Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[NDohio]

Check out the names of offensive minds Tommy spent some time with while in the NFL. I would imagine he learned a few things from these guys.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2615359-chargers-hire-former-notre-dame-qb-rees-as-asst

Considering the big moves he's made in a little over a year as a coach, there's no denying Rees' football acumen. Not only is being a member of San Diego's staff a great boost to his resume, but Rees also figures to have tremendous learning opportunities in 2016.

Rees will be around the likes of elite QB Philip Rivers, which is bound to help him gain even greater football knowledge. The Chargers are also welcoming back offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired as head coach of the Tennessee Titans and once guided the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl.

Mike McCoy is known for his offensive brilliance, having built an offense as the Denver Broncos' play-caller to accommodate Tim Tebow, culminating in a division title and a playoff victory.

 

[ThePiombino]

On a recruiting standpoint do you think recruits would relate better with Rees or an old guy like Moorehead? I’m taking Rees

I'm more interested in how elite recruits relate to them.

 

[irishff1014]

Technically, I'll say the Elko higher was "better" because we went from BVG to Elko, and acquired Lea in the process.

That moment was huge.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Every true. But Kelly hiring him as the DC is huge as well.

 

[Rogue219]

Smart guy from a smart family. My inclination all along was he'd get the job. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

 

[irishfan]

On a recruiting standpoint do you think recruits would relate better with Rees or an old guy like Moorehead? I’m taking Rees

Moorhead is 46. And just had a top-25 class at Mississippi state.

Justin Fields’s main reason for decommitting from PSU was due to concerns that Moorhead wouldn’t be there long term.

For the record I’m happy with the Rees promotion. Moorhead would have recruited very well at ND though.

 

[goldandblue]

I'm excited for this hire. My hope is all the folks that are not liking this hire are eating crow in two to three years when p5 programs are trying to hire Rees as a HC.

 

[Wingman Ray]

We say prove it but isnt that the case with all new coordinator hires?

If a guy was a big time OC in the past, there had a to be SOME reason he would be looking for a job now correct? So it isnt like people just leave top tier successful programs that they have running on all cylinders on a whim.

BVG had tons of experience and everyone was excited. Look how that turned out.

I take humility and willingness to learn and adjust over rigidness and inflexibility because they know it all.

 

[BGIF]

On a recruiting standpoint do you think recruits would relate better with Rees or an old guy like Moorhead? I’m taking Rees

Moorhead's 20 year experience as a coach and 10 years as a OC is an advantage while the 20 years difference in age may favor Rees.

More significant is which man recruits believe will be the OC when they take the playing field. Moorhead would't be around to see many of them get significant PT much less graduate. Moorhead's looking for a HC gig, ND OC would only have been a placeholder.

If I was recruiter competing against ND (and Moorhead) for a recruit, I'd say, "Ask yourself when considering a school, any school, is my current position coach, or OC, the people I will be working with going to be there for me in a year or two."

 

[NDdomer2]

I saw someone mention somewhere they hope he has his own playbook.

I am sure he has his own wrinkles here and there but i don't know if anyone that has been OC for Kelly has had their own playbook. Perhaps Chip Long was the closest to it?

But, looking at Rees career, you would have to think Kelly's playbook is going to be the base roots for anything he has.

2015 Northwestern (GA)
2016 San Diego Chargers (OA)
2017–2019 Notre Dame (QB)
2020-present Notre Dame (OC)

4 years under Kelly as player, 1 year at Northwestern under Mick McCall, 1 year at San Diego Chargers under Mike McCoy and Ken Whisenhunt, then 2 seasons under Kelly as QB coach.

I know everyone wants something creative and "new" but I think sometimes you gotta have the right players to try some of those things. I would imagine Kelly can still draw up some creative players that would be new but have we had the right guys to pull it off? Next years position players seem pretty dynamic on paper so I would like to think we see some unique concepts tailored in.

