Congrats Tommy

[KPENN]

People keep saying this without giving him credit for what he does well, or accost the receivers that make drops off good throws (Floyd dropped 2 tds today, Eifert had 3 drops and Riddick had 2 as well).

Bottom line. When he is in the huddle, he leads men. He is the one making the reads, he is the one calling the coverages, he is the one they have to trust. They believe in him and THEY WIN. If he was 6'4"/225, I guarantee that everyone would be all over his jock.

btw, he is 18. He is only going to get bigger and more skilled. Most kids dont see the field as 18 year olds.

Please. The last thing I think about is his size. Considering Golson is 6'0" and people think very highly of I highly highly doubt his size is the issue with people. He's been decent but that's about it. I'll still take crist or golson every other day of the week

 

[kmoose]

Please. The last thing I think about is his size. Considering Golson is 6'0" and people think very highly of I highly highly doubt his size is the issue with people. He's been decent but that's about it. I'll still take crist or golson every other day of the week

You'll take Golson over Rees based on what? People might as well forget about Golson, until we have something to reasonably judge him by. High School stats and film are great, but they don't necessarily translate to success in major DI-A football. I don't understand all of the hype over a 3-star guy who isn't even in Rivals' Top 25 Dual-Threat QBs. You'd take 3 stars and no experience over a guy whose undefeated, and who shows tremendous promise, as a true freshman?

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I know this, If someone beats him out next season, we have a heck of a backup that come come in and win any game!

 

[Old Man Mike]

To Gioia: Man, That's for sure!!! Talk about a relaxing situation.

 

[Lou Holtz]

1. i support tommy and think he should be our starter
2. i have seen hendrix play in high school an am not impressed with him at all
3. i think dayne could transfer and definitley start somewhere else
4. i think massa will transfer
5. i think it is tommy and based on what i have heard golson competing for the job

 

[lookingdeadred]

While Rees has been competent for the most part,

While Rees has been competent for the most part,

he has not demonstrated much great playmaking ability. He has the look of a system QB. I believe he could be successful in BK's system because he is smart and will make good decisions, much like the QBs Bill Walsh had at Stanford (Benjamin, Dils, Schonert, Stenstrom). Walsh's system and coaching made them excellent college QBs but their lack of top talent made them failures at the next level. I sees Rees the same way. While he could be very successful at ND under BK's tutelage, I hope for better. I think Crist has much higher upside, and if what some say about Hendrix is true, he could be spectacular not just competent. Regardless of how the QB battle works out, it is nice to know the team has a stable of quality players there.

Tommy looked good today, but I wouldn't crown him just yet. Miami beat themselves today, not TR. Rees didn't hit anybody but Floyd or Eifert for most of the game, and those two made some great plays on a few poorly thrown balls.

Rees looked pedestrian against USC and his performance against Army wasn't exactly heroic either.

I like the kid, and feel good about him under center, but I'm much more sold on our defense right now than I am on him.

 

[kmoose]

he has not demonstrated much great playmaking ability. He has the look of a system QB. I believe he could be successful in BK's system because he is smart and will make good decisions, much like the QBs Bill Walsh had at Stanford (Benjamin, Dils, Schonert, Stenstrom). Walsh's system and coaching made them excellent college QBs but their lack of top talent made them failures at the next level. I sees Rees the same way. While he could be very successful at ND under BK's tutelage, I hope for better. I think Crist has much higher upside, and if what some say about Hendrix is true, he could be spectacular not just competent. Regardless of how the QB battle works out, it is nice to know the team has a stable of quality players there.

I'll tell you what....... when ND starts playing the Patriots, Bengals, and Chargers; then I'll listen to how Rees may not be a good starter. But, as long as the boys are playing other college football teams, Rees has certainly earned "front-runner" status for the job, going into next year.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Please. The last thing I think about is his size. Considering Golson is 6'0" and people think very highly of I highly highly doubt his size is the issue with people. He's been decent but that's about it. I'll still take crist or golson every other day of the week

I would rather take the one that gave our team the best chance to win. While it could all change by the start of next season, Rees has proven for the time being he is that guy.

 

[Irish4Life09]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ +1 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Think I'm going to start calling Rees the Dude, Or maybe His Dudeness, or Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

Diz

+1,000,000

 

[lookingdeadred]

I agree he is the favorite

I agree he is the favorite

but not a prohibitive favorite. He needs to show a lot of improvement to hold onto the job.

