Either way for me, it's a win-win scenario. A stunning success means substantial point totals against Louisville, Wisconsin and Clemson next year, culminating in wins against 2/3 or perhaps all three. If it's a disaster it'll be a trainwreck. If it's a disaster then Brian Kelly should own this and it should define his career at ND. No 3.0, no reboots, nothing. It defines him even more than Brian VanGorder, Rees played the position FOR him and will call his offense however Kelly tells him to. If it is a disaster I want it to be a complete fucking meltdown failure. He's a shit coach who makes lazy hires and changes only when forced to, a poor recruiter and has never really understood Notre Dame the way many of us have for generations.
My making Rees coordinator, it means he should be ready to match Brent Venables, Jim Leonhard and anyone else NOW-not two years from now, not "Tom is still learning and growing" or whatever bullshit coach speak Kelly likes to spin, it means now.