Peter King on Tommy Rees

[KPENN]

Josh McDaniels tape; Cortland Finnegan-Andre Johnson fight; more Week 12 - Peter King - SI.com

Imagine you're Tommy Rees. You're 18 years old -- don't even turn 19 until May -- a true freshman at Notre Dame, walked into the place as the third or fourth quarterback maybe, and now, in the span of 15 days, you've won college football games at Notre Dame Stadium (over Utah), at Yankee Stadium (over Army) and at the L.A. Coliseum (over USC). I mean, you could play 20 years of football and play well enough to make the college and pro football halls of fame, and never have 15 days like that. Ever.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I was just thinking that yesterday.

 

[irishff1014]

Thats what happens when you play as a team.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Thats what happens when you play as a team.

That's what happens when you come to play football at Notre Dame! No other school can offer that.

 

[ryno 24]

Good for Rees he did a really good job filling in

 

[BestBIrish47]

I have really enjoyed watching Rees the past few weeks. Tons of respect to him coming in as a freshman.....but can we re-tool his running style on and off the field.... is it me, or does he prance a little? My girlfriend pointed it out saturday....

 

[Riddickulous]

Gotta respect Tommy for what he's accomplished in the last couple of weeks, but he's not "the guy", IMO.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

That's what happens when you come to play football at Notre Dame! No other school can offer that.

You took the words out of my mouth! No other college program in my opinion gives you that experience. I love how our schedule allows us to play in great places. The last few weeks have been special for sure. If I were a young stud football player I would jump at the opportunity to play for ND. Imagine too that we will play Navy in Ireland in another couple of years. How cool is that?

 

[KPENN]

Gotta respect Tommy for what he's accomplished in the last couple of weeks, but he's not "the guy", IMO.

I agree

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Tommy filled in when we needed him to. Our defense has been awesome and has dominated. Tommy has had some bright moments and has had others that haven't been all that impressive. I think it is awesome for this young man to have experienced what he has in the past few weeks. I think Crist is the go to guy next season, unless Tommy or one of our other quarterbacks step up in the Spring.

 

[mef811]

I have really enjoyed watching Rees the past few weeks. Tons of respect to him coming in as a freshman.....but can we re-tool his running style on and off the field.... is it me, or does he prance a little? My girlfriend pointed it out saturday....

Come on man..... I probably know what you are talking about but really? Come on man....

 

[CanadianIrish]

If this is the high point of Tommy's career, that will nonetheless have been an incredible accomplishment for an eighteen year old kid.

And still, I think he might be the guy. You can teach mechanics and arm strength - you can't teach composure and intangibles - which is what this kid has.

 

[IrishLax]

He's not "the guy" the same way Cam Newton or Tim Tebow is "the guy" but I will forever be grateful for these last three games. Hats off to Tommy Rees.

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

Peter King is such a tool He hates the Pat's

 

[mick2]

Whoever keeps us winning is my guy! Be it Rees, Crist, Hendrix, Massa, or any of the new guys coming in.

 

[Irishmist15865]

Tommy filled in when we needed him to. Our defense has been awesome and has dominated. Tommy has had some bright moments and has had others that haven't been all that impressive. I think it is awesome for this young man to have experienced what he has in the past few weeks. I think Crist is the go to guy next season, unless Tommy or one of our other quarterbacks step up in the Spring.

How can you say that??????
Crist beat Purdue, Boston College, Pitt and Western Michigan. (I think I could have done that, and I'm 71 years old!!!!!) His injuries cost us the Michigan game and probably the Tulsa game and he has had two knee surgeries in two years and he is your "go to" guy next year?
Rees has won all 3 of the games that he started, one of them the only ranked team that we have beaten in recent memory and USC who we haven't beaten in 8 years.
So let's just pat him on the head and say "Nice going, kid...but you can sit down now, or transfer somewhere else."

Fans like you give my a$$ a headache!!!!!

 

[TerryTate]

How can you say that??????
Crist beat Purdue, Boston College, Pitt and Western Michigan. (I think I could have done that, and I'm 71 years old!!!!!) His injuries cost us the Michigan game and probably the Tulsa game and he has had two knee surgeries in two years and he is your "go to" guy next year?
Rees has won all 3 of the games that he started, one of them the only ranked team that we have beaten in recent memory and USC who we haven't beaten in 8 years.
So let's just pat him on the head and say "Nice going, kid...but you can sit down now, or transfer somewhere else."

Fans like you give my a$$ a headache!!!!!

Pull your head out of your ***!

Sorry, you laid that one out there for me.

Just taaaaap it in... for the younger generations

 

[chyrspchuck]

How can you say that??????
Crist beat Purdue, Boston College, Pitt and Western Michigan. (I think I could have done that, and I'm 71 years old!!!!!) His injuries cost us the Michigan game and probably the Tulsa game and he has had two knee surgeries in two years and he is your "go to" guy next year?
Rees has won all 3 of the games that he started, one of them the only ranked team that we have beaten in recent memory and USC who we haven't beaten in 8 years.
So let's just pat him on the head and say "Nice going, kid...but you can sit down now, or transfer somewhere else."

Fans like you give my a$$ a headache!!!!!

this is why i feel like we've always needed a screening process.