I'll tell you what....... when ND starts playing the Patriots, Bengals, and Chargers; then I'll listen to how Rees may not be a good starter. But, as long as the boys are playing other college football teams, Rees has certainly earned "front-runner" status for the job, going into next year.

 

[woolybug25]

Please. The last thing I think about is his size. Considering Golson is 6'0" and people think very highly of I highly highly doubt his size is the issue with people. He's been decent but that's about it. I'll still take crist or golson every other day of the week

If it is not size, but indeed play on the field, than I have no idea were you are coming from. Crist, while a fine young man, played very mediocre this year at Notre Dame. He made many poor decisions and his injuries have came at very costly points.

Many will point to Rees' interception at the end of the Tulsa game, but let me remind everyone, Crist was leading the team that day and we wouldn't have even been in the situation to win without Rees' play.

Since Rees early enrolled, he has the same amount of time in the offense as Crist, even more if you consider that Crist has been unable to practice because of injury.

Crist played mediocre, has had 3 devastating knee injuries, has less time practicing the offense and has not been able to "lead" the rest of the young men to many victories while Rees has.

But yeah.... I guess it must not have anything to do with the measurables of Crist. He and Golson have shown everyone enough on the field to prove that they are the "guy"

.

I said of that in one breath...

 

[NDinL.A.]

Crist, while a fine young man, played very mediocre this year at Notre Dame. He made many poor decisions and his injuries have came at very costly points.

Many will point to Rees' interception at the end of the Tulsa game, but let me remind everyone, Crist was leading the team that day and we wouldn't have even been in the situation to win without Rees' play.

Crist played mediocre, has had 3 devastating knee injuries, has less time practicing the offense and has not been able to "lead" the rest of the young men to many victories while Rees has.

Dude...you're completely ignoring the facts!!! Just look at the numbers, just look at the scaled back offense under Rees, just looked at the vastly improved defense, look at the incredibly improved running game - and tell me how Crist has been mediocre but yet Rees has been better.

Let's see, Crist had 15 TDS to 7 INTs. He threw for more yds per pass than Rees and had a slightly less completion percentage. He also was asked to WIN games for ND, b/c we couldn't stop anyone and we couldn't run the ball.

Just look at how many times Crist had to throw the ball some games: 55, 44, 44, 39, 28, 31. And look at how many times Rees had to throw: 54 (loss - 3 INTs), 20, 20, 32 (3 INTs), and 29. So when Rees didn't have to win the games, he went 4-0. When he asked to win, he went 0-1.

And please people...let's not forget that Rees had a defense and a running game, and Crist didn't. I guess my point is...if Crist was mediocre, then Rees was below mediocrity.

Rees deserves praise, and he deserves a legit shot at the starting job next year. If healthy, I'll take Crist personally, then Rees, and then the others who have yet to prove anything. And if Rees beats out Crist, I'll be his number one fan.

 

[johnnykillz]

It's official:

Next year's QB competition will be fierce, and we will be confident in our back-up to come in and play a team competitively regardless of who's got the signal call.

Personally, I'm ecstatic. Big wins at the end, and a defense stepping up - the sky seems to be the limit.

Thanks to Tommy Rees. You did your job well young man. May the best man win next year. Until then, enjoy BMOC (Big Man on Campus) priveledges...

 

[Irish Insanity]

Isn't this thread 'Congrats Tommy?' We should be patting him on the back for the job he has done and helping our team to win every game he started. Instead it has turned into an argument on how good he isn't, that he will no way start next season, and how he only succeded because they scaled back the offense for him. Either way he helped our team win every game he started. His record as a started should matter more than what was done to help him help us. You recruit players that fit into your coaching system to get results you desire. BK changing the offense and gameplan to suit Rees is a great move by BK not a knock on Rees. We were fortunate to be in the position where we had this option and that BK was capable of making the gameplan changes that would allow us to be successful under Rees and that Rees performed as well as he did. GO IRISH! GO REES!

 

[kmoose]

but not a prohibitive favorite. He needs to show a lot of improvement to hold onto the job.

I agree, but the same can be said of Crist. And Golson has shown nothing at the DI-A level, yet. I think it's going to be a wide open race, but you have to give Rees credit for what he has accomplished.

