What do you all think?  He has been OC for 15 games now. He has a track record. Do you think ND can get where you want it to go with him as OC?  What are his strengths?  Where can he improve?  

Edited September 17, 20213 yr by AnTostal

7 minutes ago, AnTostal said:

What do you all think?  He has been OC for 15 games now. He has a track record. Do you think ND can get where you want it to go with him as OC?  What are his strengths?  Where can he improve?  

Welcome to DomerDomain. I'd give Rees a solid B to B +. What I like is he sticks to concepts that are working. For example last year the running game in general and the split zone and counter plays in particular. This year the 4 verticals passing concept, and the RPO game.  I question how much say he has and whether he would be allowed to make many changes

Rees is a difficult one to judge. I wonder how much freedom he has. But in general I would give him a B-. 

My thoughts

• Limited track record 
• We don't know how heavy a hand BK applies to game plan and scheme
• Had a low ceiling QB, which played above his star rating
• Was 11th nationally in offensive efficiency vs the 8th toughest SoS, in his first year.
• Too early to crown, but if you're poo poo'ing him already, you're probably ignoring the obvious great first year, and have something against TR personally, or just perhaps unwilling to give him a chance.

Edited September 17, 20213 yr by OKelleyIrish

1 hour ago, OKelleyIrish said:

My thoughts

• Limited track record 
• We don't know how heavy a hand BK applies to game plan and scheme
• Had a low ceiling QB, which played above his star rating
• Was 11th nationally in offensive efficiency vs the 8th toughest SoS, in his first year.
• Too early to crown, but if you're poo poo'ing him already, you're probably ignoring the obvious great first year, and have something against TR personally, or just perhaps unwilling to give him a chance.

I’m not poo-pooing him. I’m pretty mixed. Last year was special. This year ND already has major issues along the O-line. This is going to challenge TR’s creativity and adaptability in a major way. I think he is up to the challenge.  He certainly seems to live and breathe football. That can’t be bad. 

2 minutes ago, AnTostal said:

I’m not poo-pooing him. I’m pretty mixed. Last year was special. This year ND already has major issues along the O-line. This is going to challenge TR’s creativity and adaptability in a major way. I think he is up to the challenge.  He certainly seems to live and breathe football. That can’t be bad. 

Wasn't directing that at you. Apologies if it came off that way. I was talking to the TR Boo Birds out there lol. See the Helton thread....

I'm not buying or selling at this point personally. He had near a top 10 start in his first season though, and did it with a very low dollar passing attack. Even if our O takes a step back this year, I'm not hitting the panic button. I'd like to see what he can do next year with TB before making any adamant statement. 

Had a good OL for the most part last year though, which helped. I agree he'll be tested this year with the OL struggling. Not sure we can get away with ground and pound, so will likely see some more dynamic mix (at least I hope).

 

The only true thing I want from Tommy is some more exotic designs to help out the o-line and qb out. You can still have a poor line but find ways to get Williams the ball more.   I think the line is slowly coming together.  Just have to be patient. 

I feel like our QBs have been better since he’s taken over and I have to believe its because no one knows better than he does what its like to be a QB out there.  He knows exactly what our QBs are feeling at any moment in a game. 
 

I also feel like he’s done a GREAT job to tailoring the play-calls to what the players need and are good at in that moment.  

I will echo that I would like to see some more dynamics in the play designs themselves.  
 

We’re obviously going to get blitzed A LOT this season.  We should have basically an entire playbook of quick easy options to punish these blitz schemes.

3 hours ago, coltssb said:

The only true thing I want from Tommy is some more exotic designs to help out the o-line and qb out. You can still have a poor line but find ways to get Williams the ball more.   I think the line is slowly coming together.  Just have to be patient. 

It’s fun to see innovative offenses. I thought Arkansas and West Virginia showed a lot yesterday. I’d like to see TR do a little more, and I’d love to see him design and call plays that use the tight ends more often. 
The team has been winning, and it’s hard to argue with success. I’ll just start taking antacids and nitroglycerin before and during games. The games have really stressed me. 

My feeling about an offensive coordinator, in an ideal situation,   is that he’s responsible for assessing weaknesses and demanding improvements from position coaches. I really doubt crony Rees has any power to light a fire over crony Jeff Quinn. This is why hiring too many cronies is problematic. 

20 hours ago, coltssb said:

The only true thing I want from Tommy is some more exotic designs to help out the o-line and qb out. You can still have a poor line but find ways to get Williams the ball more.   I think the line is slowly coming together.  Just have to be patient. 

You would think that Kelly’s experience in dealing with small and/or unproductive lines by using up-tempo and “exotic” designs before coming to ND would be a useful tool in this. 

1 hour ago, imroc said:

You would think that Kelly’s experience in dealing with small and/or unproductive lines by using up-tempo and “exotic” designs before coming to ND would be a useful tool in this. 

He did just quote, and I’m only going off memory here, that he doesn’t mess with Rees on play calling. More about management-Field position. He didn’t like the start of the third quarter play design and intervened about what they were trying to accomplished there. 
Sl it sounds like all Tommy for the most part. 

Good to know. Thanks