But overall, I am not of the opinion that the offensive scheme has been some major issue of ND's as to why we cant win a championship. It's always been the jimmy's and joe's, not x's and o's (sans BVG).

I think that's why I like this hire more than a mid 40's/50's guy who is "proven". Tommy should be really hungry to prove himself and willing to hit the trail harder than the others considered.

It's unfortunate that hes going to be the ND scapegoat again tho - but hes had solid training in that.

 

[koonja]

I didn't really care who Kelly hired because I don't see any offensive coordinator in college football that will fix Kelly's issues with preparing a team for big games. I'm not talking about Va Tech on the road at night, I'm talking about getting run out of the stadium against Michigan or Clemson or Miami.

Nick Saban runs through OC's like it's no big deal and Bama barely skips a beat. Why? Because Saban knows how to manage a team and recruits coaches to his system. Kelly has lacked a consistent offensive identity and rarely has the team prepared for big road games at night. He needs to establish what his offense will look like and find an OC that fits the mold. But the bigger issue, which no OC can overcome for him, is not shitting the bed.

Really that is the biggest under lying issue.

This is so true.

Many seem to think this will either be brilliant or a disaster. I don't think it'll be either.

I think the team will be fine. I think we'll put up 40 against Navy and Western Michigan, and struggle to beat Wisconsin/USC/ be non-competitive against Clemson.

I don't think Rees's offense will be much better or worse that what we've had - and that's a good think for Rees because that's pretty good.

But this isn't a "get over the hump" move, nor is it a 7-win move.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I saw someone mention somewhere they hope he has his own playbook.

I am sure he has his own wrinkles here and there but i don't know if anyone that has been OC for Kelly has had their own playbook. Perhaps Chip Long was the closest to it?

But, looking at Rees career, you would have to think Kelly's playbook is going to be the base roots for anything he has.

2015 Northwestern (GA)
2016 San Diego Chargers (OA)
2017–2019 Notre Dame (QB)
2020-present Notre Dame (OC)

4 years under Kelly as player, 1 year at Northwestern under Mick McCall, 1 year at San Diego Chargers under Mike McCoy and Ken Whisenhunt, then 2 seasons under Kelly as QB coach.

I know everyone wants something creative and "new" but I think sometimes you gotta have the right players to try some of those things. I would imagine Kelly can still draw up some creative players that would be new but have we had the right guys to pull it off? Next years position players seem pretty dynamic on paper so I would like to think we see some unique concepts tailored in.

But overall, I am not of the opinion that the offensive scheme has been some major issue of ND's as to why we cant win a championship. It's always been the jimmy's and joe's, not x's and o's (sans BVG).

I think that's why I like this hire more than a mid 40's/50's guy who is "proven". Tommy should be really hungry to prove himself and willing to hit the trail harder than the others considered.

It's unfortunate that hes going to be the ND scapegoat again tho - but hes had solid training in that.

I think the passing scheme getting vertical in the latter half of the season "fixed" its biggest issue.

My concerns are with how ND has schemed the running game. The offense was helpless against Michigan & Georgia because a quick-hitting, downhill running game was not a club they had in their bag. That is a huge omission. I am very happy to see Taylor getting involved for that reason.

He was at Stanford when they Tight Ended the rest of the Pac-12 to death. Let's see some of that.

 

[NDdomer2]

This is so true.

Many seem to think this will either be brilliant or a disaster. I don't think it'll be either.

I think the team will be fine. I think we'll put up 40 against Navy and Western Michigan, and struggle to beat Wisconsin/USC/ be non-competitive against Clemson.

I don't think Rees's offense will be much better or worse that what we've had - and that's a good think for Rees because that's pretty good.

But this isn't a "get over the hump" move, nor is it a 7-win move.

do you think that LSU beat Clemson because they had an unbelievable schematic advantage?

I think it's because they had the better athletes and a QB playing the best football college football has seen.

 

[BGIF]

We say prove it but isnt that the case with all new coordinator hires?

