Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[Irish4life]

Perhaps. It's hard to say how good/bad Rees is with such a horrendous OL, mediocre QB's, and a poor WR room. How would TR look if he were Ohio States OC? If he had Stroud and Njigba and company? I am not defending Rees, but it's food for thought.

Mid, because he'd be calling the same crap he's calling right now.

 

[NDdomer2]

Well Buchner was 9/11 in PA in the first two games. I agree that it works better when the run game is there, but it still worked in the first two weeks.

It's also possible that they were called at appropriate times. Also possible that if they called more (say flip the ratio of non-PA to Pa) that they wouldn't be as successful.

I am not trying to stick up for Rees or the play calling here. Just saying that because something is successful statistically doesn't necessarily mean you'll maintain success rate calling it more.

I am sure Tommy and everyone ND football related would love more successful passing game at this point. simply adding a fake handoff more frequently is likely not the solution to the problem.

 

[NDFAN2008]

I mean at the end of the day against Marshall we had like 3-4 deep balls and Buchner couldn't hit the wide open guy or WR couldn't catch it at the end of the day some blame falls on the players.

 

[Dale]

His smirk after Freeman basically asked him why they don’t run PA more was weird. Thought it was a fair and good question.

Except he didn’t ask that. He asked an awkward, self admitted elementary question hoping he’d answer the underlying question he didn’t actually ask. Exactly as I said none of these talking heads would truly challenge a coach not sure why we thought it’d be a fireworks event.

 

[du Lac]

I believe TR was handed the job without ever proving anything. BK simply elevated him, but he was able to oversee things. Now BK is not overseeing anything and he's been replaced by the most inexperienced coach at a P5 program, who seemed to regress the defense when he was DC from what Elko and Leah had built. We've essentially filled the HC position with the least experienced candidate who hadn't proven much of anything besides being a nice guy and friendly with players, kept BK's liege at OC, hired a failed college coach at DC, and brought back an old tired OL coach to collect a few more dollars before he gets his SS check.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Perhaps. It's hard to say how good/bad Rees is with such a horrendous OL, mediocre QB's, and a poor WR room. How would TR look if he were Ohio States OC? If he had Stroud and Njigba and company? I am not defending Rees, but it's food for thought.

I get the impression this boils down to recruiting for most. Rees has not yielded great results while Hartline is known as a top end recruiter. Seems that many ND fans on this board want to take the gamble with Hartline because he's Freeman's former teammate and they feel he can bolster the roster with his recruiting prowess.

Should be noted that the current trio of verballed WR is one of, if not THE, best assembled WR class at ND in the Bush/Gore Century.

 

[Irish4life]

I believe TR was handed the job without ever proving anything. BK simply elevated him, but he was able to oversee things. Now BK is not overseeing anything and he's been replaced by the most inexperienced coach at a P5 program, who seemed to regress the defense when he was DC from what Elko and Leah had built. We've essentially filled the HC position with the least experienced candidate, kept BK's liege at OC, hired a failed college coach at DC, and brought back an old tired OL coach to collect a few more dollars before he gets his SS check.

Like I said, I'm looking forward to Rees re-learning the exact same things we learned last year; that increasing your RPO and PA usage, decreasing ADOT, and getting the ball out of your QBs hand (even slightly) quicker = better production and protecting a struggling OL. Truly cannot wait.

 

[du Lac]

I get the impression this boils down to recruiting for most. Rees has not yielded great results while Hartline is known as a top end recruiter. Seems that many ND fans on this board want to take the gamble with Hartline because he's Freeman's former teammate and they feel he can bolster the roster with his recruiting prowess.

Should be noted that the current trio of verballed WR is one of, if not THE, best assembled WR class at ND in the Bush/Gore Century.

I am not sold on Hartline. I just think he's going to be the guy MF picks. I also do not believe Rees is the main reason we have those players committed. I think it's a combo of MF, Stuckey, and Bowden and their hustle on the trail mixed with the media reaction to MF's hire and the subsequent over hypothesized success that would bring. Everyone bought the cool-aide at inflation. Rees is doing okay recruiting, but I don't think it's his strong suit.

