New Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer set to bring "swagger" back to Sooners' offense and quarterback room
After the disaster of last season at quarterback, the Oklahoma Sooners were desperate to find a solution to the most important position. When they hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to run the offense, they had one key player in mind: John Mateer. After a significant recruitment and offer, Mateer followed his coach to Oklahoma, allowing […]
After the disaster of last season at quarterback, the Oklahoma Sooners were desperate to find a solution to the most important position. When they hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to run the offense, they had one key player in mind: John Mateer.
After a significant recruitment and offer, Mateer followed his coach to Oklahoma, allowing the Sooners to breathe a sigh of relief. A winner who carried the Cougars' offense last season, the Sooners' coaching staff is hopeful Mateer can reignite a strong tradition of excellent quarterback play in Norman.
That starts with bringing a bit of swagger back to the position.
Mateer elaborated that he struggled with having "fun on the football field" because it's "not fun if you aren't winning".
“I’ve got the ball in my hands every play and I’ve got to do something with it”.
Not to throw former players under the bus, but it's clear last season that there was a spark missing from under center. There just wasn't a leader in the room on offense and they played without any fire.
It's hard to say that about Mateer. Just watch any game he's playing and it's clear he's a player willing to lay it all on the line to will his team to victory and he brings a passion to his play that is hard not to enjoy. For Oklahoma fans, does that sound familiar to you?
Of course, Mateer will have a jump in competition heading into the SEC. It's a different animal than what he had to play last season, and it's chewed up quarterbacks with far higher expectations than Mateer before.
However, there's just something about his approach to the game and play style that makes me think that maybe, just maybe, the Sooners might have found the future of their program for the next two seasons.
