Notre Dame vs. Purdue: Tommy Rees Must Step Up for Irish vs. Boilermakers

Simply put, Tommy Rees is not getting the job done for this 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish team. He’s winning football games and he’s leading the team in one fourth quarter comeback; but after that what has he done? 

Leading the Irish to an upset victory over then-ranked Michigan State was impressive. Going 18 for 26 in the game for 161 yards and a touchdown was good for a 31-13 victory.  

But it’s his three other games that have to have Irish fans worried about what Rees will do to this offense this Saturday night against Purdue.  

In Rees’ four games this year he has a touchdown to interception ratio of 7:6, while only topping 70 percent on completion in one game this year. That game was in mop-up duty against South Florida in Week 1. 

His interceptions have come at bad times for the Irish. There have been multiple of times when he has this team driving deep into their opponents territory only to force a pass to Michael Floyd.  

Speaking of Floyd, he’s a great receiver. He will go into the next NFL draft as a first-round pick, if not second round. Any team that he is drafted by he will instantly make better.  

But, Rees has to find a different receiver to target during games.  

On the season Floyd leads the Irish in receptions (35), receiving yards (424) and touchdown receptions (2). The next Notre Dame receiver in receptions and receiving yards is Tyler Eifert with 20 and 244.  

Floyd’s production has gone down each week since the Michigan game. The first week he was on fire with 12 receptions. Week 2, 13 receptions. Then the decline started in Week 3 against Michigan State with only six receptions. And then his lowest input of the season last week against Pittsburgh with four receptions.  

How does this correlate with Tommy Rees’ production?  

In the Michigan State game Rees only threw for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Pittsburgh game, Rees threw for 261 yards with one touchdown and one interception. 

Both games were victories for Notre Dame. 

The previous two games when Tommy was able to get Michael the ball Rees threw for 296 yards (Week 1) and 315 yards (Week 2). 

Each of those games Rees had two interceptions, both games were losses.  

So which Tommy Rees will Irish fans get on Saturday night? Will they get the game-managing Rees that doesn’t try to get the ball to Michael Floyd all night?  

Or will the Irish get the Tommy Rees that defenses lock onto one receiver against, forcing Rees to make plays resulting in interceptions.  

Bet on seeing the gun-slinger Tommy Rees on Saturday night. 

Twitter: @tjmcaloon