 

[woolybug25]

Dude...you're completely ignoring the facts!!!

I'm not ignoring the facts, I gave several of them:

- Crist has continued getting hurt throughout his career at ND. You have to have a QB that you trust to stay on the field.

- While Rees has thrown less than Crist (sans the Tulsa game where you pointed out that we loss while ignoring the fact that Tommy was the reason we got back into the game in the first place), he has been more accurate. You may say that this is because the offense is "dumbed" down, but I would argue that Rees simply chooses his receivers better. Crist was always looking to stretch the field, while Rees chooses to throw shorter and move the chains. If you look at the plays we typically run in the passing game, both QB's have the option to make those decisions.

- Sure the defense is playing better, but I think they are complimentary. Rees gains by them performing better, they perform better because our offense moves the ball more effectively and gives them a chance.

If Rees gains some weight (which he undoubtedly will, he is 18 for crying out loud) and comes into spring prepared, than I think he should be the front runner. Bottom line, the QB is the leader of the team. It is like no other position on the field and you have to earn your teammates respect by how you handle your business. Rees has handles his business better than Crist up to this point.

But as someone else mentioned, my intent on this thread wasnt to start a debate about Rees' place on the team, rather to thank him for being an intricate component in saving our season. Lets just agree to disagree.

 

[lookingdeadred]

I have to give Rees credit for what he has accomplished?

I have to give Rees credit for what he has accomplished?

I believe I have, as has every other poster here who is not ready to concede next year's QB job to Rees. He managed the games reasonably well, about as well as could be expected of a true frosh, but he didn't do enough to anoint him "the man" just yet.

I agree, but the same can be said of Crist. And Golson has shown nothing at the DI-A level, yet. I think it's going to be a wide open race, but you have to give Rees credit for what he has accomplished.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I'm not ignoring the facts, I gave several of them:

- Crist has continued getting hurt throughout his career at ND. You have to have a QB that you trust to stay on the field.

- While Rees has thrown less than Crist (sans the Tulsa game where you pointed out that we loss while ignoring the fact that Tommy was the reason we got back into the game in the first place), he has been more accurate. You may say that this is because the offense is "dumbed" down, but I would argue that Rees simply chooses his receivers better. Crist was always looking to stretch the field, while Rees chooses to throw shorter and move the chains. If you look at the plays we typically run in the passing game, both QB's have the option to make those decisions.

- Sure the defense is playing better, but I think they are complimentary. Rees gains by them performing better, they perform better because our offense moves the ball more effectively and gives them a chance.

If Rees gains some weight (which he undoubtedly will, he is 18 for crying out loud) and comes into spring prepared, than I think he should be the front runner. Bottom line, the QB is the leader of the team. It is like no other position on the field and you have to earn your teammates respect by how you handle your business. Rees has handles his business better than Crist up to this point.

But as someone else mentioned, my intent on this thread wasnt to start a debate about Rees' place on the team, rather to thank him for being an intricate component in saving our season. Lets just agree to disagree.

I actually agree with you more than I probably seem.

I absolutely get your point about teams responding better to a certain QB. I just don't think, in this case, that it was that. It was more of a defense figuring it out, and BK realizing that this kid cannot handle what he asked Crist to handle (which BK admitted that he gave Crist A LOT more and expected more out of him than he did Rees). I personally don't see how people can blame Crist for losing when the defense clearly sucked, while we praise Rees when the defense was phenomenal. I mean, you talk about Rees and the Tulsa game...then you need to talk about Crist and the Michigan St game...on the road, against a top 10 team, 4 TDs against only one pick. Compare that to what Rees did against the WORST pass defense in the nation.

Rees definitely deserves major props, no doubt. My whole argument with you was the fact that you said that Crist was mediocre, but then you praise Rees as if he was markedly better. He wasn't. The team was...it was the defense and the running game.

Like I said, they both deserve a shot. Neither should be the 'front-runner' - let 'em start off even and may the best man win. And regardless, we have a helluva back-up!

 

[Shamrocks and Shenanigans]

I'm a Crist fan, but I feel that Tommy has earned the starting job, until he is beaten out. I have confidence in BK making sure that the best man is on the field.

 

[woolybug25]

And regardless, we have a helluva back-up!

