These were actually in "the second half of the season where Rees is being creditied with "turning things around". They also followed the absolute gem of a game he called against Clemson - a masterpiece that does highlight that rees has real ability (though clearly not consistency from game to game).
1) Navy is getting blown apart so at half time decides to all out blitz the entire 2nd half knowing that Pyne is a very weak QB. Rees could find no answer against a team with significantly inferior players at every position. 6 total yds in the 2nd half, and ND escapses with a win in what would have been the most horrendous blown lead in ND history (and reminiscent of the 2021 Bowl game against Ok State where ND's offensive also bogged down after half time adjustments by the opposition. Freeman did not appear happy with play calling.
2) Boston College - not a thing that could be learned from this game as BC was so bad they could have fit in comfortably on Michigan's schedule. A good game, but a scrimmage against the scout team would have been more competitive.
3) USC - USC continues the Navy defensive approach, and Rees has few answers. The defense keeps us in the game despite Caleb Williams having a great game. Freeman was not happy with play calling.
4) Gator Bowl - S Carolina almost pulls off an improbable comeback because Rees calls a pass over the middle on the goal line as ND had just marched the length of the field by cramming the ball down the S Carolina defense's throat. The call was a magnificently boneheaded call, and Marcus Freeman can be seen to be fuming silently on the sideline.
Freeman said nothing publicly except that the ball "shouldn't have been thrown and we coaches need to be accountable.. He was also restricted by the fact that AD Swarbrick had hired Rees seperately before Freeman - he was not Freeman's choice. Freeman probably would have asked him, but the point is that Rees knew that his employment was more in the hands of Swarbrick than Freeman. As the season began to unravel early in the season, Freeman realized that his fate as a HC depended on him taing control of this situation. There were veiled references to the fact that Freeman was not going to allow the kind of call at the end of the S Carolina game anymore. Rees undoubtedly didn't like this - esp from a guy who knows defenses. I think he was gone at the first good offer. Nobody EVER expected that offer to be from Nick Saban. Rees might do well at Alabama because he will take whatever criticism saban gives him. But I don't think he was long for ND after last year's weak offensive performance. It wasn't just Pyne's limitations that were the problem.
I hope Rees succeeds in everygame except against ND if they meet. I hope he hangs a hundred on the purple-faced pole dancer too. But I think this could be a good event for ND assuming they make a good hire. Rees was unable to bring in a high level QB in his 5-6 yrs at ND until Carr. I admit Kelly played into that, but Rees is basically covered in Kelly's dank musky scent on the recruiting trail with QB's - and that is not a good thing.
It's fully Marcus Freeman's team now, and the previous set up was unfair to him imo. Let's hope me makes the hire that we need.
Every time TR was shown something he hadn't seen on tape or a DC made an adjustment, whether the opposing team had talent or not, TR pissed down his leg and was lost. He's shown less than zero ability to make adjustments on the fly. That's a system coach, not an OC.
Some can wring their hands over him leaving, but if they actually watched the game tapes, they'd be glad he's gone. Bama bought the media hype and good luck to em, they're gonna need it. 5* talent can cover a lot of faults, but when a reasonably talented team (let alone LSU or UGA) shows him something he hasn't seen before, he's going to piss down his leg (again) and keep running the same stuff just like he did against Okie St, Navy, USC, Marshall, etc, etc....
I, for one, am thrilled he's gone, along with the final stench of the BK regime. Making the right hire is imperative for ND, but I have complete faith in MF on that front. Which is a hell of a lot more than I could say for his predeccessor.
You don't just have A gameplan, you have multiple game plans. You don't just use the same 4 weapons. Etc.
Nick Saban is 72, he should probably get a geriatric neuro-psych exam for making that hire.
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that work out putting a DC as your offensive coordinator?
I realize this is a different because Rees is an OC, but is similar in that an aging legendary coach thinks that he can buck normal convention with a risky hire.
ran the ball the length of the field. Worst case scenario is kick a field goal and go up by 10 with 7 minutes to play. Also the defense was playing lights out in the second half.
Tommy may one day be a big time OC, but he's not one now.