Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[ab2cmiller]

I don't even feel like I am negative on Rees. He just has a strange number of lovers for a guy who has been average.
If Al Golden is still average 2 years from now he will be out the door and nobody will be blinking.

I guess I disagree. I think there are very very few TR lovers on this forum. There are quite a few people that don't believe TR has been judged fairly and are willing to defend him against the large number of haters on IE who want to blame him for everything.

 

[dad4aa]

I just took a look at the box score and saw that ND ran 80 plays. Of those 80, I think Rees only called 2 poor plays, which is phenomenal. He was also tasked with putting together a game plan with an unproven QB who has accuracy and turnover issues. That ain't easy, and he got it done. Not to mention he didn't have 87 and ND's defense was atrocious for the first quarter and a half or so, which added even more to his plate. The game winning TD pass he dialed up was brilliant, and I don't think anyone saw it coming. He deserves a ton of credit.

I agree with all of this except I only had problem with one play…the pass call ending in a second pick six. We are 1st and goal at the 7 with a 7-point lead and just under 8:00 left in the game. At this point time was also a consideration. We ran at will this drive to get here. Even if we ran three plays and didn’t get a TD, there would be less than 5:00 and if we kicked a FG we are up two scores. Most likely, we would have scored in two plays and be up 14 with under 6:30. I would have preferred we continued the running to burn time and go up two scores. Other than that, great play calling.

 

[stlnd01]

I don't even feel like I am negative on Rees. He just has a strange number of lovers for a guy who has been average.
If Al Golden is still average 2 years from now he will be out the door and nobody will be blinking.

People haven’t been yelling on ND message boards about Al Golden since October of 2010. The decade-plus of relentless negativity about Rees breeds defenders just for the sake of balance.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Tommy has done a damn solid job as OC. He gets a little cute sometimes but has designed some beautiful plays and wrinkles. The overall development of the QB room hasn’t lived up to what we had hoped, but he did a great job preparing a midget backup to a solid performance this season. TB is an enigma but I think the kid is tough as nails. A year of seasoning behind Hartman and we may have something. I really think the future is bright and TR is the right man for the job.

 

[ulukinatme]

Play calling was a strong point earlier in the year with you... that's why

I highly doubt I said such things, I think you're confusing me with another poster. At the beginning of the year I was more upset about the execution than anything. You're talking about a guy that bought this shirt after Cal:

If I'm wrong feel free to bring up some examples, but I think you have the wrong guy. Tommy makes some mistakes at times, just like any coach, but I generally think he calls a good game more times than not.

 

[Irish4life]

Tommy called a good game besides one really dumb and bad red zone play. We put up 45 points and 550 yards. Buchner accounted for 5 TDs. All good in my book

 

[ulukinatme]

Lebby, Sark, Riley and Heupel have all recruited QB better than that. A significant bit better.

Ok, and do any of them have to recruit for ND and it's limitations? Seriously, and this is still an "if" Hartman lands, what was the last ND OC to land 3 QBs talents like Carr, Minchey, and Hartman in a 6 month period of time? Offensive recruiting has stepped up big since he took over, and it's gotten even better with BK out of the way. All the offensive stars in the bowl are the Sophomores from Rees' first class.

 

[notredomer23]

I don’t get why many are holding Rees to a higher standard than Freeman. He’s barely 30 years old and this year alone demonstrated a ton of growth. It’s debatable how much of an OC he truly was with Kelly. This year the reigns were fully off, and you could argue he improved every single game in one aspect or another. I’m excited to see what he can do with Hartman considering all the key contributors from today besides maybe Lenzy are returning.

 

[ulukinatme]

 

[allenm5333]

This game was peek Rees. You see the genius...you see the dud. Some of his gadget/tricky plays aren't even NFL type concepts. Example on the 2nd pick six-no team runs that formation in the NFL. I do think his dream is the NFL. I would not be surprised that if the Eagles' OC gets a head coaching job, Rees makes the jump

 

[irish4ever]

Is Rees still doing his fucking job??

He sure wasn't on the 100 yd. pick six call. The Irish was pounding the fuck out of SC line for big running yds. Eating up the clock as well. Why stray away from it when at worse you would be looking at a 3 pt. chip shot to go up 2 scores with more time off the clock?!? DYFJ!!

