Tommy Rees - Offensive Coordinator

[Bane]

I know many of you remember him with such fondness that borderlines idol worship but it truly wasn’t reality.

Ah yes, the Notre Dame fanbase and their notorious love of Tommy Rees that borders on idol worship.

 

[Dale]

I can tell you firsthand that most of the Bama fan base was very, very unhappy with Rees’ play calling the first half of the season. I remember a booster asked me if we could please take him back. This was with a decade of top recruiting and an incredible stable of 5star players. Bama won because of the obscene player talent, not Reese’s play calling.

I know many of you remember him with such fondness that borderlines idol worship but it truly wasn’t reality.

Him becoming UCLA‘s coach just guarantees many years of UCLA’s mediocrity. Which I guess, is not a bad thing.

Must be the first time a fanbase has ever been unhappy with a OC

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Rees was his fifth choice, though.

It happens. Pete Carroll was SC’s fifth or sixth choice & worked out far better than the ones he wanted ahead of him.

 

[IrishLion]

OPPONENT SUNDAY FILM REVIEW: we did a nice job on the TE, but we gotta stay locked in, we have ND this week, and #87 is a stud AND their only weapon. Stop the TE in passing situations and we win.

OPPONENT MONDAY GAME PREP: wow #87 is literally their only consistent pass catcher. We gotta stop him. Here’s how they get him the ball…

OPPONENT TUESDAY PRACTICE: we will rep stopping the TE in 3rd-and-long more than we have all year

OPPONENT WEDNESDAY PRACTICE: find #87 on the scout team on every. single. play.

OPPONENT THURSDAY PRACTICE: repping three different personnel packages to stop #87 in various different situations.

OPPONENT FRIDAY WALK-THROUGH: we will force punts if we stop #87, we can then control the game.

NOTRE DAME ON SATURDAY: there’s Mayer, getting schemed wide open on yet ANOTHER 3rd down, even though everyone in the world knows what’s happening, and even though the opponents spent all week getting ready for it. Something about that OC and the way he uses tendencies and motion to turn out a pretty good product, despite a lack of consistent receivers and a QB that should probably be playing at Hofstra.

 

[greyhammer90]

OPPONENT SUNDAY FILM REVIEW: we did a nice job on the TE, but we gotta stay locked in, we have ND this week, and #87 is a stud AND their only weapon. Stop the TE in passing situations and we win.

OPPONENT MONDAY GAME PREP: wow #87 is literally their only consistent pass catcher. We gotta stop him. Here’s how they get him the ball…

OPPONENT TUESDAY PRACTICE: we will rep stopping the TE in 3rd-and-long more than we have all year

OPPONENT WEDNESDAY PRACTICE: find #87 on the scout team on every. single. play.

OPPONENT THURSDAY PRACTICE: repping three different personnel packages to stop #87 in various different situations.

OPPONENT FRIDAY WALK-THROUGH: we will force punts if we stop #87, we can then control the game.

NOTRE DAME ON SATURDAY: there’s Mayer, getting schemed wide open on yet ANOTHER 3rd down, even though everyone in the world knows what’s happening, and even though the opponents spent all week getting ready for it. Something about that OC and the way he uses tendencies and motion to turn out a pretty good product, despite a lack of consistent receivers and a QB that should probably be playing at Hofstra.

True, Rees was severely hamstrung at ND with a lack of QB and reciever talent. We should really thank him for overcoming those defencies with his playcalling.

We should really blame the OC/QB coach in the years before 2022 who put those rooms together.

 

[ulukinatme]

True, Rees was severely hamstrung at ND with a lack of QB and reciever talent. We should really thank him for overcoming those defencies with his playcalling.

We should really blame the OC/QB coach in the years before 2022 who put those rooms together.

View attachment 3061341

Rees was responsible for landing Carr, Minchey, and Hartman once BK left the room. Pretty sure BK had a thing for low hanging fruit. Chip Long left him with a shit cupboard, the only guys that panned out offensively from his last two classes were Kyren and Mayer (Although both lived up to or exceeded billing). Everyone else transferred, didn't work, or went to defense in Watts case. Rees' and later Freeman's recruiting are the reason we're seeing a lot of young and talented guys today.

 

[ulukinatme]

While I get all of that... if you take a step back it is a bit surprising at the same time.

He didnt really deserve the ND OC job, but got it because of BK. He was OK in the role... but not great.
He didnt really deserve the Bama OC job, but got it because of timing. He was OK in the role... but not great.
Somehow he goes from Browns TE coach to OC and again, he is OK in the role... but not great.
He is an OK recruiter... but not great. Never been an HC.
To me he is a poor man's Lincoln Riley, which is the last thing UCLA should be looking for right now.

