Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees (9.4.25)
What have you seen from Joe (Flacco) especially over these last couple of weeks, especially as he’s had time to spend with the offense?
“Yeah, you see his intensity continue to show through. It was great during training camp and then it’s been fun to like game plan and prepare and get ready for opponents. A lot of open dialogue on comfort level, on how we’re going to protect things, on seeing different things. So, when you have a guy with as much experience as he does, there’s a lot that you can ask of the quarterback and he owns that role, and he’s still great with the guys, giving them confidence and providing just a calming presence for all those young guys that are playing for us.”
Tommy, what did you learn about Al Golden and his scheme, and in that I guess it was one year he spent on the same staff at Notre Dame.
“Yeah, I really like Al (Golden). What a great dude. Did a great job at Notre Dame. Obviously, I was following it, being my alma mater. So happy for what he did there. But very diverse in his defensive scheme. Has answers to try to take away what you do really well, put those guys in positions to have a lot of success. You know, brought an advanced way to look at defensive football to that group and obviously had great results. And, I expect him to do the same in Cincinnati.”
Going from college to pro, do you have to sort of project even more than if it was somebody going from like one job to another at the same level?
“Yeah, I do think like making the jump and projecting what they’re going to use and what they’re not going to use. And you know, college offenses can be run a little bit differently than pro-offenses. Obviously, the field dimension of the hashes and some the of some formations are allowed, some aren’t. Running corp…like, there’s a lot of elements to the college game that don’t always apply. So, it’s definitely trying to look at what they defended that really applies to how it can translate what are their core beliefs, what are the things that they hung their hat on and what could we potentially see throughout the year. So again, a lot of defense from Al (Golden), which he had answers to a lot of different sets and answers to things that people do well. And you know, his group is always very well prepared and expect more of the same in Cincinnati.”
The challenge in game planning when he didn’t show anything in the summer and so diverse, you know, he’s got a big toolbox. So, what’s the challenge facing you guys offensively?
“Yeah, I think you try to find a blend of you always want to do what you feel like your team operates well and try to home in on what our offensive identity is, what puts our players in position to have success, while also, you know, being mindful on their scheme and mindful on the different areas to allow your players to go out there and play fast mentally. So, for us, we spent time digging through years and digging through film and trying to piece together what applies, piece together situationally what can apply. But again, it’s really about our guys operating what we do at a high level, giving them the tools to play fast mentally and so we can go out there and operate.”
Harold’s (Fannin Jr.) been so involved throughout training camp with the offense and what you guys are trying to do. How much of a weapon can he be for you guys this season?
“Yeah, Harold (Fannin Jr.) has done a nice job for us. Has learned it well, has executed well. He’s made plays for us when we’ve asked him to. He’s done a really nice –like, there’s been a lot on his plate. That position, by nature, when you’re kind of that move tight end, you’re typically asked to line up in a lot of places. So as many variations as he’s had to own is…mentally, he’s done a nice job with it. And then again, like, our goal for all of our players is when they get out there, that they can really simplify their thoughts, simplify what they need to focus on, which allows them to execute and play fast. And, for him, with the volume we’ve asked him to do, he’s found a way to do that, and CJ’s (Christian Jones) done a great job coaching him and getting ready to play. And Dave (David Njoku), as a veteran in that room, has put his arm around him and helped him through some stuff. So really pleased with Harold (Fannin Jr.) and excited to see how it continues to progress.”
You have Jerry Jeudy, and we know he brings. But what gives you confidence, the rest of those very young guys, that they can step up and play the level you need them to?
“Yeah, I mean, I think those guys have different skill sets that we can utilize in different situations. And, you know, Chad (O’Shea) and that group have done a great job of really owning the different movements, the different things that we’ve asked them to do, owning the roles and responsibilities of each guy, which can be different. I look at it as piecing things together to really add up to a sum of a whole and all of them have had different strengths throughout training camp. And all of them — especially some of those young guys, like when their numbers were called, whether it was in our practices, joint practices, preseason, they made plays. And we’re excited about that group. They’re definitely a group that works extremely hard at it to get the details right, to get things accomplished both in the run game and the pass game. So, like I said, Chad (O’Shea) and Bravo (Stephen Bravo-Brown) have done a great job with that group of getting them ready to play and we do feel like we can really have a strength in numbers there.”
What gives you confidence in Dillon (Gabriel) as your backup quarterback. What did you see in him that makes you feel good about him heading into this game?
