Notre Dame Football: Why Tommy Rees Will Lead Fighting Irish to Victory

Tommy Rees and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish should be able to put a large number of points on the board against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on Saturday.

The defense of the Panthers has given up 25 points per game through three games in 2011. Other than Iowa, the Panthers have hosted Buffalo and Maine, two teams that a quality team should destroy.

Pitt’s defense allowed 399 yards to Iowa’s James Vandenburg last week, 334 yards to Maine’s Warren Smith and 276 yards from Buffalo’s Chazz Anderson. Those aren’t good numbers, especially against teams that aren’t very good.

Pass defense is and will continue to lack for the Panthers in 2011. It won’t get any easier against Rees and Notre Dame.

Rees has proved that he should have been named the Fighting Irish starter before Game 1. He gives them the best opportunity to win football games. Rees has thrown for 772 yards and six touchdowns after taking over the starting job from Dayne Crist.

The sophomore quarterback went 18-of-26 for 161 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Notre Dame’s 31-13 upset of No. 15 Michigan State last week. If he can protect the football, Rees will prove that he has the ability to throw all over the Panthers’ secondary.

Notre Dame will build off their upset of Michigan State last week. That will be the game that turned the ship around in 2011.

Maybe Notre Dame isn’t as good as we expected, but they aren’t as bad as we have seen so far. They are an above-average team with an above-average quarterback.

Rees will go through his rough stretches in 2011. His maturity will allow him to shake off any rough start he does have.

His ability to throw the football will be the No. 1 reason why the Fighting Irish will get the victory at Heinz Field. If he doesn’t play well, the Panthers offense has the ability to put up points at a large rate, which may spell trouble for Notre Dame.

The game will be decided by Rees. He takes another positive step in his collegiate career with a victory on the road.