Ain't that the truff.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Whomever is the QB next year I hope he plays as well or even better that Rees did this year. I also am reluctant to crown anyone the starter, let alone savior of the team. I hope all you guys that are for Tommy are correct. I hope he becomes the most prolific QB in ND history. But I hope that, with every ND QB. But aren't we doing what everyone did with Weiss, with Willingham, you see a little success then make judgements without much evidence or scrutiny. We were so sure we had a coach only to be disappointed, now we are so sure we have a QB Last year I read plenty about Crist, and how he was going to be so good, perhaps by different people I don't know. I also pointed out then that there was little evidence on Crist as well. I don't care who the starter is as long as he is the best guy at playing QB and hopefully that of course translates to wins. Tommy does deserve accolades for what he did accomplish and this is in no way an attempt to bash him. I am excited about having such a good stable of QB's.

 

[Riddickulous]

I just want a QB who can see that T.J. Jones is wide open all the time.

 

[PANDFAN]

I just want a QB who can see that T.J. Jones is wide open all the time.

lmao!!!!! this is too funny!!! i am always screaming to throw the ball deep to TJ because he is always down the side line with no dbs or safetys w/ in 15 yards...commentators have mentioned it several times

 

[theclassickiller]

To be fair, Tommy also benefited from the rest of the team stepping up during the homestretch.

I think it boils down to Rees being a more pedestrian but careful player who isn't going to drop your jaw but is going to be consistent and limit turnovers while Crist has explosive potential but also has shown a knack for making you scratch your head.

The Utah game was anything but pedestrian. Some of those throws were just ridiculous and I can stand here and say for a fact that Crist would have never hit the opening like Rees did. He doesn't have the smarts Rees has and that's his problem. It seems to me he doesn't see the field like he should and can't progress through his reads fast enough.

If you ask me, Crist has a few more games at the helm and his ND career is all but done for.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I like Tommy, glad we have him. But, you are really forgetting what got us here. The Defense! They shut down Army, Tommy didn't. They shut down Utah, Tommy Didn't. They held USC, Tommy didn't. And they Man handled Miami. Tommy didn't. Tommy missed a lot of open receivers at the Sun Bowl. A LOT. Yes, he would have had 2 other TD's if Michael caught the ball. But, he would have had an Int if it weren't for Michaels awesome adjustment on an underthrown ball. Or if the CB didn 't fall down and still knocked the ball away for TJ Jones, or the Pic that a LB dropped. Tommy is very, very good for an 18 year old QB in arguably the hardest place to play QB in the Nation. I am sure glad he is here. But, it was Teo and the crew that turned this thing around. The offense was fine with Crist (and look what Stanford did against everybody). This was the defense plain and simple. Don't crown Tommy yet, watching Andrew H. warm up at the Sun Bowl the kid is real. It will be real fun in the spring. But, don't forget about what won us the games down the stretch. The defense!

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Oh, and people saying Crist can't make the reads Tommy did--go back and watch the games!!!!! Tommy locked on guys all game. And mainly Floyd without looking at Theo and TJ wide flipping open. It was really obvious during the Sun Bowl. I still love Tommy, but lets not dis on Dayne saying he couldn't have done the same thing. I 100% disagree. Glad to have the problem of having both of them. ANd Hendrix!

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

I think for the fact that he's 18 years old, he is doing amazingly well. He had help no doubt from the defense in the USC game, but still yall. He's good. Even the commentators say he is good, even though his arm isn't a cannon and he's not that tall. But he understands and can call the plays. I give him majot props, man his parents must be about the proudest parents on Earth right now.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I do like Tommy, I do think he is good. I am sure glad we had him this year. I just take issue with fans saying Dayne couldn't have done the same thing. I just disagree with it.

But, our defense won the Utah, Army, and Miami games. Make no mistake about it. Saying Tommy won them is false in my mind. He didn't lose them, and that is a good thing.

Kind of like my Seattle Seahawks and Charlie Whitehurst. He didn't win the game to put us in the Playoffs against the Rams, he just didn't lose it for us. It was 95% on the defense.

Just like what the Irish Did. The defense won it for us, and Michael Floyd was the other huge point.

Like Tommy and if wins the job lets go. I think he can with the job, I like his attitude. But, I take offense of those saying Dayne couldn't have done the same thing. He lead us back against teams this year too. Before the defense was so stellar.