“Yeah, the processing that he, that he’s applied to the game. I think when he’s had his opportunity in the preseason, we’ve seen him operate really efficiently within the offense. So, look, Dillon (Gabriel) has put a lot of work in. He’s been thrown in there in different settings with different reps and different opportunities against good competition, played in the preseason. So, continuing to build those opportunities for him are important as the season goes on and continuing to develop him to get him caught up to speed. But there’s a poise there with him that does give us confidence in his ability to execute.”
Do you have a short yardage back?
“We do.”
(Raheim) Sanders?
“We got three backs that we feel like can go out and get us a yard.”
Tommy, with a pass rusher like (Trey) Hendrickson, you have to account for how it’s not one person’s responsibility, but since he lines up on Dawand’s (Jones) side, like, how much of a test is this going to be for him?
“Yeah, he’s a great player. You know, he’s led the league in sacks for a reason, plays with an extremely high football IQ, has good rush plans, good movements, can finish through traffic, can finish around traffic. So, yeah, you’re right in saying it takes everyone. It takes the receivers getting open, it takes the ball coming out on time, it takes the guys that are going to help in protection. All of those pieces add up to a successful protection plan. And then, we got to challenge Dawand (Jones) to own his one-on-one matchups when those are called.”
What was your relationship like with Isaiah Bond? Obviously, you crossed paths with him at Alabama and what do you like so much about his skill set?
“Yeah, IB (Isaiah Bond) and I were together one year. Really a rewarding year as a coach and as a player for him, but he came to work every day. We had no issues with the work ethic, no issues with him learning it and understanding what his role was, and he made a ton of big plays for us that season. And that was something that was called upon on him and asked of him and really had a good relationship throughout the year. I think his skill set, obviously the speed’s there, but for a speed player, has the ability to be variable in his route running and give us some different tools there. So, he’s come in, learned it, has handled himself the right way being kind of a late add to the group and we’ll see how we progress with him and excited to see where that can go.”
Do you feel like you and Kevin (Stefanski) have sort of meshed over the preseason in terms of, you know, the communication flow, all of that stuff that you need to have on game day between you and him?
“That’s a great point because it was…when you’re kind of working hand in hand, all off season goes smooth, all putting it together, goes smooth. Game day is a different deal, right? And so, we tested being down, we tested being in the box, what works best for our flow. We felt like me being up was the best set of tools that we could have for the game day, for the communication, for the vision from the box. That’s where I’ve been most of my career calling it. So, to have that same viewpoint to help has been important, but it’s been really seamless. I think we see the game through a very similar lens. You know, as much as I can support him on game day, that’s part of my job and making sure that we put our players in the best position.”
Tommy, when you guys sat down at the beginning of the offseason to rebuild this run game, what were some of the points of emphasis? What was really the focus just to kind of started?
“Yeah, I think there was a first, a return to the commitment of running the football and finding ways to do it versus tough looks and advantageous looks. I think identifying who we want to be paired with, what can we do up front? Like, what are we good at and who do we want to be? And finding out that mesh, like who we set out to be in February might not be exactly who we are today, but we’ve identified what we’re good at and I think identifying and then establishing a core set of this is what we can hang our hat on and then this is what complements off of that is really important. And then you got to rep the hell out of it and you got to commit time and effort to get to those points. And, you know, to be a great running team, all 11 have to buy in. The quarterback has to buy into the mental side of it. The wide receivers have to buy into the physical side of it. And when you can build that amongst the group, then you can really start to run the ball well. And, you know, I feel like we’ve done a nice job up to this point of building that and again, excited to see where the run game can continue to develop to and add wrinkles to and have some creative ideas rolling.”
Can Joe (Flacco) run all the keepers and bootlegs and the different things that I know you’re probably going to want to do in this offense?
“Yeah, Joe (Flacco), throughout his career has had tremendous success with those things, even going back just a couple years while he was here. So, we have confidence in Joe (Flacco) executing the scheme.”
The first NFL game, you’re going to be calling it. What are the emotions and nerves going into this?
“Yeah, Kev’s (Kevin) calling it. So, I just… to make that [clear]. But no, I’m pretty. I’m pretty calm, you know, like, I’m excited about the opportunity. I’m excited about game day and, you know, seeing the plan come to fruition and seeing the work that our guys have put in come to fruition. As a coach, as rewarding as anything as you do is when you get to go and see and coach your guys, work with them all week, game day comes, and see all the work that they’ve put in and all the time they’ve put into a game plan come to life. I mean, that’s kind of why you do it, is to put your players in great success and then you get so much reward from seeing them have that success on the field.”
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