Question: If Chip Long goes to Memphis, who would replace him? Tim Prister: I've got to believe that Tom Rees is someone that would be under consideration if Chip Long is gone. Pete Sampson: He definitely would be under consideration, I don't think that would be a very good idea. Tim Prister: I think that would be a really, really, risky move. Tim O'Malley: I do too. I like him as a QB coach at this stage of his career. - Irish Illustrated Podcast, December 9th, 2019: I wonder if their opinions changed in the past 5 weeks after careful consideration.
well, at least there is this from Tyler Buchner on Rees getting the OC position: “Absolutely huge. I’m beyond excited and could not be happier for him.”
tom rees seems like a nice guy, a good coach and someone with a bright future. i just hope he's ready this year. could be a great hire, or it could set the program back 5 years Edit: I hope everyone was already seated before reading this burning hot take
Let's be honest - if it doesn't work out BK will take the reins. Hell, he'll probably already do that anyway. I don't think it's possible that it sets us back 5 years like a BVG hire - it just potentially lowers the floor and ceiling of the next couple of teams, which sucks because next year is set up to be a great opportunity and generally we have decent momentum right now.
As a Browns / ND fan, I'm having so much PTSD to a year ago when all the Browns players were super pumped Kitchens got the Head Coach job...
Rees is very bright and I think he has a ton of potential, but this is risky. This isn't a year for growing pains. There is still a spot to fill on the staff on offense. I'll see what they do with that before getting too upset. If they can bring in an upgrade at OL and give TEs to Quinn, it could help a bit. I'm really hoping that's the move here. I do think this is better than Denbrock.
That's legit embarrassing. I remember during one of the recent II podcasts Prister had some hair brained idea why Moorhead wouldn't go to Oregon because he's a Pittsburgh guy through and through. Just utterly laughable.
The II staff got played, again. Or they are willingly participating in ND's PR campaign. Putting up the front that outside hires being seriously pursued to legitimize a search that ends with the crony hire. Loy just posted that ND only had a couple phone calls with Moorhead and never a formal interview.
Remember when kelly got all pissy at a press conference when someone asked him about the next oc? He said I make the tough decisions, I will hire the most competent guy for the job and I will look at every possibilities. dude is a great politician
So rees interviewed for Oregon got denied but nd didn’t even bother interviewing moorehead...just fucking pathetic
Prister's put his article out today. Not exactly a scathing review but its not the blatant puff piece I would have expected. Some highlights: -Sorta called Kelly out for the "national search" BS -Seems to suggest that it was Kelly that passed on Moorhead and not the other way around -It's understandable that fans are frustrated with the hire -Suggests that Denbrock will be brought in as TE coach and to "guide the process" with Rees.
This is what I was getting at with my post earlier about what side the lack of interest was on. If moorhead was interested and Kelly didn't let it go more than a couple of phone calls, that is incredibly frustrating. and denbrock coming back is just...whatever, we're not beating clemson next year anyway
Keeping Quinn at oline too, the coaches room will be a country club. Tommy rees- « hey guys what are we doing today » Kelly-« you can start by getting everybody some coffee and donuts » The defense will have to carry this team again.
So I wouldve been somewhat okay with promoting Rees but really only under the condition of kicking quinn to TE and getting a real OL coach
Yeah. I would imagine Moorhead would tell you he walked away because he wasn't interested in babysitting Rees and that was a requirement for Kelly, so there's a degree of spin on that. As far as Denbrock, I'd rather not bring in another coach who thinks they are going to have any degree of control. Too many cooks in the kitchen has not worked out well under Kelly. The scheme has always been pretty similar but the operations ran much more smoothly under Long, presumably because he insisted on less input and involvement from the rest of the staff. There's no way Rees is going to have that kind of autonomy, and that's why I don't like the hire. Rees plus Denbrock plus Taylor plus Kelly seems like the kind of offense by committee that ends up deciding to throw it 50 times against NC State.
Watching this thread devolve from fun loving ND fan to basically every poster on ND Nation and every other ND fan site has been something to see. I guess that's what age does to people.
