing he is a genius and otherwise very keen to see who else ND can attract. Maybe ND can’t attract better coaches than Rees.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Found this video a few weeks ago which is great in its own but after I saw it I watched UGA vs LSU game and IGA had already implemented this scheme and LSU had nothing on it.

 

[ulukinatme]

Found this video a few weeks ago which is great in its own but after I saw it I watched UGA vs LSU game and IGA had already implemented this scheme and LSU had nothing on it.

BK, slow to the punch? Never!

 

[Irish4life]

So, ND landed: a top QB recruit, the highest rated RB recruit in a decade, 4 talented WRs, another good OL class, and another good TE prospect. How do we feel about Rees as a recruiter now that the 23 class is signed?

 

[stpeteirish]

I’m just blah about Rees. Properly sick of hearing he is a genius and otherwise very keen to see who else ND can attract. Maybe ND can’t attract better coaches than Rees.

You're damned sure not hearing he's a genius on this site. Almost all negative here.

 

[T-Boone]

So, ND landed: a top QB recruit, the highest rated RB recruit in a decade, 4 talented WRs, another good OL class, and another good TE prospect. How do we feel about Rees as a recruiter now that the 23 class is signed?

23 is good but overall he is a crap recruiter going off 3 or 4 years.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Is Rees still doing his fucking job??

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Is Rees still doing his fucking job??

Part time, the Rams need their offensive genius. Do you know the Rams wanted him?

 

[ulukinatme]

23 is good but overall he is a crap recruiter going off 3 or 4 years.

The recruiting has been improved since he took over as OC, and even more with BK out of the way now. The future is bright offensively. Our offense shouldn't have to be half filled with Sophomores and Freshmen going forward. Next year we'll have experience at probably every position outside of TE and some young depth to back them up. This WR group is shaping up to be far stronger than any BK ever put together, it was without a doubt perpetually one of the weakest positions we fielded each season with rarely more than 1 real playmaker...if any. The QB room is obviously looking exciting too.

 

[Dale]

23 is good but overall he is a crap recruiter going off 3 or 4 years.

Weird how so many guys recruited with him as OC were starters this year and as underclassmen then.

 

[ND87]

Is Rees still doing his fucking job??

well, the whole fucking team is counting on him, so....

 

[StPaul_Irish]

You're damned sure not hearing he's a genius on this site. Almost all negative here.

This is the way

 

[irishff1014]

I wasn’t extremely happy with Rees before this season. He stepped up his recruiting efforts like we asked him to do. His play calling at times was very mediocre and at time brilliant. I am willing to give him this season. But if we don’t see some more explosive plays and more improvement then I think it’ll be time to move on.

Although the South Carolina defense isn’t that good I still think you’ll see some aggressive plays at times.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I wasn’t extremely happy with Rees before this season. He stepped up his recruiting efforts like we asked him to do. His play calling at times was very mediocre and at time brilliant. I am willing to give him this season. But if we don’t see some more explosive plays and more improvement then I think it’ll be time to move on.

Although the South Carolina defense isn’t that good I still think you’ll see some aggressive plays at times.

I believe he deserves another year as well. 2023 will be there year because there is speed and talent coming in that if called correctly, could make Rees a true commodity to the Irish - but then again, makes him valuable which we know what happens to coaches at ND. But I also believe Rees is committed to the Irish.

 

[stlnd01]

I’ve never thought recruiting is Rees’ forte, compared with development and playcalling. But if he can reel in one good QB a year and DMC and Stuckey can recruit the weapons while Harry develops the big guys, our offense will be just fine.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I’ve never thought recruiting is Rees’ forte, compared with development and playcalling. But if he can reel in one good QB a year and DMC and Stuckey can recruit the weapons while Harry develops the big guys, our offense will be just fine.

Apparently Rees was instrumental in getting Minchey. That to me says a lot. I'm sure MF and ND has it's part but, one (QB-recruit) must look at the OC too.

 

[NDRock]

I’ve seen coordinators take as much or more heat for their side’s poor performance (BVG for sure) but I’ve never seen as many loyal voices defend someone as Rees got this year. I get why. It’s almost political with Rees where each side won’t give an inch. It kept things interesting watching some blame everything on him while others blamed everything but him when the offense was poor.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I’ve seen coordinators take as much or more heat for their side’s poor performance (BVG for sure) but I’ve never seen as many loyal voices defend someone as Rees got this year. I get why. It’s almost political with Rees where each side won’t give an inch. It kept things interesting watching some blame everything on him while others blamed everything but him when the offense was poor.

Most of us struck a middle ground but the constant winging about Rees became so excessive I found myself on the side of the apologists.

He screwed up QB recruiting but he's done well creating an offense without an optimal number of options. The running game was really good and the short passing game allowed us to thrive against lesser opponents, all while being limited by QB and basically 6 healthy WRs, many of which were inexperienced.

He needs to show improvement each year in PPG. There is no excuse for not landing a transfer QB this year. They tried it once and it backfired.

I'm in a wait and see mode but I'm hopeful that he's as brilliant as some think because that could make ND a lot of fun to watch in 2023.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I thought his lack of quality pass calling in the early part of the season was a disaster. It showed a lack of confidence in the QB Room and the Receivers. Yes it might have yielded less INTs but I think it was toxic bad as opponents just loaded the box. No use of Tobias or the young talent.

I also thought he never put Tyree in a good position to use his speed. Very little slot receiver.

He certainly didn't seem to know what a screen was either as the blitzes kept coming.

I am bothered that Kelly hired him, that the AD retained him and that his dad is involved or was involved in the AD's office.

Hey Monty Hall, whats behind Door #2?

 

[NDMatt91]

I’ve seen coordinators take as much or more heat for their side’s poor performance (BVG for sure) but I’ve never seen as many loyal voices defend someone as Rees got this year. I get why.

I don't know if there's a single reason. It could be a combination of the following:
-Tommy is younger than some of the former coaches who were criticized (Del, BVG, Chip, etc.) and they want to give him more time
-Tommy used to play football for Notre Dame, and there's an attachment to him
-Kelly is no longer here and they want to see how Tommy can do on his own, so to speak

I just don't see why so many people want to bend over backwards to defend and bring back an OC when his offense isn't in the top 50 in PPG or YPG. This is Notre Dame, not Pitt.

 

[stlnd01]

Most of us struck a middle ground but the constant winging about Rees became so excessive I found myself on the side of the apologists.

Kinda where I’m at.
He has his strengths. He has his weaknesses. On balance he’s fine. If he’s back next year, that’s OK. If he’s not, that’s OK too. I’m sure Freeman will have lots of good candidates to replace him.

Mostly I’ve just been listening to Notre Dame fans complaining about Tommy Rees for most of the last 12 years at this point and I think some of you all need to get over it.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Rees is awful, we will see if Minchey pans out. But the fact that we accept an offense not ranked in the top 47 is amazing. Rees is responsible for all of it, QB, play calling etc..

 

[ND03]

The center is the greater reality for the more sobered fan. I think either extreme side (for or against) has often leaned on hyperbole to counter any detracting or complimenting of Rees depending on how extremely it was expressed. For me, Rees is still in that zone of good with the bad, and I anticipate at least a 2-3 year venture with Freeman, hopefully for better and not worse.

Agree here, with the addendum that Sometimes he gets hit with a Youth/Inexperience that also assumes he isn’t capable of on job learning.

Totally fair to argue that ND isn’t the place for that part of the learning curve, but I think he’s a very high ceiling coordinator and broad strokes we have seen progress in spite of setbacks and mistakes that a more experienced OC may not have made