Bob C said:
Matt
Here is my dilemma in answering your question.
As per many NFL evaluations of Kizer had the physical skills,but he lacked the mechanics and technique
of a first round draft pick.
Now my question to you........how has that situation changed for the development of Wimbush ?
Tommy Reese has had no on field coaching experience.Will Brian actually be coaching Wimbush or coaching
Reese to coach Wimbush ?
I love this Wimbush kid.But combining the aforementioned question and the fact Wimbush is a fundamental rookie,how do you see this play out ?
Thank you,and as always I am proud to be on the same "Team Frank" as you.
BC
We will have to see. That question can't be answered now.
In the spring, Rees was working with the QBs as Kelly was with every position group. Kelly did spend time with the QBs, but far less than in the past.
Wimbush has the tools, natural talent, and more "QB" traits (leadership, attitude, etc) than Kizer, which is why he was one of the top QBs in his class.
Wimbush also has had the benefit of learning and getting a feel for how a game is managed. He has seen a successful team (2015) and a team that failed (2016). I think that's a plus because he is a kid that is very intelligent and has seen what works and doesn't work.
In terms of Rees, it's just a wait and see. Kelly could have hired any QB coach and you wouldn't know how Wimbush is going to be at this point in the year. As you know, Notre Dame is a different animal and some coaches/asst. coaches thrive under the bright lights and some can't handle it the pressure.
Rees knows what to expect and how the program is run. Autry Denson and Todd Lyght entered with very little experience and zero big-time D1 program experience.
Rees working with the WRs at Northwestern and the offense in San Diego is a positive in my mind. The Chargers staff raved about his ability to relate and coach the players:
http://www.ndinsider.com/football/how-tom-rees-quickly-climbed-the-coaching-ladder-back-to/article_61f258c2-204b-11e7-82cf-175db3c0cca8.htmlQuote:
"How old is he?" asks Shane Steichen, the Los Angeles Chargers' quarterbacks coach. He just worked daily with Rees for roughly a year, and honestly, he has no idea.
Twenty-four years old, you tell him, and Steichen nearly cuts you off. He swats away the number like a center protecting the rim.
"He doesn't act like a 24-year-old," Steichen interjects. "That's the difference. He carried himself in an adult manner. He carries himself like he's a 34-year-old, the way he goes about his business."
Rees' business, in his lone season as an offensive assistant with the Chargers, often required him to coach players who were significantly older and more experienced. And yet, it never showed.
"It's hard for some young coaches to say, 'All right, I'm the same age as these players,' and a lot of our players were older than Tommy," says Nick Sirianni, the Chargers' wide receivers coach. "But there was never a moment where it was like Tommy trying to be a guy's friend ever. Which is a good thing. He was always their coach."
Experience, believe it or not, is not a critical trait in a successful football coach. Do you know the game, and can you teach it?
Rees checked both boxes in permanent ink.
"When he came in, the players respected him, because he knew what he was talking about," Steichen says. "As soon as you know what you're talking about at any level it doesn't matter what level it is as soon as you can help these guys, they're going to respect you no matter what your age is."
It's definitely a risky hire by Kelly in a crucial year, but there have been plenty of young coaches that have had success and they have to start somewhere. Could Rees be one of those guys? We will see in about 6 months.
