It is up to Arbuckle to make the adjustments
After going 10-3 and hosting a home playoff game last season, hopes were high for 2026. The Sooners achieved that playoff birth despite an anemic offense that most came to believe to be caused by the injury to John Mateer’s thumb during the Auburn
game.
This year was supposed to be different. We heard stories of a fully healthy Mateer bulking up over the summer. Word out of the Manning Passing Academy was that his arm talent, mechanics and physical transformation had led to “high velocity, tight
spirals and strong accuracy on deep and intermediate routes”.
Expectations only soared higher. But then hard reality hit the Sooners last Saturday in Ann Arbor. It may be that Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer just aren’t as advertised. After the shellacking Oklahoma put on one of the worst teams in college football, they laid an egg in their first real test of the season.
Mateer went 17 for 33 with 189 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception that turned into 7 points for Michigan, the final difference in the game.
Not exactly Heisman numbers. He still has problems reading the defense and locking onto one receiver. He also makes too many throws into tight windows that either get intercepted or result in an incompletion. Not that the offensive performance was all his
fault.
New transfer receiver Parker Livingston turned the ball over as well, snuffing out a promising drive.
Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle was also a major hinderance to the Sooners against the Wolverines. To say some of the play calling was perplexing would be an understatement. After running back Lloyd Avant gains an average of over 6 yards a carry on his first 5 carries, he only gets 4 more carries the rest of the game.
And it wasn’t like the Sooners were down 20 points and trying to play catch up so they had to pass. Inexplicability, Arbuckle went away from the run game and left it to the arm of Mateer.
So, we must face the fact that neither Arbuckle nor Mateer are who we thought they were. And of the two, I think only one can improve Oklahoma’s chances of being better on offense.
And it’s Arbuckle. To think Mateer is suddenly going to read defenses, make better decisions and throw a better ball is far-fetched. He’s a fifth-year senior. It would have happened by now.
However, I think he is still a serviceable quarterback. It’s up to Arbuckle to change the game plan to accommodate what Mateer
can do. Mateer can be effective running the ball. And he seems to be able to find the tight end and receivers on short and some intermediate throws.
And above all, the Sooners need to be able to run the ball effectively and be more patient in staying with the run. Maddeningly, even after all the shortcomings on offense, Oklahoma still could have won the game had they even been able to just hold onto the ball.
One more thing.
Yeah, it was Michigan in the “Big House” and all. But Michigan is not that great of a team. Consensus five-star quarterback and number 1 overall player in the high school class of 2025 Bryce Underwood is basically Mateer with a little more speed. He just
avoided one mistake less than Mateer Saturday. They have 8-4 written all over them. It would be worse if they didn’t have 8 homes games.
How does that happen? Much, much stiffer competition lies ahead.
Hopefully Oklahoma shows improvement this Saturday night against the New Mexico Lobos at Owen Field. New Mexico might be the best non power conference team the Sooners have played in years. They were 9-4 last year and started this season 2-0. Easily taking care of Central Michigan and destroying Mercyhurst. Not a scary schedule, but they took care of business.
However, they lean heavy on the run game, over a 2-1 ratio rushing versus passing. This seems to play right into the Sooner’s hands. And if Oklahoma still wants to achieve its goals of conference and National Championships, a team like New Mexico should be easy pickings before the conference schedule begins.
I think Brent Venables will have the team ready to get that Michigan game out of their system, so the Worry Meter is only at
20% this week.
Hopefully Arbuckle sees that career dissipation warning light blinking in the corner of his eye and adjusts accordingly. With all that being said..BOOMER!!!
-Dave
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