Alabama has a new offensive coordinator, and he is ready to work.
Tommy Rees, 30, became the Crimson Tide’s sixth offensive play-caller since 2016.
As a Notre Dame alum, he played quarterback for the Fighting Irish from 2010 to 2013.
He returned to his Alma mater in 2017 and served six years as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Rees brought creativity, innovation, and balance to Notre Dame, assisting its offense to a few College Football Playoff appearances and averaging 30+ points per game. He got the most out of the Irish’s personnel, despite the program not recruiting a ton of four and five-star talents. Some Tide fans were confused by the hire of Rees, but others are trusting Nick Saban. Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback, weighed in on the hire via McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham, Ala.
McElroy said Rees gives Alabama the offense it had in 2015 with Derrick Henry.
“It may not be with one running back, but you are going to get heavy personnel and a downhill rushing attack,” McElroy said about Rees’ philosophy. “It is going to look like Alabama in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Everybody is saying we miss the good ole days with McElwain, well that is what you are getting in Tommy Rees. He is going to use 12-personnel with his tight ends and hammer you. I think it is a very effective style of attack. I love the hire personally, and it’s what I want Alabama’s offense to be.”
McElroy is fine with the aerial attack, but he wants Alabama to pound people. Rees provides the Tide with both.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
