Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[ColinKSU]

Someone needs to tell Tim Brown that he doesn’t know anything about football because Nick Saban, Dan Orlovsky, Golic Jr. and Sean McVay like him so it’s impossible that anyone who isn’t simple minded could just not see it with Tommy Rees.

 

[ulukinatme]

Someone needs to tell Tim Brown that he doesn’t know anything about football because Nick Saban, Dan Orlovsky, Golic Jr. and Sean McVay like him so it’s impossible that anyone who isn’t simple minded could just not see it with Tommy Rees.

Navy offense is extremely predictable. It doesn't mean it's not effective and efficient. Our offense was extremely predictable because we had a limited backup QB running it.

 

[chisea03]

 

[GATTACA!]

Navy offense is extremely predictable. It doesn't mean it's not effective and efficient. Our offense was extremely predictable because we had a limited backup QB running it.

Navy offense is a unicorn. That's a weird example to use.

 

[ulukinatme]

Navy offense is a unicorn. That's a weird example to use.

It works as an example most seasons, does it not? Holtz won a national championship with a predictable offense too. If your team executes and is efficient it doesn't matter if the defense knows it coming.

I think Tim Brown is probably exaggerating a bit here too. Watching some of the scoring plays this last year being broken down by analysts we seemed to be catching defenses off guard a number of times. Tommy was also introducing plays midseason like the Mitch-a-Palooza which was 95% effective. There were certainly predictable pieces of our offense, but it's likely some of that was by necessity when running half an offense comprised of Sophomore and Freshmen for starters...not to mention a limited backup QB.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I honestly have no idea what to expect from Tommy this fall. I don't know whether he's the unimaginative, predictable clod you guys sometimes complained he was, or whether he's the next offensive genius who was just hamstrung by a lack of elite playmakers and a need to constantly give his D a rest. I'm mainly just assuming Nick knows what he's doing and sees something in Tommy the rest of us have missed. Saban's hit a homerun on a few coordinators with Sark, Kirby, and Lane, but he's far from batting 1.000. I'm hoping for the best and keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[IrishLax]

I honestly have no idea what to expect from Tommy this fall. I don't know whether he's the unimaginative, predictable clod you guys sometimes complained he was, or whether he's the next offensive genius who was just hamstrung by a lack of elite playmakers and a need to constantly give his D a rest. I'm mainly just assuming Nick knows what he's doing and sees something in Tommy the rest of us have missed. Saban's hit a homerun on a few coordinators with Sark, Kirby, and Lane, but he's far from batting 1.000. I'm hoping for the best and keeping my fingers crossed.

I think Tommy is an exceptional play caller and very smart. Most of the stuff he struggles with Bama fixes by simply being Bama. The only area where that may not be the case is gameplanning.

 

[MacIrish75]

I honestly have no idea what to expect from Tommy this fall. I don't know whether he's the unimaginative, predictable clod you guys sometimes complained he was, or whether he's the next offensive genius who was just hamstrung by a lack of elite playmakers and a need to constantly give his D a rest. I'm mainly just assuming Nick knows what he's doing and sees something in Tommy the rest of us have missed. Saban's hit a homerun on a few coordinators with Sark, Kirby, and Lane, but he's far from batting 1.000. I'm hoping for the best and keeping my fingers crossed.

Personally I think Tommy will light it up with the talent at Bama. He won’t have a QB room filled with Drew Pynes in Tuscaloosa.

 

[NDRock]

I think Tommy is an exceptional play caller and very smart. Most of the stuff he struggles with Bama fixes by simply being Bama. The only area where that may not be the case is gameplanning.

I’ve read where Bama uses their large number of analysts to do the bulk of the game planning. Not sure how accurate that is. Bama is set up where it’s almost impossible to fail if you’re at least an average OC. Rees is at least that.

 

[irish4ever]

Thank you Timmy Brown! It couldn't have been said it any better! Now time to go find a real OC that has the ability fully dissect a defense (and remove predictability)!!!! BTW, fuck the meatchickens!

 

[notredomer23]

Personally I think Tommy will light it up with the talent at Bama. He won’t have a QB room filled with Drew Pynes in Tuscaloosa.

TBF ND doesn’t now either

 

[Irish#1]

To me this is sad. No need to piss on your alma mater and former player . Not happy? I get it, but you don’t Tweet something like that.

 

[NDdomer2]

To me this is sad. No need to piss on your alma mater and former player . Not happy? I get it, but you don’t Tweet something like that.

Don't you know that he just absolutely proved Tommy needed to go!

So much detail in his thoughts. ANNNND.....he almost went and grabbed the call sheet himself.
So badass.

 

[NDRock]

Hardly. Doesn't account for the fact Long left huge holes in recruiting that forced Rees to start a ton of freshmen and sophomores in 2021 and 2022. He also played with a backup QB last season and won 9 games.

C’mon, by year 3 there should be no excuses about not having your guys. ND had plenty of talent on offense relative to some of the production last year.

 

[zbikowski88]

Personally I think Tommy will light it up with the talent at Bama. He won’t have a QB room filled with Drew Pynes in Tuscaloosa.

Currently I’d put NDs QB room above Bama

 

[Irish du Nord]

To me this is sad. No need to piss on your alma mater and former player . Not happy? I get it, but you don’t Tweet something like that.

I don’t see the disrespect to the University or program from his tweets, just frustration with a former coach’s coaching. Plus I don’t think anyone owes Tommy any special deference at this point. If Tommy wanted the former player defense maybe he shouldn’t have left his former team in the lurch.

 

[NDRock]

I don’t see the disrespect to the University or program from his tweets, just frustration with a former coach’s coaching. Plus I don’t think anyone owes Tommy any special deference at this point. If Tommy wanted the former player defense maybe he shouldn’t have left his former team in the lurch.

