Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees Talks Offensive Improvement, Red Zone Struggles, Braden Lenzy, More

Notre Dame (4-3) travels to Syracuse (6-1) this weekend to take on the 16th-ranked Orange. If Notre Dame is going to pull off the upset the Irish offense, led by offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, must play better than it has for much of the 2022 season.

Rees discussed a number of topics following the team's Tuesday practice in preparation for the matchup against the favored Syracuse squad.

Here are a few of the comments from Rees:

On Progress vs. UNLV

"I feel like more guys consistently did what we were asking them to do. More times than not we had 11 guys moving in the right direction. We ran the ball well. We were pretty good on third down. I think our average to go was 3rd-and-three and a half, which is something we can hang our hat on."

On Red Zone Issues

"Timing wise in the red area we were a little off pass game. We had the one to Mike that got reviewed. We had one later, we get him one-on-one the backside with a corner, we like that matchup, we just have to execute a couple of those plays, so certainly have to improve there."

"I think we were really good the first five weeks .... We were scoring touchdowns. We got a good look to Mike (Mayer) there on the first one, nine times out of ten that's a touchdown. Two plays in a row down going the other way towards the tunnel we got a matchup we like on a safety with Tobias (Merriweather), we got a matchup on a corner we like on drop eight with Mike, we just all have to do our part to execute those plays."

On Braden Lenzy

"His maturity level has really taken a step up. He's become more of a guy that is dependable and guys can count on. The way he communicates and the way he is able to talk to the quarterbacks, talk to the younger players, you want to see that from a guy who has been in the program for five years."

On The Syracuse Defense

"Coach (Tony) White does a heck of a job as a defensive coordinator. They give you a lot of different looks, a lot of movement. They're a veteran defense, those linebackers are really good players. It's a unique structure with what they do. A lot of movement up front, a lot of slanting, a lot of angle, a lot of team speed .... They do a really nice job, and they've done a nice job. We played them in 2020, and we remember watching and remember thinking these guys are dialed in, and now they're three years into it."

Irish Breakdown Fans be sure to get your Notre Dame tickets from SI Tickets HERE

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

Notre Dame 2022 Roster
Notre Dame 2022 Schedule

Notre Dame 2023 Class Big Board
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board - Offense
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board - Defense

Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Offers
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

Ranking The 2022 Signees - Offense
Ranking The 2022 Signees - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Follow me on Gettr: @IrishBreakdown
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter

Add us as a preferred source on Google