Browns new coach: Get to know OC Tommy Rees

After one yr on workers with the Cleveland Browns, Tommy Rees has been promoted to offensive coordinator. A former ball boy with the group, Rees spent a yr because the group’s tight ends coach and passing recreation coordinator below OC Ken Dorsey and HC Kevin Stefanski. After Dorsey was fired, Rees was the group’s first interview for the open place.

After 5 whole interviews, Stefanski determined to maintain Rees with the promotion.

The next article was posted final yr when Rees was employed however is an effective reminder of the previous faculty QB and OC’s historical past now that he steps into the coordinator chair with the Browns.

5 days later, the tight-end teaching place was crammed with Tommy Rees, the previous offensive coordinator on the College of Alabama in accordance with a number of experiences.

So, who’s Tommy Rees? Glad you requested.

Beginnings

Rees grew up in Lake Bluff, Illinois, and performed basketball and quarterback for Lake Forest Excessive Faculty. In a single recreation, he threw for 526 yards with six touchdowns. He had a profession 70% completion ratio and was rated a three-star prospect standing 6’-3” and weighing 192 kilos.

Lake Forest Excessive Faculty

His father Invoice Rees was a former coach and had labored as a scout for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and the Browns.

Rees was extremely recruited and had presents from UCLA, Tennessee, Colorado, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Iowa, Northwestern, Bowling Inexperienced, Miami of Ohio, Stanford, and Central Michigan. Oddly sufficient, he solely took one go to: to Notre Dame, after which dedicated to them in July of 2009.

Throughout his freshman yr at Notre Dame, Rees performed in 9 video games and had 4 begins. In his sophomore marketing campaign, he was the undisputed starter. Though he tossed 20 touchdowns, he additionally had 14 interceptions. This grew to become a development with Rees. The following season he had simply two begins because the backup QB however performed in all 11 video games with simply 59 makes an attempt.

He gained the beginning job for his senior season and had 224 completions on 414 makes an attempt for 3.257 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 13 picks with a 135.4 QB score.

For his faculty profession, Rees threw for 7,670 yards, a 59.3% completion ratio, 61 TDs and 37 interceptions with a profession QB score of 133.5.

Although he had the bodily instruments he drew no scarcity of scrutiny. The truth that he went from starter to backup a number of instances below head coach Brian Kelly didn’t sit effectively with scouts.

Regardless of having a good faculty profession for a nationally acknowledged program, Rees went undrafted within the 2014 NFL draft. He signed as a rookie free agent with the Washington Redskins, however he by no means made it to coaching camp and was launched.

The next yr, he served as an offensive graduate assistant at Northwestern below head coach Pat Fitzgerald. That led to an offensive assistant gig with the San Diego Chargers in 2016 who had been going right into a transformative low season. Mike McCoy was going into his fourth yr as the pinnacle coach.

For 2017, Rees was supplied the QB coach place at his alma mater Notre Dame, a place he held for 3 years earlier than being promoted to OC/QB coach from 2020-2022. In simply his first season because the offensive coordinator, Notre Dame thrived below Rees. They went to the Faculty Soccer Playoff however misplaced to Alabama within the semifinal contest.

Having a schematic versatility was a trademark of Rees’ offensive models. Every season below his tutelage the college ranked Prime-20 nationally in passing offense. It wasn’t that way back that Rees was operating the offense himself, so he was capable of present what the reads seem like as a result of he knew and had executed it earlier than based mostly on his expertise which was a pro-style offense.

After the 2022 season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban misplaced OC Invoice O’Brien to the New England Patriots. Saban interviewed College of Washington OC Ryan Grubb and Rees. He would rent the latter as his new OC regardless of being simply 30 years outdated. He was instrumental within the improvement of QB Jalen Milroe who started the season poorly however got here on and was one of many nation’s finest in the direction of the top of the yr. Alabama threw a median of 393.1 yards and scored a median of 34.0 factors per recreation.

Rees proved he was a wonderful younger offensive thoughts. He beat Georgia and was given numerous credit score for the dramatic enchancment of Alabama’s offense in comparison with the yr earlier than.

Onto the Browns

Having been on the Chargers teaching workers beforehand, employment within the NFL was nothing new for Rees.

Coach Saban retired from the sport with none warning. Inside 46 hours, Kalen DeBoer was employed away from the College of Washington, whose squad misplaced within the championship recreation this yr. His wage jumped from $4.2 million to only above $9 million.

Normally, a head coach will convey a few of his former teaching workers over to fill in workers positions. His OC Grubb was a type of guys together with WR coach JaMarcus Shephard. This positioned Rees because the odd man out.

The Browns all of a sudden had three openings, one was the OC. However Stefanski tabbed Rees as his tight finish coach.

What’s odd is that normally, the OC is employed, after which the open offensive positions corresponding to TE and RB coach. Hiring a place coach earlier than hiring his boss shouldn’t be the norm.

Rees and newly-hired Duce Staley because the RB coach each stand out as guys who may ultimately turn into head coaches within the NFL.

The tight finish room at present consists of David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Harrison Bryant, and observe squad participant Zaire Mitchell-Paden.

Njoku had a breakout season and made his first Professional Bowl. The remainder of this room was just about invisible so far as being part of the passing assault and had been all predominantly run blockers. That should change whether or not it’s gutting the room and bringing in dependable cross catchers, or discovering an avenue to make the prevailing gamers extra productive.

Akins is a six-year veteran and shall be within the closing yr of the two-year contract he signed final low season. Bryant is a free agent, Zaire Mitchell-Paden signed a reserve/futures contract on January 16 whereas Njoku is below contract till 2026. It’s probably a good finish shall be drafted this yr.

What ought to Browns followers count on from Rees?

You certain ask numerous questions.

Rees already has respect for being the offensive coordinator with one of many elite faculty applications.

And the truth that he’s a quarterback who now’s teaching tight ends shouldn’t be a problem. Numerous place coaches by no means performed that whereas as a participant. Browns offensive line coach Invoice Callahan is extensively generally known as the very best within the league, but he’s a former quarterback himself.

Rees must impress the gamers in his room that he has data of the place and what the subsequent steps are to degree up. It’s all passing-game associated mainly. And Rees must elevate every participant.

Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports activities

The problem shall be to point out a participant corresponding to Njoku some issues that he didn’t know. How can their recreation turn into higher? Video clips will turn into a key asset for Rees.

The benefit that Rees will convey is that he’s yet one more man who has referred to as performs earlier than at a excessive degree of faculty soccer as each a participant and a coordinator. He would possibly convey a brand new perspective or faculty ideas that the Browns’ OC or Stefanski by no means thought-about.

Rees simply operated out of the unfold offense. Browns QB Deshaun Watson likes to work within the unfold. Rees can contribute to the large image.

Plus, anybody who was being mentored by Saban at such a younger age might be a fairly vivid dude.