OU QB’s first half fumbles and interception killed any chance against No. 2 Bulldogs
Sure, play calling has been puzzling at times. And, yes, there are times it looks like the offensive line has never seen a football game.
But, John Mateer’s play at quarterback is what will get offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle fired this year. Not that other stuff.
The Oklahoma vs. Georgia football game, which should be re-labeled the Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma game (and Oklahoma beat itself 41-13), was the football gods’ way of telling everyone that, no Mateer what you do, this offense doesn’t have the talent at the most important position in the game.
I hate to say that. No one questions Mateer’s heart. His drive. His will.
He can throw some good passes too. But his loss of concentration at key moments and inability to protect the ball — the number one priority of any ball carrier — and his “what-the-hell” throw-the-ball-up interceptions — equal a quarterback insufficient to compete at this level.
Let’s face it. Mateer’s play cost Oklahoma what was a winnable game at Georgia. We certainly know the defense played well enough to win, until eventually even they were worn down by an extremely physical Bulldogs team.
The result was an embarrassing 28-point loss for the Sooners. One that didn’t have to happen.
After the game, Coach Brent Venables said the staff discussed replacing Mateer at halftime, but opted against it. He said his quarterback was struggling with his confidence.
“It’s certainly not sky high,” Venables said.
He said the Sooners have to “fix the problem” or there “will be more of the same.”
Well now, rather than dump on poor John, it is time to ask the coaching staff: “What are you going to do now?”
Next week is a bye week. And then there is Texas.
Back in 1970, the Sooners were also faced with daunting circumstances. The Sooners looked sluggish in the first three games that year, and lost at home to Oregon State (a 6-5 team).
Offensive coordinator Barry Switzer convinced head coach Chuck Fairbanks to do something extreme: Change the entire offense to the triple-option wishbone during the bye week before the Texas game. And the coaches’ jobs were on the line. (History tells us about the dynasty that resulted in the years to follow).
All the offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has to do is change quarterback.
How will the OU coaching staff handle the bye week before this year’s game against Texas?
A reality check tells us that second team QB Whitt Newbauer (a 2024 transfer from some school called Mercer) is probably not good enough for Oklahoma to beat Texas. His lack of big-time experience may make the Cotton Bowl stage too much for him (or any backup) to handle (he completed only two passes in four attempts last year for six yards).
But, hey, he will have two weeks to get ready and give it the ol’ college try.
One thing for sure, it is time for OU football great Scott Hill to give the pre-game prayer, like the one he gave before the 1976 Oklahoma-Nebraska game:
“Please dear Lord don’t let any injury or harm come to any player. And please, please, please, dear Lord, please don’t let the best team win.”
So, am I crazy in thinking Arbuckle should just say, screw this, let’s play the second team QB? What does Oklahoma have to lose? Can the Sooners expect any win in SEC play if Mateer matches his play in the last three games?
On Saturday afternoon two first-half fumbles (one of which caused a 14-point swing) and one interception by Mateer took the Sooners out of this game. His inability to sustain drives in the second half kept them from getting back into the game.
This OU-Georgia game showed us that putting Mateer in the position to be successful isn’t going to correct his mistakes.
Even with an offensive line blocking well, it isn’t going to change what must now be a mental affliction that began in Ann Arbor (when his late interception cost the Sooners the game) and got worse in Athens.
Starting Mateer under these circumstances may constitute un-constitutional cruel and unusual punishment. And, maybe, at least, sitting Mateer out a few quarters might relieve the pressure that is undoubtedly overwhelming him into a spiraling free fall.
Remember, the final score at Georgia did not tell the story. This is a team that has the talent at most positions to play with the No. 2 team in the country.
But, and I hate to say it, the position they don’t have it in, is quarterback.
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