He was a pretty darn good recruiter once BK left, that's your common denominator. Armchair QBs always know more than Nick Saban, or UCLA, or NFL organizations. They want to focus on the missed opportunities and discredit any achievements. In the 4 years he was a college OC he went to 2 playoffs and coached in another as QB coach. He arguably achieved more with less, which sums up his playing career too. He's got 2 wins against Clemson which is more than any other coach that's been at ND and 1 more than OSU has on Clemson as a program. With Coan under center Rees' offense set the Fiesta Bowl record for total offense. He turned Ty Simpson into a Heisman caliber QB and overachieved with guys like Pyne and Book based on recruiting ratings. As a player he's the 2nd winningest QB at ND and he coached the 1st, Ian Book. As a player he's in the Top 5 or better in 5 passing categories. The problems with the Browns' offense go far beyond Rees, Bill Walsh couldn't win with that team.

Greatest coach to ever call an offense at ND? No, but he's better than many give him credit for. The players loved him, and other than 5 star Phil all his former players speak highly of him. That includes Brandon Wimbush who got benched. There's a reason he continues to rise through the coaching ranks. You don't go from new college OC to NFL OC to a possible P4 college HC in 5 years just by luck.

 

[NDohio]

It’s so interesting - college football fans either love or hate ND football. There is no in between. Us ND fans don’t get it. Our team should be celebrated for the way the program operates. Why don’t the haters get it?

ND fans either love or hate Tommy Rees. There is no in between. Tommy Rees fans don’t get the haters. As a player he got more out of his skill set than most players. He then came back to be a coach and coached 2 QBs to maximize their skill sets. Why don’t the haters get it?

 

[stlnd01]

It’s so interesting - college football fans either love or hate ND football. There is no in between. Us ND fans don’t get it. Our team should be celebrated for the way the program operates. Why don’t the haters get it?

ND fans either love or hate Tommy Rees. There is no in between. Tommy Rees fans don’t get the haters. As a player he got more out of his skill set than most players. He then came back to be a coach and coached 2 QBs to maximize their skill sets. Why don’t the haters get it?

Tommy Rees is like the weather. He is eternal, and he always gives us something to talk about.

 

[ND87]

I just meant he still seems pretty young for that level of HC gig.
Not knocking his OC capabilities (I don't know enough Xs & Os)
He was always talked about as a "game manager" ; can he manage people yet? Particularly assistant coaches older than he?
Is his management style likely to be just yelling "do your f-in job!" ?

 

[ReesusCrist]

For how he is talked about by some around here, you world think Tommy is still bringing his lunch to work in a Power Rangers lunchbox.

 

[Dale]

Why don’t the haters get it?

There is a trend across social media/real life to sniff out and admonish even the slightest hint of nepotism. Like Rees is the only coach in football that may have caught a break once coming up.

 

[NDRock]

OPPONENT SUNDAY FILM REVIEW: we did a nice job on the TE, but we gotta stay locked in, we have ND this week, and #87 is a stud AND their only weapon. Stop the TE in passing situations and we win.

OPPONENT MONDAY GAME PREP: wow #87 is literally their only consistent pass catcher. We gotta stop him. Here’s how they get him the ball…

OPPONENT TUESDAY PRACTICE: we will rep stopping the TE in 3rd-and-long more than we have all year

OPPONENT WEDNESDAY PRACTICE: find #87 on the scout team on every. single. play.

OPPONENT THURSDAY PRACTICE: repping three different personnel packages to stop #87 in various different situations.

OPPONENT FRIDAY WALK-THROUGH: we will force punts if we stop #87, we can then control the game.

NOTRE DAME ON SATURDAY: there’s Mayer, getting schemed wide open on yet ANOTHER 3rd down, even though everyone in the world knows what’s happening, and even though the opponents spent all week getting ready for it. Something about that OC and the way he uses tendencies and motion to turn out a pretty good product, despite a lack of consistent receivers and a QB that should probably be playing at Hofstra.

This is not a Tommy comment. My recollection was Mayer was always making catches with people right on him. It was very impressive, but made me think he was going to struggle to replicate that in the NFL. Guy was a beast for sure. Would be interesting to go back and watch some of those games. Maybe he was wide open often times.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

There is a trend across social media/real life to sniff out and admonish even the slightest hint of nepotism. Like Rees is the only coach in football that may have caught a break once coming up.