It’s what a lot of disappointment does, but frankly I am excited to see what Rees can do. Like Wicket said if a new ol coach would’ve been brought in i would be more excited. Passing on Moorehead is disappointing but who the hell knows how it will turn out
A couple more things, coachd brought up that point and I agree with it. If that move is made in 2011 or early in kelly’s tenure it’s a better gamble. You have a couple of years to figure it out and you either move on or continu to grow with him and give the first time oc more leeway as you go. But now is not the time for this gamble. And the most scary thing is the reports coming from all the sites that Kelly has been reverting back to his old habits, these hires would make it appear that it’s really trending that way.
So Thoros of Beer when is that supposed Kelly retirement plan supposed to kick in? Asking for a friend.
Here is my optimistic view of the situation. When Kelly stepped back from the offense a few years back to be more of a CEO, the defense was in shambles coming off of the Van Gorder era. Now with the defense in the capable hands of Lea, he has the capability to fill in any gaps due to Rees' inexperience. With that we have to accept the assumption that Rees is as bright as they are telling us. I'm not saying I believe all of that, but it is a plausible scenario to how this all played out.
It’s certainly what Kelly wants us to believe. Whether or not it’s actually true, we’ll see. Either way, Machine Gun Tommy is an interesting hill to choose to die on.
It's the Kelly stepping in part that I don't like. I'm less concerned with Rees' inexperience than I am with Kelly having more influence on the offense than he did for the last three years.
Interesting The II guys + Sampson make it seem like the extension is nearly done, but you literally can’t trust anything they say anymore
I think he is reverting back to the mean a bit I think they are doing what they have always done but ND has gotten a lot better at giving coaches the narrative they should be putting out there
I guess in retrospect I don't care about the Rees hire, Moorehead would've been nice because we know he can call a game. I'm sure Rees can call a game but learning on the job is less than ideal. However their isn't exceptional offensive skill talent to work with, so Rees better figure it out quickly. Having all 5 OL back is a nice cushion for him. Of course because their isnt exceptional offensive skill talent on the team the ceiling is probably low anyways. 2020 ND will be a fringe top 10 team again that needs exceptional defense to carry it just like in 2019, that wasn't changing with the coordinator.
from Loy on the TE coach Spoiler It was announced on Tuesday that Notre Dame had promoted quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees to offensive coordinator and running backs coach Lance Taylor to Run Game Coordinator. With that, there is still a spot to fill on offense. Here’s what Irish Illustrated and 247Sports have heard regarding a new name to watch for Notre Dame’s opening for its tight ends coach. When looking for a “home run hire,” John Lilly would check off that box in a big way. I’ve learned through sources that he’s being considered and he would be a tremendous hire, both for his ability to coach tight ends, but also for his efforts on the recruiting trail. The Fighting Irish would be better having Lilly on staff. Lilly has been a coach for more than 25 years. Currently on staff with the Cleveland Browns, Lilly has also coached for the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams. At the collegiate level, he coached at Georgia and Florida State, to name a few, and was extremely successful during both stops. During his time with the Bulldogs from 2008-2015, he helped develop Orson Charles and Arthur Lynch, two guys that were successful in college and went on to get drafted. Charles set a school record at the time for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,370. According to 247Sports’ Rusty Mansell, our Georgia Bulldogs insider, Lilly would be an excellent addition to the Notre Dame program for a variety of reasons. 16COMMENTS “He’s very respected. He won some big-time recruiting battles during his time at Georgia,” said Mansell. “For example, if you look at the recruitment of Roquan Smith, the Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, Lilly got that one done almost single-handedly. He pushed the defensive staff to go hard after him after initially getting some resistance. Clearly that paid off for Georgia. He was the co-recruiter for Laremy Tunsil, another top pick, and Georgia had that one done until the last second. He has been in some big-time, alpha recruiting battles and won. He’s just such a respected person, which is why he gets promoted and gets great job offers. He’s not some journeyman who bounces around, but a guy that is coveted by coaches. He’s also a great X’s and O’s coach. Put it this way, if I had a son that was a tight end, I would want him playing for John Lilly.” Stay locked to Irish Illustrated and 247Sports for more on Notre Dame’s search for a new tight ends coach, as well as its next cornerbacks coach.