If a guy was a big time OC in the past, there had a to be SOME reason he would be looking for a job now correct? So it isnt like people just leave top tier successful programs that they have running on all cylinders on a whim.

BVG had tons of experience and everyone was excited. Look how that turned out.

I take humility and willingness to learn and adjust over rigidness and inflexibility because they know it all.

Fans were ecstatic over the Tenuta hire. He was gonna turn the entire defense into a nonstop blitzkrieg. Shutouts would be common result.

Tenuta brings intensity, aggressiveness to Notre Dame's D
Aug 15, 2008
Graham Watson ESPN

 

[koonja]

do you think that LSU beat Clemson because they had an unbelievable schematic advantage?

I think it's because they had the better athletes and a QB playing the best football college football has seen.

No. LSU had as much talent as some of the all-time Bama teams. There was a gap between them and Clemson.

But that same gap will exist between us and Clemson. I think we have a chance, but it's more likely they beat us by 20 than we win by 4, IMO.

 

[ulukinatme]

We need Ulukinatme to draft us The New Book of Reesus

I wrote this in his recruiting thread when there was some talk of him succeeding Long:

Book of Irish, Chapter 132, the Redemption of Reesus


19 Then the same day at evening, being the second day of the week, when the doors to the Gug were shut where the players were assembled in preparation for Iowa State, came Reesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, "Touchdowns be unto you."

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his game plan. Then were the players glad, when they saw the plan superior to Long's.

21 Then said Reesus to them again, "Touchdowns be unto you: as BK hath sent me, even so send I you."

22 And when he had said this, he continued and saith unto them, "Kickith the crap out of the Cyclones."

23 Whose soever passes ye deflect, they are deflected unto us; and whose soever passes ye intercept, they are intercepted.

24 But Austin, one of the eleven, called Kevin, was not with them when Reesus came.

25 The other players therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Coordinator." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the play sheets, and put my finger onto the skin of the pig, and thrust my hand into the air in retribution, I will not believe."

26 And after eight days again his players were within, and Kevin with them: then came Reesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Offense be unto you."

27 Then saith he to Kevin, "Look hither at my play sheet, and behold my plays; and reach to the heavens thy hand, and thrust it in jubilation: and be not suspended, but believing."

28 And Kevin answered and said unto him, "My Coordinator and my Coach!"

29 Reesus saith unto him, "Kevin, because thou hast seen me, thou will run my offense: blessed are they that have not seen the game plan, and yet have believed."

30 And many other plays were drawn up by Reesus in the presence of his players, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Resus is the Coordinator, the appointed of BK; and that believing ye might have hope for thy bowl game.

 

[Irish#1]

I think we'll put up 40 against Navy and Western Michigan, and struggle to beat Wisconsin/USC/ be non-competitive against Clemson.
.

That's usually the way it goes with all teams. They roll the easy teams and have a harder time beating the better ones. We will be competitive against Clemson.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

I wrote this in his recruiting thread when there was some talk of him succeeding Long:

Book of Irish, Chapter 132, the Redemption of Reesus


19 Then the same day at evening, being the second day of the week, when the doors to the Gug were shut where the players were assembled in preparation for Iowa State, came Reesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, "Touchdowns be unto you."

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his game plan. Then were the players glad, when they saw the plan superior to Long's.

21 Then said Reesus to them again, "Touchdowns be unto you: as BK hath sent me, even so send I you."

22 And when he had said this, he continued and saith unto them, "Kickith the crap out of the Cyclones."

23 Whose soever passes ye deflect, they are deflected unto us; and whose soever passes ye intercept, they are intercepted.

24 But Austin, one of the eleven, called Kevin, was not with them when Reesus came.

25 The other players therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Coordinator." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the play sheets, and put my finger onto the skin of the pig, and thrust my hand into the air in retribution, I will not believe."

26 And after eight days again his players were within, and Kevin with them: then came Reesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Offense be unto you."

27 Then saith he to Kevin, "Look hither at my play sheet, and behold my plays; and reach to the heavens thy hand, and thrust it in jubilation: and be not suspended, but believing."

