The departure of Chip Long as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator today comes a little bit of a surprise but not necessarily a shock.
As we mentioned earlier today, Notre Dame set a record for points scored this regular season, scoring 37.1 per game but being entirely out-matched by Georgia and Michigan’s defenses was more damning than anything thing else involving the Irish all season.
So per Bryan Driskell’s report earlier today, word is Tommy Rees will essentially have an audition to call plays in the Camping World Bowl to see if he’s fit for the job.
If you’re going to wait that long before ultimately even making a decision, is there really a decision to be made?
Seems like as long as Notre Dame doesn’t get blanked against Iowa State that Rees will get the gig.
This isn’t at all meant as a knock at Rees who has clearly worked his tail off to climb the coaching ladder, but is this the best idea to essentially give him the job without looking long and hard for someone more qualified?
Brian Kelly has done a lot of things well at Notre Dame and for the most part hiring quality assistants and coordinators has been one of them. Guys have left for jobs because they’ve earned them and the Brian Van Gorder type hires have been extremely rare.
But is due-diligence being done if Rees is just handed the keys to the limo?
I can’t help but think of LSU and how quickly their offense turned simply dynamic this season and how they’ll have a Heisman Trophy Winner officially come Saturday night.
I think of Oklahoma’s incredible offense and the now three straight CFP appearances it has made while it has its third different quarterback in three years getting a Heisman Finalist invite this weekend.
The two are extreme success stories but tales of how the coaching replacement who made a world of difference were found.
LSU hiring Joe Brady from the Saints to be their passing game coordinator clearly did wonders for its passing offense, as Brady won the top assistant coach award earlier this week.
Meanwhile Lincoln Riley was promoted to head coach at Oklahoma three short years ago and helped take the squad from being really good to a College Football Playoff regular as the offense went next-level upon his promotion.
Tommy Rees could be the next Lincoln Riley, getting promoted and the offense taking off against any opponent, not just select ones next year. But is that likely?
Or is it more likely you see a guy run something very similar to what Long just did that results in plenty of points overall, but leaves a lot still to be desired against the great defenses?
3, 17, 14.
Those are the point totals Notre Dame has scored in their last three loses, all to quality teams.
37, 34, 62, 30.
Those are the point totals for the four 2019 CFP teams in their respective conference title games last week.
You may love defense and that’s fine because I do too, but ask yourself if this record-setting unit was anywhere near good enough to compete score for score with the likes of LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma this year, or next season under Rees.
The instant reports of him getting promoted and then Northwestern not even giving him a second interview for the same position with them last week makes me not optimistic that if he’s the one, the offense will make any real strides thanks to its coordinator change.
I hope like all getup that Rees comes in and Notre Dame hangs 35+ on everyone in 2020. But unless a new passing game specialist or something of the sort comes along as well, excuse me while I fall short of expecting much different than 2019 offered.
Not that it’s a bad thing, it just seems status quo for a team that has to get fairly creative if it’s to actually end a 31 year title drought that it speaks so loudly about wanting to do.