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

He called a great game. QB with almost no playing experience and missing the top weapon. Even the pick six in the end zone was a good call. When you're gashing a team on the ground they will sell out in the red zone to stop it. When they stuffed us three times the bitchers would be bitching that he didn't call a play action pass on first down. 12 has to not throw it right at the defender.

 

[NDBoiler]

I agree with some on here that for the most part, he called a very good game. I just can’t see how you think that pass play was a good idea in that situation. There’s no excuse for at least not running the ball once or twice there to burn some clock. I think that was a first down play too, which is even worse. We often say that Tommy is trying to show that he is the smartest person in the room, but a call like that has so much unnecessary risk, and for what potential reward? You may score, but you’ve been running the ball down their throats on that drive up to that point and would’ve likely scored in one or two run plays with the momentum you had. If you get stopped on run plays, fine. At worst you would have a PAT field goal to go up 2 scores and burned precious time. That call to me was not a display of intelligence, but rather inexperience and lack of wisdom. You need to be aware of the big picture too when you are calling plays, and that call was a huge failure to see that. Sure Buchner made a bad decision and deserves blame for trying to force the throw, but your coach did you a major disservice putting you in a situation where you were least likely to succeed compared to other readily available options.

 

[IrishLax]

I agree with some on here that for the most part, he called a very good game. I just can’t see how you think that pass play was a good idea in that situation. There’s no excuse for at least not running the ball once or twice there to burn some clock. I think that was a first down play too, which is even worse. We often say that Tommy is trying to show that he is the smartest person in the room, but a call like that has so much unnecessary risk, and for what potential reward? You may score, but you’ve been running the ball down their throats on that drive up to that point and would’ve likely scored in one or two run plays with the momentum you had. If you get stopped on run plays, fine. At worst you would have a PAT field goal to go up 2 scores and burned precious time. That call to me was not a display of intelligence, but rather inexperience and lack of wisdom. You need to be aware of the big picture too when you are calling plays, and that call was a huge failure to see that. Sure Buchner made a bad decision and deserves blame for trying to force the throw, but your coach did you a major disservice putting you in a situation where you were least likely to succeed compared to other readily available options.

Freeman after the game was even like “yeah we shouldn’t have called that.” He basically said that they were looking for something specific, it was dumb in retrospect, and they should’ve taken a timeout to get out of that play. But then he lauded how the offense bounced back and went right down the field for a TD.

 

[NDBoiler]

Freeman after the game was even like “yeah we shouldn’t have called that.” He basically said that they were looking for something specific, it was dumb in retrospect, and they should’ve taken a timeout to get out of that play. But then he lauded how the offense bounced back and went right down the field for a TD.

Good to hear, hopefully Tommy learns a valuable lesson from this.

 

[ThePiombino]

Freeman after the game was even like “yeah we shouldn’t have called that.” He basically said that they were looking for something specific, it was dumb in retrospect, and they should’ve taken a timeout to get out of that play. But then he lauded how the offense bounced back and went right down the field for a TD.

This was the part that stood out the most for me. Young QB is going to make mistakes. But him and the whole offense answering immediately, without skipping a beat? That was impressive. They could have easily folded, but they didn't. Love to see it.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I agree with some on here that for the most part, he called a very good game. I just can’t see how you think that pass play was a good idea in that situation. There’s no excuse for at least not running the ball once or twice there to burn some clock. I think that was a first down play too, which is even worse. We often say that Tommy is trying to show that he is the smartest person in the room, but a call like that has so much unnecessary risk, and for what potential reward? You may score, but you’ve been running the ball down their throats on that drive up to that point and would’ve likely scored in one or two run plays with the momentum you had. If you get stopped on run plays, fine. At worst you would have a PAT field goal to go up 2 scores and burned precious time. That call to me was not a display of intelligence, but rather inexperience and lack of wisdom. You need to be aware of the big picture too when you are calling plays, and that call was a huge failure to see that. Sure Buchner made a bad decision and deserves blame for trying to force the throw, but your coach did you a major disservice putting you in a situation where you were least likely to succeed compared to other readily available options.

I only partly agree on this. In retrospect, it would've been safer and wiser to do what the metrics suggest. When Tommy is predictable and runs the ball when it's expected, he's lambasted because he's not aggressive enough, etc. Throwing on that play was a gutsy call where an experienced QB would know to not put the ball in harms way and just take a sack or scramble or throw it out the back if nothing is open.