28 And Kevin answered and said unto him, "My Coordinator and my Coach!"

29 Reesus saith unto him, "Kevin, because thou hast seen me, thou will run my offense: blessed are they that have not seen the game plan, and yet have believed."

30 And many other plays were drawn up by Reesus in the presence of his players, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Resus is the Coordinator, the appointed of BK; and that believing ye might have hope for thy bowl game.

Private and public reps. This shit is so good. I believe in Reesus.

 

[NDty9]

LOL. After the Clemson blowout last year I have accepted we will never win another title . Reese will no doubt be named the head coach when Kelly retires...

8-10 wins seem to make most people happy so this fills the need.

I appreciate your negativity, but i disagree with the last part. When Kelly leaves, I have a feeling it will be a complete re-tool, and anyone connected with Kelly will probably move on, so we can HOPEFULLY go after a big hire of some sort. (wishful thinking perhaps, but its what i believe)

** Imo the hiring of Tommy as OC will just speed up this process **

 

[ThePiombino]

Tenuta came in as "proven". How'd that work out. Sometimes you just need to go with a young up-and-comer.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[NDRock]

do you think that LSU beat Clemson because they had an unbelievable schematic advantage?

I think it's because they had the better athletes and a QB playing the best football college football has seen.

In college football, talent is everything. None of it will change until ND takes a step up in recruiting. The teams with the most 5* guys on the roster this year:
Bama
Georgia
Ohio State
Clemson
LSU

Those teams finished 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. I hope Tommy can recruit.

 

[ulukinatme]

In college football, talent is everything. None of it will change until ND takes a step up in recruiting. The teams with the most 5* guys on the roster this year:
Bama
Georgia
Ohio State
Clemson
LSU

Those teams finished 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. I hope Tommy can recruit.

It should be no coincidence that these are about the only teams that have even participated in the playoff, aside from us and Oklahoma. It's a small club. It's going to be very hard to compete with these guys going forward when we pull from a smaller pool of players.

 

[NDRock]

It should be no coincidence that these are about the only teams that have even participated in the playoff, aside from us and Oklahoma. It's a small club. It's going to be very hard to compete with these guys going forward when we pull from a smaller pool of players.

Pretty sure MSU and Washington also made it.

 

[ulukinatme]

Pretty sure MSU and Washington also made it.

But did they really? Both teams got destroyed like we did when facing the big boys above.

 

[NDdomer2]

So if we can all agree what ND needs more than anything is to close the talent gap, why are we so worried about so magical new offense?

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

It should be no coincidence that these are about the only teams that have even participated in the playoff, aside from us and Oklahoma. It's a small club. It's going to be very hard to compete with these guys going forward when we pull from a smaller pool of players.

What I'm going to say should probably be in another thread but I want to see others thoughts:

I firmly believe ND would benefit from having as many elite college football programs running on all cylinders at once. Resurrecting the USCs, Florida States, Texas, and Miamis while keeping Bama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio St, Florida, Oklahoma at current level (or slightly higher for a couple) would be ideal for us. This would spread high end 5* talent across 10-12 schools consistently instead of concentrating them in 3-4 programs. ND is always going to pull different kind of guys. This is the easiest path to narrow the current talent gap between us and the top. Maybe I'm way off and this would actually be a detriment. Maybe this can never happen given human nature (want to be the best/be part of the best) and money/politics of major college sports. Idk, just some rambling thoughts.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

What I'm going to say should probably be in another thread but I want to see others thoughts:

I firmly believe ND would benefit from having as many elite college football programs running on all cylinders at once. Resurrecting the USCs, Florida States, Texas, and Miamis while keeping Bama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio St, Florida, Oklahoma at current level (or slightly higher for a couple) would be ideal for us. This would spread high end 5* talent across 10-12 schools consistently instead of concentrating them in 3-4 programs. ND is always going to pull different kind of guys. This is the easiest path to narrow the current talent gap between us and the top. Maybe I'm way off and this would actually be a detriment. Maybe this can never happen given human nature (want to be the best/be part of the best) and money/politics of major college sports. Idk, just some rambling thoughts.

