Tommy Rees Notebook | October 25th
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees spoke following Tuesday's practice.
On if Notre Dame uses quick tempo less than in previous seasons:
"With regards to tempo, we've always felt the ability to change tempo is the advantage. If you do one, teams know how to prepare for it. We played 70 reps of football Saturday—it was a little bit more if you take out the kneels—I think we had 16 (quick) tempo. We huddled 20 times maybe? Calling from the sidelines.
"We had 14 drives before the kneel down, so that's 14 called. And the rest were in-between tempos. So that's about right. About 18-20 percent of what we do (is quick tempo). It's week-to-week a little bit on the opponent. And then, to be perfectly transparent, when you're up 30-7 at half, you're not going to play with tempo just to play with tempo.
"Some of that is schematic, like, hey, let's not show some things that are easy to pick because people pick singles. Tempos usually can be picked, so let's not show them in a game when you don't need them. And when you're up like that you're not trying to accelerate it that way (though) there was some short-yardage stuff we did that was good for us. I guess we scored two touchdowns on quick calls. The one to Chris and the first one to Audric—there was an injury, but that was an on-the-ball call. So maybe it didn't look like tempo, but it was.
"Again, the ability to change it, we've gotten some feedback that on film and in-game, we've probably played faster than people prepared for, which I don't know what that means. It is what it is. I think we have a blend right now of being able to huddle, being able to really play fast, and then somewhere in between."
On if he has a philosophy to play fast in short-yardage situations:
"There's so much communication that defenses want to get into in those situations: who's in? Who's out? If we're in a personnel that we want to stay in and keep some guys (defenders) off the film, we can stay in it that way. So there's always competitive advantages; we're always looking for them.
"Last year, I feel like we used a little more true tempo mid-part of the year—that was more about the five up front. This year we're a little different built. We still always have it as part of our package, we're definitely looking at wanting some of it to continue to be part of it and expand. I feel like we're in a good place with the variations of it right now.
"Sometimes we need it more. BYU, we probably ran it a little more than we did this past week. It varies that way a little bit."
On if he feels he's using Michael Mayer too much and if Drew Pyne is going to him too much:
"I do not think we're using him too much. Did you ask Drew the question (he was walking by)? There are times where our eyes need to go somewhere else.
"But yeah, there are looks….guys are going to give attention to Michael Mayer. We have to be able to react; see it and understand it. We have good players elsewhere.
"The third down to JT (Jayden Thomas) is a great example. The first 3rd-and-10. The play we ran against Purdue last year (to Avery). Bowl Game, hit Zo on - Mike goes vertical, safety and Mike (backer) grab him, get (Zo) one-on-one against a Nickel. It's a great example of them focusing on Mike and us going elsewhere.
"Now there's another third down later, Mike's on the backside by himself, they drop a guy with him, we stay there. So we have to be able to react to that.
"The red zone throw on fourth down, we got kind of exactly what we wanted. It was Drop 8, free released the 'back, he pulls the Buck' backer, the boundary safety pushes to 3 and now we create a one-on-one with Mike on the backside in the corner and we're just not on the same page.
“To me, there's an example of us doing it right and it working. An example doing it right and it not working. An example of having the right look and eyes are in the right spot and we didn't execute."
On his evaluation of WR Lorenzo Styles:
"I think he's made some really good plays for us, creating some explosives. The Carolina game is probably the best example. I have to do a better job to put him in spots to make those plays. We don't lose any trust over a drop, that's not the case. We're going to continue to target him. I told him, 'Hey, we got you in man coverage with a safety that's the look we want. We're going to continue to find ways to do that and you're going to go make the play.'
"I think there's ways to get him into the game, probably earlier. Get him going, get him feeling good. When he's in that mindset he can be really great. I've let him down by not getting him going early in games, getting him into a groove.
"You look at the Oklahoma State game, he had a tremendous game, but he started fast. How can we get Zo to start fast during games to get him going? That's something I'm driven to do. We have to allow his ability to show up and that's on me."
On using fewer two-back sets in the last two games:
"It's definitely schematic with how teams play that look. Against Carolina, they were pretty consistent with how they played (against) two backs. Same with Cal. Last couple weeks, probably not as much. And there are mitigating factors personnel-wise why we would or wouldn't. We want our five best on the field. We obviously feel like we have a pretty good advantage if we can have Chris and another back out there. Chris, Mike, a 'back, whatever the makeup is.
"Every week, we look for those personnel groupings—three tight ends, two' backs—that gives us a competitive advantage and we're going to try to maximize those. Week-to-week it varies schematically what you see on film. I'm trying not to give too much here. It's a hard question to answer, honestly."
On if playing fast is a strength of this offense:
"I would rather have a blend of tempo that gives defenses the ability to not know how to react. When you're at your best, you have the ability to get on the ball in any personnel group, to play fast, to slow it down and huddle, and then you can be somewhere in between. In a perfect world, that's the ability to do it. Man, you guys love tempo…
"The ability to play fast is something you like to do. Certainly, you can get into a really good rhythm. But we've had a lot of factors related to injury that have limited some of that. We have to continue that week-to-week to get guys in those spots."
On who is his sounding board:
"Probably harder for me because a lot of the guys are still coaching. Nick Sirianni, I talk to a good amount during the season. We keep in touch. He's there in Philly calling it. A guy I've actually had a pretty solid relationship with is Joe Brady. Over the last couple of years, we keep in touch. But again, in-season, it's harder. A lot of off-season projects and conversations—that's where a lot of growth happens. Guys send encouraging messages back and forth. Maybe a clip here and there.
"I feel like we have a good network. There's a lot of guys I feel like I can lean on and trust. There's been some things this year that we've discussed and bounced off with that group. A lot of people that care."
On if Brian Kelly can be a sounding board for him:
"Yeah, I think BK comes from a place of love. The best thing he has said is, 'Hey, you don't need my help with calling it. You're good in that department. There's a lot of experts out there but keep doing it.' I've known him a long time; I've had a close relationship with him a long time and he's a supportive guy.
"I think the off-season is the best time for some of those conversations."
On the issues Syracuse's back seven presents:
"They're good. They remind me of Okie State. Veterans. Fly around. Know what they're in. Know what they're playing, so they play fast. Coach White has done a great job, he's a UCLA guy, so with my dad, I gotta hear about him all the time.
"He does a great job. We played him in '20 and you saw like, 'Okay, these guys are a little different; they're a little unique. He's got 'em playing well.'
"Now they're three years into it with a lot of the same guys. They have ownership of what they're doing. They play fast with a lot of movement. Ton of respect for the way they play the game.
"Linebackers kind of run the show for them. 8 is a good player. 0 is a good player. We're going to have our hands full, we have to be ready to go. They do a lot of movement up front and they do a good job."
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