Tommy Rees blasted for woeful play calling in 1st half as Alabama offense struggles

Tommy Rees was in the crosshairs during the first half of the Rose Bowl as Alabama’s offense struggled against Michigan. It didn’t help him that the Alabama offensive line surrendered 5 sacks in the first half.

Alabama had just 39 yards through 5 drives on Monday and fans and media noted the offensive coordinator’s struggles, either trying to scheme around Alabama’s woeful offensive line play, or being too pass heavy. The Crimson Tide also didn’t cross its own 38 by that point, either.

Alabama started the game with just 3 first downs compared to 9 for Michigan with less than 3 minutes remaining, and the Tide were also 1-for-5 on 3rd down conversions by late in the first half.

Here’s a sample of the reaction:

a severely overlooked aspect of this Michigan/Alabama matchup is Bama’s offensive coordinator being Tommy Rees, who spent four years in South Bend getting dunked on by Michigan as Notre Dame’s QB

— sarge (@sarge__msu) January 1, 2024

Jase McClellan has 2 carries for 40 yards.

Keep dropping back and trying to chuck it.

— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees when he finds out what a quick out is: pic.twitter.com/xuW5ipgP9p

— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees pic.twitter.com/I0zdKT9dAW

— James.xlsm (@JamesT425) January 1, 2024

@ Tommy Rees pic.twitter.com/sGxNn6gVWG

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees cannot find his bag today

— Austin Randolph (@austinsrandolph) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees pic.twitter.com/rLXJJ6EoTq

— Greg Flammang (@greg2126) January 1, 2024

Alabama’s o-line never really got “fixed” this year – Tommy Rees just did a good job scheming around it.

Against the best defense Bama has seen all year (at least since Texas) we’re seeing that tonight

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees really needs to settle in as the Tide’s offensive coordinator if they’re going to have any success.

Too many negative plays on early downs creating a big hole that is allowing Michigan to turn up the pressure

— Doug Samuels ? (@CoachSamz) January 1, 2024

I trust Tommy Rees no more than I trusted Bill O’Brien

— Alabama Rydeouts (@MarvinBama16) January 1, 2024

Bama should hand it to McClellan for the next 20 plays.

— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees needs to figure some things out fast but I don’t know what you do when your OL is getting blown up on every play

— Isom Philips (@IsomPhilips) January 1, 2024

Tommy Rees is calling maybe the worst game possible. Hes gotta help out Milroe. WR & RB screens & then QB sneaks.

— Josh Weaver (@FourFourHipHop) January 1, 2024

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.