Exactly. I’m not a fan of ex-players piling on during the season. Brown did not do that. He only spoke out after our coach took a lateral move to another school. Holtz did the same last year when Kelly bolted. They were both sticking up for the school they care about, not the money hungry carpet baggers who left.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

To me this is sad. No need to piss on your alma mater and former player . Not happy? I get it, but you don’t Tweet something like that.

Agreed.
Tommy called the games according to who had had available. I can assure you Bama isn't going to play two tight ends all game.

 

[Kingbish01]

I agree with the article, and I can agree with Tim Brown. I was never impressed with Tommy except when he'd have a fun game against a New Mexico or GA Tech. The other flip side we need to consider is...sure he's gonna have much better athletes to work with...but the defenses are also gonna get way better. Teams like Auburn, Miss St, and Ark are going to be much tougher year in and year out than than Stanford, USC, BC and Cincinnati. I've never once said a negative word about TR on this board, but I'm excited for a future without the BS Kelly/TR offense that probably scared away stud QBs and WRs...why...because it kinda sucked against anyone worth a shit.

 

[FWIrish4]

Props to Rees for spending literally 1/3 of his life and a decade at ND. Just like anybody enhancing your career, the opportunity to expand your resume and go coach under the best of all-time is a no brainer, especially after giving a decade to your current employer.

I do think he’s a good OC and we can argue that til we’re blue so I don’t like him leaving.

But I do view this as a massive opportunity for Freeman and probably the hire that determines how his career at ND goes. I’m very curious to see where this search goes and ends up with, especially with a tight timeframe before spring ball starts.

Never a dull moment in the off-season as an ND fan unfortunately!

 

[BobbyMac]

If only Kevin Wilson woulda stuck around for one more year.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Props to Rees for spending literally 1/3 of his life and a decade at ND. Just like anybody enhancing your career, the opportunity to expand your resume and go coach under the best of all-time is a no brainer, especially after giving a decade to your current employer.

I do think he’s a good OC and we can argue that til we’re blue so I don’t like him leaving.

But I do view this as a massive opportunity for Freeman and probably the hire that determines how his career at ND goes. I’m very curious to see where this search goes and ends up with, especially with a tight timeframe before spring ball starts.

Never a dull moment in the off-season as an ND fan unfortunately!

If he was a good OC we would not have had a shit show QB room last year and we would have only lost 2 games.

Like Kelly, if not more so, Saban will correct his mistakes. NFL in 3 years.

 

[FWIrish4]

If he was a good OC we would not have had a shit show QB room last year and we would have only lost 2 games.

Like Kelly, if not more so, Saban will correct his mistakes. NFL in 3 years.

Wasn’t your boy Kelly overseeing the entire operation that led to last year’s QB room? So what mistakes did Kelly correct? Because it seems like our entire operation was running on cruise control from a roster management standpoint and has been flipped in 1.5 years since Freeman got to ND.

Our QB room currently is the strongest it’s been probably in at least 5+ years. So if you’re going to blame him for last year’s, you’re indirectly arguing Rees is responsible for making it a strength.

Also, being an OC has more responsibility than being judged purely on the position group they oversee.

 

[Black Irish]

I don't follow this stuff too closely; why did it take so long to develop? Notre Dame & 'Bama played their bowl games back in December but Tommy doesn't get the offer until February. Was it because 'Bama was interviewing a bunch of other OCs and they all fell through? It's a good opportunity for Rees but I wouldn't have a ton of confidence in my position with Saban if I was his 5th or 6th choice for the job.

 

[KPENN]

I don't follow this stuff too closely; why did it take so long to develop? Notre Dame & 'Bama played their bowl games back in December but Tommy doesn't get the offer until February. Was it because 'Bama was interviewing a bunch of other OCs and they all fell through? It's a good opportunity for Rees but I wouldn't have a ton of confidence in my position with Saban if I was his 5th or 6th choice for the job.

Bill O’Brien got hired to be the Patriots OC

 

[Free Manera]

Re: the QB room stuff - it's no coincidence that Freeman was hired as the head coach and the QB room is the best it's been in like 10 years. I find it hard to believe Rees did an awful job recruiting QBs for his whole tenure then suddenly figured it out when Kelly left and Freeman took over.

 

[ThePiombino]

To me this is sad. No need to piss on your alma mater and former player . Not happy? I get it, but you don’t Tweet something like that.

You also don't leave your alma mater for a lateral position; one year after claiming this is where your heart is no less. Yet here we are...

 

[ThePiombino]

If he was a good OC we would not have had a shit show QB room last year and we would have only lost 2 games.

Like Kelly, if not more so, Saban will correct his mistakes. NFL in 3 years.

Which two? I think a better OC wins the OSU game. Defense did its job that night...

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Any intel on the relationship between Freeman and Rees this year? I can’t help but think there were some issues there. Yeah yeah I know Bama and Saban. Something just doesn’t add up.

 

[GreenGemsOmally]

You also don't leave your alma mater for a lateral position; one year after claiming this is where your heart is no less. Yet here we are...

Honestly, he's spent a third of his life at ND. It's not really a lateral move even though it's OC-->OC; it's a once in a lifetime career opportunity to learn under the GOAT coach in Nick Saban. That kind of professional development opportunity does not come around often and it's rare company it's offered to. I cannot blame him in the slightest for taking it.

He stayed an extra year after being offered the chance at LSU because he loved ND and wanted to stabilize the program during the transition, and I think had Saban not come calling he'd have stayed this year. He's been a part of 3 undefeated regular seasons (2012, 2018 and 2020), he's given more than enough to ND. This whole "betrayal" angle is just nonsense and bad vibes in my opinion.