Quick-hitters: Tommy Rees on Notre Dame quarterbacks in spring practice, relationship with Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame football had spring practice No. 2 on Saturday morning, and Irish offensive coordinator Tommy Rees took time after the conclusion of the workout to discuss the last few months of his time with his quarterbacks and head coach Marcus Freeman.
Here are a few of the topics covered.
On what he’s seen from Tyler Buchner, Drew Pyne in spring practice
“Both have been extremely productive. There are still nuances to work out, but I’ve been really pleased with how they’ve been the first two days. I think both of them had a command and have shown the ability to lead and get guys in the right spot. I think their overall base knowledge of the offense is really high. I had to remind myself that some of those 400 and 500-level conversations can be shelved for now, let’s just get them playing fast. Let’s get them to really know their base rules…We’ll get to that (other stuff) in a game-plan week. We’re all competitive, we all want to (get it right). But let’s let them play fast and get (the ball) in the right spot. I’ve been extremely pleased with both quarterbacks to be honest with you. We’ll keep building from here.”
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On offseason focus items with Tyler Buchner
“The message to Tyler was, ‘Hey, you’re not a freshman anymore. You have to take the next step from a presence standpoint. If you’re going to go win the starting quarterback job at Notre Dame, the team has to look at you that way. The only way you get them to look at you that way is by handling yourself that way.’ From a physical standpoint, it’s just being more accurate and consistent. If we have a guy open on a play, we have to count on it being completed and completed to the right spot on his body.”
On Marcus Freeman leaving a lot on the offensive side up to him
“I think we have a tremendous amount of respect and trust in one another. He’s been nothing but great with me. He’s done a really cool thing in that on Tuesdays he has an ability to be around the quarterbacks, spend some time with them. They help him understand what we’re doing. He knows there’s an open door, and he can stop in and be a part of it any time because he’s hungry to learn that stuff, too. He wants to make sure he’s on top of it. But it just means a lot that he has trust in me. I think in one year together as coordinators, he saw enough to say, ‘Hey, I want to trust this guy with running the show,’ and that means a lot.”
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On how long he’s been at Notre Dame, how he’s changed
“I’m actually the longest-tenured member of our coaching staff, which is bananas to me. That hit me, and I was like ‘Woah, six years. I’m the only one that’s been here that long.’ I haven’t changed much. I think my leadership qualities have been strong, and I’m not trying to pump myself up, but I think I have the ability to read people and relate to people from a lot of different walks of life. I’ve always had the mentality that if you work really hard and treat people with respect, good things are naturally going to happen for you.”
Related
• Quick-hitters: Marcus Freeman on Notre Dame spring practice, early enrollees
• Notre Dame spring practice No. 1: Instant observations from the offense
On Jack Coan’s upcoming Pro Day
“He probably won’t miss. I think (the focus is going to be) how does he push the ball down the field? I think there’s going to be some throws that guys are gonna want to see Jack make, and he’ll make them. I think some of the throws for him to change platform, do some things athletically and then be able to draw drive the ball in that 25 to 35-yard range will be important.”