 

[indianamouse]

I believe TR was handed the job without ever proving anything. BK simply elevated him, but he was able to oversee things. Now BK is not overseeing anything and he's been replaced by the most inexperienced coach at a P5 program, who seemed to regress the defense when he was DC from what Elko and Leah had built. We've essentially filled the HC position with the least experienced candidate who hadn't proven much of anything besides being a nice guy and friendly with players, kept BK's liege at OC, hired a failed college coach at DC, and brought back an old tired OL coach to collect a few more dollars before he gets his SS check.

I can't wait for you to eat crow if MF turns this thing around.

 

[IrishLion]

I'd temper expectations for anyone hoping Freeman makes a splash OC hire after the season... he brought in his friend, who was a co-OC at WVU, to coach TE's for a year or two until Tommy moved on. I thought it was pretty transparent that Parker was hired as the future OC.

I would love it if he persuaded Hartline to leave OSU for ND's OC job, with a massive payday and promises that he'll continue to recruit elite WR's at ND while also putting out a great overall offense.... but that's a long shot, both because we don't know if Hartline would be willing to leave OSU, or even if he's prepared to try his hand at OC.

Maybe I'm wrong and Parker was brought in to help elevate the TE group as pass catchers. Or maybe it's because Freeman's coaching circle is small, and Parker was an easy offensive guy to plug in, and not necessarily as a potential OC. Maybe he'll go hire someone from the NFL, or from Incarnate Word, that takes the world by storm.

But promoting Parker would be a BK-style move based on everything we know, and would make a lot of sense if you're making a change.

 

[du Lac]

I'd temper expectations for anyone hoping Freeman makes a splash OC hire after the season... he brought in his friend, who was a co-OC at WVU, to coach TE's for a year or two until Tommy moved on. I thought it was pretty transparent that Parker was hired as the future OC.

I would love it if he persuaded Hartline to leave OSU for ND's OC job, with a massive payday and promises that he'll continue to recruit elite WR's at ND while also putting out a great overall offense.... but that's a long shot, both because we don't know if Hartline would be willing to leave OSU, or even if he's prepared to try his hand at OC.

Freeman better do something bigger than that or he'll be linebackers coach at Coastal Carolina by 2025.

 

[IrishLion]

Also, it's been proven over and over again that you don't have to be running the ball effectively for play action passes to be effective.

Everyone should use play action passes. Making the defense honor the run for a beat at the snap is just another advantage in a game that gives the offense most of the other advantages, as well.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I am not sold on Hartline. I just think he's going to be the guy MF picks. I also do not believe Rees is the main reason we have those players committed. I think it's a combo of MF, Stuckey, and Bowden and their hustle on the trail mixed with the media reaction to MF's hire and the subsequent over hypothesized success that would bring. Everyone bought the cool-aide at inflation. Rees is doing okay recruiting, but I don't think it's his strong suit.

I'm not sold on him either.

A lot of guys don't like recruiting and they're just football guys. It makes them better suited for The League. The Rams have both Skowronek and Kyren Williams on their roster. Their people have seen enough ND film in the last couple of years to have formed a positive opinion on Rees. Maybe it happens sooner than later, but it feels like that's where he could be destined to wind up.

I wouldn't blame him. Selling to teenagers isn't for everyone, and in the NIL/Transfer Portal Era the job is only going to get harder.

 

[Dale]

*Freeman brings in coach who explicitly talks about upward mobility and another who was a Co-OC*

Wait we’re gonna promote from within?!?!

 

[Bluto]

He’s hurt now, he was hurt last year, and he missed a season in high school. Plus missed another season due to COVID regulations. Honestly he’s not had that much time on the football field.

Kind of a different argument/statement really. Also, if Im remembering correctly pretty much every ND QB since Kizer has gotten banged up/missed games during the regular season. Maybe our offensive schemes expose the QB’s to a lot of contact? Maybe they’re not being coached to slide?

Anyhow, I would be surprised if Pyne lasts more than a couple games before he’s injured given his size, the scheme and how bad blocking has been by all the position groups on offense.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I believe TR was handed the job without ever proving anything. BK simply elevated him, but he was able to oversee things. Now BK is not overseeing anything and he's been replaced by the most inexperienced coach at a P5 program, who seemed to regress the defense when he was DC from what Elko and Leah had built. We've essentially filled the HC position with the least experienced candidate who hadn't proven much of anything besides being a nice guy and friendly with players, kept BK's liege at OC, hired a failed college coach at DC, and brought back an old tired OL coach to collect a few more dollars before he gets his SS check.