I was thinking the same thing. But there’s something to be said about players/coaches whose father did the same. Look at how many MLB players (most of them being stars) had fathers who played pro ball. That extra knowledge of having a father who navigated the pro ranks is valuable & I believe the same goes for coaching. They‘ve lived it w/ their dad & their learning curve can be shortened from that knowledge. Of course there’s no guarantees but I think it gives them a legit advantage.

 

[Bane]

There is a trend across social media/real life to sniff out and admonish even the slightest hint of nepotism. Like Rees is the only coach in football that may have caught a break once coming up.

Nepotism? In football coaching ranks?? I guess not everyone can be self made like Sean McVay who overcame his father being the OKC bomber to become a successful NFL HC.

 

[smw6230]

Nepotism? In football coaching ranks?? I guess not everyone can be self made like Sean McVay who overcame his father being the OKC bomber to become a successful NFL HC.

Hell Charlie Weis Jr.

 

[greyhammer90]

ND fans either love or hate Tommy Rees. There is no in between.

I disagree with this. I think I'd be labeled a hater by people on here but I like him a lot. Was a fan of his as a player (it wasn't his fault he was our best option at QB, he won us a lot of games, and was always a team first guy). I was happy for him when he was hired as QB coach and OC and I was excited to see his FU attitude come through the offense. I was even happier when he stayed after BK left. I thought he was a great football mind who was a top tier gameplan schemer. I'm pleased he landed us Carr in the end. I thought he'd be a great NFL coach and will always root for him.

I also think he had major deficiencies as an OC. Recruiting at QB under Rees was subpar to the point that we had to take 3 years of QB rentals in last 4 years. The one year we rolled with his room (reportedly Rees' call since Freeman is a defensive coach) was a total disaster and essentially cost us the 2022 season. There's no evidence that he's even an average QB coach as his QBs often showed regression more than progression. For all his football IQ he didn't appear to be a great in-game adjuster when his original gameplan wasn't working. Lastly, it's not super popular to bring up around here (because we all want to root for Tommy) but it's a fact that he completely screwed us in 2023 by leaving to go to Bama a month before spring practice. The late move put us in scramble mode and led to hiring Parker.

I like him a lot and there's a ton of evidence of that in my posts on his various threads, but certain posters on IE bend over backwards to pretend like his side of the ball (and the position he was primarily responsible for) weren't the main problem with Notre Dame during his 6 years coaching here. We had ELITE defenses during those years.

 

[NDRock]

i was never blown away by Tommy as our OC/QB coach but I have a feeling he might make a very good head coach. A lot of the offensive minded head coaches, like Lincoln Riley, Kiffin, etc… seem like p*ssies and their teams fold against physicality. Rees always showed some grit and toughness to me, I could see his teams playing that way as well.

 

[stlnd01]

I was thinking the same thing. But there’s something to be said about players/coaches whose father did the same. Look at how many MLB players (most of them being stars) had fathers who played pro ball. That extra knowledge of having a father who navigated the pro ranks is valuable & I believe the same goes for coaching. They‘ve lived it w/ their dad & their learning curve can be shortened from that knowledge. Of course there’s no guarantees but I think it gives them a legit advantage.

Yeah. Rees grew up around football. Coach's kid, all that. I'm sure that helps his understanding of the game, and probably opened doors (like when he worked for the Chargers two years out of college).

But also he didn't really need his dad to get hired as our quarterbacks coach in 2017. Kelly had known him for like eight years at that point, and knew that he was probably the smartest QB he had ever coached.

 

[Bane]

I disagree with this. I think I'd be labeled a hater by people on here but I like him a lot. Was a fan of his as a player (it wasn't his fault he was our best option at QB, he won us a lot of games, and was always a team first guy). I was happy for him when he was hired as QB coach and OC and I was excited to see his FU attitude come through the offense. I was even happier when he stayed after BK left. I thought he was a great football mind who was a top tier gameplan schemer. I'm pleased he landed us Carr in the end. I thought he'd be a great NFL coach and will always root for him.

I also think he had major deficiencies as an OC. Recruiting at QB under Rees was subpar to the point that we had to take 3 years of QB rentals in last 4 years. The one year we rolled with his room (reportedly Rees' call since Freeman is a defensive coach) was a total disaster and essentially cost us the 2022 season. There's no evidence that he's even an average QB coach as his QBs often showed regression more than progression. For all his football IQ he didn't appear to be a great in-game adjuster when his original gameplan wasn't working. Lastly, it's not super popular to bring up around here (because we all want to root for Tommy) but it's a fact that he completely screwed us in 2023 by leaving to go to Bama a month before spring practice. The late move put us in scramble mode and led to hiring Parker.