Rees was ok, just ok while being thrust into duty. As a freshmen I find that commendable and worthy of fighting for a spot next year just like every other QB on the roster. I want to see an open competition between Hendrix, Rees, Massa, Dayne.

If Golson does commit to us, I hope we give him a year to mature with a (fake)redshirt just so he can mature a year. Let him get a shot in 12.

 

[NDinL.A.]

How can you say that??????
Crist beat Purdue, Boston College, Pitt and Western Michigan. (I think I could have done that, and I'm 71 years old!!!!!) His injuries cost us the Michigan game and probably the Tulsa game and he has had two knee surgeries in two years and he is your "go to" guy next year?
Rees has won all 3 of the games that he started, one of them the only ranked team that we have beaten in recent memory and USC who we haven't beaten in 8 years.
So let's just pat him on the head and say "Nice going, kid...but you can sit down now, or transfer somewhere else."

Fans like you give my a$$ a headache!!!!!

Well let's see, Pitt has a ton of talent and was once ranked. And they are much better than Army. And Boston College won their last 5 games and has proven to be a pretty good football team. So those 2 victories...sorry, you couldn't have won those 2 games...71 years old and all. In fact, BC and Pitt have been a major pain in the rear for ND recently. Big wins for Crist.

Let me show you something:

Crist, in 294 attempts, 7 INTs
Rees, in 135 attempts, 8 INTs

In less than half the attempts, Rees has one more pick. And let's face it, once teams got film on him he looked progressively worse. And it capped off with the USC game, in which he looked awful and nearly cost us the game.

Now, what I like about Rees is that he is very poised in the pocket, and he seems to have that winner's quality the you need in a QB (having a defense that simply kills his opponents has helped as well!). However he just doesn't have a very strong arm. SC took away Toma, and crowded our receivers and dared us to throw deep, which we didn't. Get used to that guys. His arm can get better, but he'll never have a big arm. And he made some really bad reads vs SC, missing wide open guys as he locked on to his primary. That's normal for a young QB, but he still did it way too much.

Crist has the arm to make a defense honest He can make every single throw. But the knock on him will be his ability to stay healthy, his accuracy, and whether or not he has that winner's quality. Of course, if his defense had played like they did vs. SC, Army and Utah, you'd have seen Crist beat the likes of Michigan St.


Bottom line...the fact that he thinks Crist will be the answer is not a crazy opinion, it's very valid, and it's not something he should be chastised for. If that gives your 'a$$ a headache', I'd hate for you to read NDNation. I personally think it'll be an open competition that will be very healthy for both of them, with Crist winning and Rees waiting to play should Crist falter or get hurt. If Rees works big tie eon strengthening his arm, I'd have no problem with him starting next year...

 

[Jonstradamus]

Rees put together 3 impressive wins, he made mistakes but pulled it out in the end. 3 great weekends because Rees + team, America's Team is back L's and G's....

Even though I'm Canadian....Oh Canada, our home and native land, true.....

 

[TDHeysus]

Rees deserves respect. He is a winner.

 

[jason_h537]

Rees does deserve respect and that is one hell of a stretch he put together but he would have cost us the USC game.

Whoever wins the QB job next year will be because he is the best.

If you think that Crist will not be right in it, if not the favorite, you are either stubborn or stupid.

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

Up in New England we had the same kind arguement with few years ago kid just got lucky he doesn't have talent of our 5 star number 1 draft pick QB . Some quarterbacks win some look good losing. To early to tell on either of these kids though.

 

[irishff1014]

It is going to depend on how Crist heals and how they both do in the spring. I thin Crist has the better arm to stretch the field. But they both are even on the system. should be intresting.

 

[mick2]

any update on crists recovery? is he ahead of schedule? i hope he can get back in time for spring and win his job back. but jason is correct, the best qb will win the job.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Quarterbacks aren't winners. Teams are winners.

Hendrix is the starting QB next year.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Quarterbacks aren't winners. Teams are winners.

Hendrix is the starting QB next year.

Over Crist?

 

[military_irish]

As much as I think Hendrix will be a great talent, I don't know if he should start next year. Especially if Crist is fully healthy, because just because a kid was a 4* recruit don't mean he needs to see the field as soon as possible.

For instance Evan Sharpley was a 4* QB and I think the team could very well have succeeded under him but since a 5* QB came in, they pushed Clausen to start, and the first year was terrible. I think if he was to sit a year or two he would have been that much better.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

As much as I think Hendrix will be a great talent, I don't know if he should start next year. Especially if Crist is fully healthy, because just because a kid was a 4* recruit don't mean he needs to see the field as soon as possible.

For instance Evan Sharpley was a 4* QB and I think the team could very well have succeeded under him but since a 5* QB came in, they pushed Clausen to start, and the first year was terrible. I think if he was to sit a year or two he would have been that much better.

If somebody were to go by stars, Crist was a 5 star. lol.

 

[phillyirish]

Notre Dame needs to stop focusing on "the qb of the future", and should start concentrating on finding the running back of the future. A great quarterback would be nice but Notre Dame can't be truly great again without an elite running game. Look around the nation most of the top teams of the country are running oriented, including #1-6 ranked teams who are all top 20 rushing teams. Especially look at the top 2, Oregon behind L. James and even at Auburn where Passer Cam Newton plays second fiddle to runner Cam Newton.