The rub is that he called that play with an inexperienced QB who has a penchant for forcing things. I still don't hate the play call or design because I think 9/10 it's a TD or incomplete and you move on. I realize I'm in the minority but I love aggressive play calls. They could all smell blood in the water and it was just a little too dangerous.

The nice thing for all of us is we get to discuss 2 pick 6s and a fake punt TD against us after a win. Rees learned to only call that play next year, when Hartman is under center.

 

[IrishLax]

Here's part of the quote:


The thing is... an experienced QB probably just eats the ball there and it's fine. Buchner is not that, making his third start ever. Just put him in a bad situation and then Buchner is ultimately responsible for throwing that pass.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Pretty happy overall with TR. Hope he brings it in 2023 and shuts a lot of people up, within the fanbase and outside of it.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Here's part of the quote:


The thing is... an experienced QB probably just eats the ball there and it's fine. Buchner is not that, making his third start ever. Just put him in a bad situation and then Buchner is ultimately responsible for throwing that pass.

Agree to disagree.... Buchner is relying on his coaching staff to bring in a play that makes sense. Being out as long as he was, he made some really good plays last night.

Estime - at that time was on a roll and the OL was clicking. The defense was gassed. Should have been running plays IMO.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Gotta hand it to him. Tommy is a savage

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Gotta hand it to him. Tommy is a savage

Yea i saw that and lol’d but didnt know how to share. It does not surprise me that the QBs who have played for him have all proven to be mentally tough SOB’s regardless of what other limitations they might have had.

 

[NDBoiler]

Gotta hand it to him. Tommy is a savage

I get the modern need to “be all cool on social media” response, but really, does the OC of Notre freaking Dame need to admit that random people on Twitter got in his head? That to me is what this really says about you.

 

[ColinKSU]

Saw some weirdos ask if Mitchell Evans should have taken a knee at the 1 instead of scoring last night, like Tommy wouldn’t have called at least one dangerous pass that’d have everyone clenched or something.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I get the modern need to “be all cool on social media” response, but really, does the OC of Notre freaking Dame need to admit that random people on Twitter got in his head? That to me is what this really says about you.

Tommy is arrogant and hates being second guessed - no matter from whom. He needs to earn his chops at a second program- I don't respect this obvious nepotism. Let Freeman hire his own staff with a real search that is not under a time-pressured Kabuki Theater like drill.

Had we lost it would 100% been on him. He is lucky as fuck that Buchner got the final TD. I don't think he would have posted on Twitter had they lost. He got off easy. Could you imagine if this guy worked under Nick Saban? Yes there would have been a headset thrown at him with lots of screaming.

 

[KPENN]

Tommy is arrogant and hates being second guessed - no matter from whom. He needs to earn his chops at a second program- I don't respect this obvious nepotism. Let Freeman hire his own staff with a real search that is not under a time-pressured Kabuki Theater like drill.

Had we lost it would 100% been on him. He is lucky as fuck that Buchner got the final TD. I don't think he would have posted on Twitter had they lost. He got off easy. Could you imagine if this guy worked under Nick Saban? Yes there would have been a headset thrown at him with lots of screaming.

Go join tigerdroppings and root for LSU.

 

[Giddyup]

How many times have you met Tommy Rees?

 

[clashmore_mike]

Tommy is arrogant and hates being second guessed - no matter from whom. He needs to earn his chops at a second program- I don't respect this obvious nepotism. Let Freeman hire his own staff with a real search that is not under a time-pressured Kabuki Theater like drill.

Had we lost it would 100% been on him. He is lucky as fuck that Buchner got the final TD. I don't think he would have posted on Twitter had they lost. He got off easy. Could you imagine if this guy worked under Nick Saban? Yes there would have been a headset thrown at him with lots of screaming.

Maybe you could earn your chops at a second message board? NDNation seems about right.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Okay Mike I will shut up for a while. Happy New Years.

 

[pkt77242]

Tommy is arrogant and hates being second guessed - no matter from whom. He needs to earn his chops at a second program- I don't respect this obvious nepotism. Let Freeman hire his own staff with a real search that is not under a time-pressured Kabuki Theater like drill.

Had we lost it would 100% been on him. He is lucky as fuck that Buchner got the final TD. I don't think he would have posted on Twitter had they lost. He got off easy. Could you imagine if this guy worked under Nick Saban? Yes there would have been a headset thrown at him with lots of screaming.

You give Irish drunks a bad name.