I like him a lot and there's a ton of evidence of that in my posts on his various threads, but certain posters on IE bend over backwards to pretend like his side of the ball (and the position he was primarily responsible for) weren't the main problem with Notre Dame during his 6 years coaching here. We had ELITE defenses during those years.

I like Tommy, appreciate his contributions as a player and as a coach to ND. I think he was a good game planner, and playcaller but not elite (but I got to see what a truly bad OC looked like under Parker), but I always felt his recruiting was his biggest weakness and for that reason I always thought he would end up in the NFL where he doesn't have to do that.

I'm sure he would take UCLA because of his family ties as well as the money and opportunity, but I think he would be better off trying to get away from the absolute blackhole of the Cleveland Browns and work his way up the NFL coaching ranks. Tommy always comes across a little flat when he speaks to me and it's hard to imagine him motivating an entire team the way Marcus Freeman or Kirby Smart do which is more important in college than the NFL.

 

[Dale]

but it's a fact that he completely screwed us in 2023 by leaving to go to Bama a month before spring practice. The late move put us in scramble mode and led to hiring Parker.

This isn’t what happened at all. We screwed ourselves to end up with Parker. We had like 6+ weeks and spent multiple weeks courting others before Parker. They hosted Klein and then didn’t offer him the job. They hosted Ludwig without full understanding of his buyout. It is not customary at all anymore to host coaching candidates you don’t expect to hire. You do Zoom calls and then the campus visit is basically a sign the deal is done.

That was on us.

 

[greyhammer90]

This isn’t what happened at all. We screwed ourselves to end up with Parker. We had like 6+ weeks and spent multiple weeks courting others before Parker. That was on us.

I'm not saying it was the only thing that went wrong, but the lateness put us in a position where if our limited (because of timing) top choices didn't pan out we had very few options. Not handled perfectly by ND or Freeman but if any coordinator besides Tommy went to another playoff contender in the way he did they'd be dead to this board.

 

[Dale]

I'm not saying it was the only thing that went wrong, but the lateness put us in a position where if our limited (because of timing) top choices didn't pan out we had very few options. Not handled perfectly by ND or Freeman but if any coordinator besides Tommy went to another playoff contender in the way he did they'd be dead to this board.

It’s honestly never crossed my mind until your post that Rees was at fault for us ending up with Parker. That was institutional failure from the AD to Freeman to end up with Parker.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Again ... Go, Tommy. In my seeing, he comes darn close to maxing out what he has to work with, is supremely loyal and serious on all his jobs, and everyone is not perfect nor a Hall of Fame genius. But this guy is a hard worker who puts his shoulder to the wheel on everything he does. He absolutely saved our ass so often as a player, that pissing on him in any way staggers my sense of team togetherness and loyalty.

... as to QBs coming into our system: Brian Kelly made a (somewhat understandable) philosophical mistake as to offensive system planning. He was exceptionally good at the Stand-and-Deliver type 4-route QB offensive patterns. He decided that at ND he couldn't stick with this and began looking at high-octane high-ceiling double-threat QBs from high school. The trouble is, we stunk on evaluating that sort of QB, and missed almost every time. Tommy, in my opinion, did not have the decision reins on our QB recruiting, and possibly not the time-in-the-field experience to get the Kelly-sanctioned type QB. Note that CJ Carr is not the dual threat type, finally (our other really solid QB, Book, wasn't either though he could run well if he wished.). Kelly was either wrong about the (arbitrary) need for a philosophical shift, or just poor at evaluation of that type of QB when they were young undeveloped players.

Not Rees' fault. I remember Tommy on the practice field with Pyne and Buchner (all three throwing the ball.) The professional look (and even beauty) of Tommy's deliveries compared to those two was shocking. There was only one QB throwing that day and it was obvious.

 

[NDohio]

I disagree with this. I think I'd be labeled a hater by people on here but I like him a lot. Was a fan of his as a player (it wasn't his fault he was our best option at QB, he won us a lot of games, and was always a team first guy). I was happy for him when he was hired as QB coach and OC and I was excited to see his FU attitude come through the offense. I was even happier when he stayed after BK left. I thought he was a great football mind who was a top tier gameplan schemer. I'm pleased he landed us Carr in the end. I thought he'd be a great NFL coach and will always root for him.