Yeah, I remember reading that over the past x number of years literally half of all five star recruits have ended up at Alabama/Clemson/Ohio State/Georgia. Your theory makes sense but recruiting has become so national I'm not sure this trend is an aberration.

 

[NDRock]

But did they really? Both teams got destroyed like we did when facing the big boys above.

Yep, most have when the talent disparity is that big. Looking at 247 talent composite, which goes back to 2015, the following is true:

• Teams with more 5* players than their opponent are 11-3-1 in the playoffs.
• Team with more 5* players than their opponent are 9-1 in the semi-final gams (Clemson over Ohio State this year the exception)
• Teams with less than four 5* players on their roster are a combined 0-7 and were outscored by an average of 37-15.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

For Koon & Friends giving me shit today about the OC search, here is what I said over two months ago about Long, Rees, and next year's OC --







And this is what I said a few weeks ago on the rationale as to why it makes sense --



And this is how it played out.

The main reason I don't post rumors on the board is because of pedantic people like you who make it more trouble then its worth. I'd say about 25% of the time rumors are completely wrong, 50% of the time they're partially wrong, and 25% of the time they're right. I don't feel like having to add disclaimers on every single one of my posts, or defend stuff I said 75% of the time when it's at least partially wrong. In this case I was basically spot on, and you're *still* up my ass about Tommy and things I didn't even say.

Also, FWIW, ND went hard after Chad Morris and Joe Moorhead. Sometimes it doesn't work out. Kelly inquired after over a dozen big names... so yes, this is settling. And yes, this is high risk. But it emphasizes continuity with a 3 year starter at QB, and I'll root for it to be successful.

Great post. I was really hoping for Moorehead. Heard lots of people say he'd be the "homerun hire ND needed," both as OC and recruiter. But after reading your post, I feel a little better about Rees. To the bolded, I'm glad to hear ND went hard after Joe and just missed. And did I hear correctly that Oregon showed interest in Rees too? I, personally, think this is high risk, but I also have a gut feeling that this might work out for ND. Time will tell.

 

[NDRock]

So if we can all agree what ND needs more than anything is to close the talent gap, why are we so worried about so magical new offense?

I'm only "worried" because we apparently went hard after Morris and Moorhead (per Lax's post). If Rees was/is the guy, I would have preferred him to have been Kelly's target from the start. Also makes me wonder why a proven guy didn't want to come here. Money? Control? Something else? Heck, it seemed like Rees calling plays in the bowl game wasn't a slam dunk and Kelly took awhile to make the decision. Now he's the OC. Maybe that's all idle speculation. Who knows. We'll find out eventually. In the meantime, yes go recruit. Hard.

 

[Irish#1]

What I'm going to say should probably be in another thread but I want to see others thoughts:

I firmly believe ND would benefit from having as many elite college football programs running on all cylinders at once. Resurrecting the USCs, Florida States, Texas, and Miamis while keeping Bama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio St, Florida, Oklahoma at current level (or slightly higher for a couple) would be ideal for us. This would spread high end 5* talent across 10-12 schools consistently instead of concentrating them in 3-4 programs. ND is always going to pull different kind of guys. This is the easiest path to narrow the current talent gap between us and the top. Maybe I'm way off and this would actually be a detriment. Maybe this can never happen given human nature (want to be the best/be part of the best) and money/politics of major college sports. Idk, just some rambling thoughts.

Yeah, I remember reading that over the past x number of years literally half of all five star recruits have ended up at Alabama/Clemson/Ohio State/Georgia. Your theory makes sense but recruiting has become so national I'm not sure this trend is an aberration.

The theory actually makes a lot of sense. The problem is all of these schools go through cycles of up and down for whatever reason. Look at Bama before Saban. FSU was up and now they are down. PSU was great, down and now pretty good again. It's a great thought though.