That is why Swarbrick is responsible for this shit show. To not see the obvious lack of logic marrying an inexperienced HC who was a DC w a kid OC is stupefying.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Also, it's been proven over and over again that you don't have to be running the ball effectively for play action passes to be effective.

Everyone should use play action passes. Making the defense honor the run for a beat at the snap is just another advantage in a game that gives the offense most of the other advantages, as well.

To add to this: Defenses, going back to last year, have stacked the box and dared ND to throw on them. They are literally playing to stop the run. Which just means they're susceptible to biting on PA. ND (without a Joe Moore OL) is pounding a square peg into a round hole....one that is being heavily guarded by the defense. Rees is doing nothing to account for and adjust to that. Watching it happen over and over has been infuriating. Know your team, Tommy! You don't have a great OL, you don't have amazing WR depth, you have QBs who are better equipped at running RPOs, you have a top TE and plenty of talent that needs to get the ball in space......make the adjustments!

 

[NDRock]

I get the impression this boils down to recruiting for most. Rees has not yielded great results while Hartline is known as a top end recruiter. Seems that many ND fans on this board want to take the gamble with Hartline because he's Freeman's former teammate and they feel he can bolster the roster with his recruiting prowess.

Should be noted that the current trio of verballed WR is one of, if not THE, best assembled WR class at ND in the Bush/Gore Century.

Yes, Tommy’s QB recruiting and development are his biggest issues, IMO. I’d rather have an experienced guy at OC instead of Hartline.

 

[arrowryan]

If Rees is let go/promotes in the off season, I’d like to see Freeman poach an OC at a big school or hire a former HC that got fired in the carousel.

Going with the “up and coming” route is getting stale and they’re about to be 0/3 with that idea: Sanford, Long, Rees (maybe).

 

[NDdomer2]

If Rees is let go/promotes in the off season, I’d like to see Freeman poach an OC at a big school or hire a former HC that got fired in the carousel.

Going with the “up and coming” route is getting stale and they’re about to be 0/3 with that idea: Sanford, Long, Rees (maybe).

Long was good as far as on field results, his failure was being an utter jackass right?

 

[arrowryan]

Long was good as far as on field results, his failure was being an utter jackass right?

Yeah and having half the starting offense on the verge of transferring

 

[Irishdrunk]

Did he answer any questions? Anyone ask him why he didn’t take a QB transfer?

Why no screens?

I can’t believe Tyree has been used so little.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Longo… he runs an exciting high powered offense and does good work with quarterbacks. He also might be willing to make that lateral move with the possible fallout of the acc

 

[du Lac]

The silver lining to me is Carr. What he does based on the hire has to matter. We have not had a QB talent like him since Clausen and we won't ever get over the hump without it. He is as important as the OC in a way.

 

[Irishdrunk]

The silver lining to me is Carr. What he does based on the hire has to matter. We have not had a QB talent like him since Clausen and we won't ever get over the hump without it. He is as important as the OC in a way.

You can’t have a recruits commitment guide hiring process. The kid could decommit later anyways.

 

[irishff1014]

Perhaps. It's hard to say how good/bad Rees is with such a horrendous OL, mediocre QB's, and a poor WR room. How would TR look if he were Ohio States OC? If he had Stroud and Njigba and company? I am not defending Rees, but it's food for thought.

He would have Stroud probably since he doesn’t recruit QB’s well.

 

[NDMatt91]

He would have Stroud probably since he doesn’t recruit QB’s well.

Yeah I think it's unlikely he would've been able to recruit Stroud to OSU. And if he did, he'd look nowhere near as good as he did last season.

 

[du Lac]

Yeah I think it's unlikely he would've been able to recruit Stroud to OSU. And if he did, he'd look nowhere near as good as he did last season.

If he can get Carr to come to ND and Dante to silent verbal, he could get QB's at Ohio State. Ohio State in a lot of ways recruits itself. He might do okay at Bama or The Rams.

 

[dublinirish]

lol OSU didn't even recruit Stroud until a bunch of their WR recruits lobbied for him to get an offer after they saw him play in 7 on 7 tournaments

 

[du Lac]

lol OSU didn't even recruit Stroud until a bunch of their WR recruits lobbied for him to get an offer after they saw him play in 7 on 7 tournaments

Ohio State is a factory. They could hire Frost as OC and they'd still get QB's.