I also think he had major deficiencies as an OC. Recruiting at QB under Rees was subpar to the point that we had to take 3 years of QB rentals in last 4 years. The one year we rolled with his room (reportedly Rees' call since Freeman is a defensive coach) was a total disaster and essentially cost us the 2022 season. There's no evidence that he's even an average QB coach as his QBs often showed regression more than progression. For all his football IQ he didn't appear to be a great in-game adjuster when his original gameplan wasn't working. Lastly, it's not super popular to bring up around here (because we all want to root for Tommy) but it's a fact that he completely screwed us in 2023 by leaving to go to Bama a month before spring practice. The late move put us in scramble mode and led to hiring Parker.

I like him a lot and there's a ton of evidence of that in my posts on his various threads, but certain posters on IE bend over backwards to pretend like his side of the ball (and the position he was primarily responsible for) weren't the main problem with Notre Dame during his 6 years coaching here. We had ELITE defenses during those years.

Just because you are schizophrenic doesn’t mean I am wrong!

Of course there are no absolutes like I hyperbolized, but I do find the polarization of the two subjects (ND and TR) quite fascinating.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

He better stay away from mom's spaghetti!

I heard he eats Skyline everyday.

 

[greyhammer90]

Just because you are schizophrenic doesn’t mean I am wrong!

Of course there are no absolutes like I hyperbolized, but I do find the polarization of the two subjects (ND and TR) quite fascinating.

Didn't mean to call you out in particular. Just think it's often presented as though if you criticize Tommy you must have an axe to grind because of his playing days or think he's some nepobaby. I don't think he's worth the level of praise or consternation he often receives. He was overall a good OC, but he had certain places where he was either mediocre or bad. That's fine, but its annoying for me to read about how every single thing he was bad at was actually somebody else's fault. BK was apparently so uninvolved in recruiting that Tommy couldn't overcome the offensive personnel he was saddled with (pay no attention to the other side of the ball operating just fine), but at the same time BK was extremely involved and responsible for every bad QB Tommy ever recruited. No matter what, it's never Rees' fault.

 

[Dale]

Didn't mean to call you out in particular. Just think it's often presented as though if you criticize Tommy you must have an axe to grind because of his playing days or think he's some nepobaby. I don't think he's worth the level of praise or consternation he often receives. He was overall a good OC, but he had certain places where he was either mediocre or bad. That's fine, but its annoying for me to read about how every single thing he was bad at was actually somebody else's fault. BK was apparently so uninvolved in recruiting that Tommy couldn't overcome the offensive personnel he was saddled with (pay no attention to the other side of the ball operating just fine), but at the same time BK was extremely involved and responsible for every bad QB Tommy ever recruited. No matter what, it's never Rees' fault.

There are extremes on both sides like anything. There are more Rees haters than people that think Rees is never wrong. That is you would have to admit odd for a former player and coach with no clear black stain on that career.

 

[NDohio]

Didn't mean to call you out in particular. Just think it's often presented as though if you criticize Tommy you must have an axe to grind because of his playing days or think he's some nepobaby. I don't think he's worth the level of praise or consternation he often receives. He was overall a good OC, but he had certain places where he was either mediocre or bad. That's fine, but its annoying for me to read about how every single thing he was bad at was actually somebody else's fault. BK was apparently so uninvolved in recruiting that Tommy couldn't overcome the offensive personnel he was saddled with (pay no attention to the other side of the ball operating just fine), but at the same time BK was extremely involved and responsible for every bad QB Tommy ever recruited. No matter what, it's never Rees' fault.

And there are just as many people that think it is always Rees’ fault.

 

[stlnd01]

Didn't mean to call you out in particular. Just think it's often presented as though if you criticize Tommy you must have an axe to grind because of his playing days or think he's some nepobaby. I don't think he's worth the level of praise or consternation he often receives. He was overall a good OC, but he had certain places where he was either mediocre or bad. That's fine, but its annoying for me to read about how every single thing he was bad at was actually somebody else's fault. BK was apparently so uninvolved in recruiting that Tommy couldn't overcome the offensive personnel he was saddled with (pay no attention to the other side of the ball operating just fine), but at the same time BK was extremely involved and responsible for every bad QB Tommy ever recruited. No matter what, it's never Rees' fault.

I'm not saying this is you, but Rees has been divisive going back to the first time he stepped on the field for us 15 years ago, and I do think some of the people who didn't like him as OC, and don't like him now, were the same people who didn't like him as our quarterback in 2010 and 2011. There's a sense - when he was a player and when he was a coach - that we could/should have had someone "better."