Ep. 436 - John Mateer Is Who He Is. Can OU Make It Work?

Ep. 436 - John Mateer Is Who He Is. Can OU Make It Work?

Lee and Grant go back through the Michigan game and take a closer look at the Mateer-Ben Arbuckle dynamic.

They also revisit Oklahoma’s offensive identity, the dramatic shift away from the Week 1 approach against UTEP, the use of 12 personnel and empty formations, Mateer’s field vision, the lack of a consistent run game and whether OU truly understands what it is offensively.

Trell Harris is expected to miss significant time after suffering a serious injury. Kip Lewis could also miss several weeks, creating another major concern on the defensive side.

Lee and Grant also discuss Oklahoma’s defense, why missed tackles and players trying to do too much remain a problem, and whether the pressure of carrying an inconsistent offense is already affecting that side of the ball.

Then it’s on to New Mexico. The Lobos are one of the more interesting G6 teams in the country. NM is well coached and experienced, and should provide a useful test for an Oklahoma team trying to get back on track.

The guys also make their weekly college football picks against the spread.

Chapters/Timecodes

00:00 — Opening Take – John Mateer is who he is
06:59 — Michigan rewatch: how much blame belongs on Arbuckle vs. Mateer?
07:26 — Mateer misses an easy timing throw to Trell Harris
08:29 — The quarterback counter Mateer could have broken for a huge gain
09:39 — Hayden Hansen throwback was there, but Mateer could not complete it
10:09 — Empty 12 personnel creates a QB-run opportunity Mateer misses
10:47 — The fourth-and-7 miss to Rocky Beers
11:28 — Were Oklahoma’s receivers really “wide open”?
12:38 — The bigger question: how does Arbuckle simplify things for Mateer?
16:21 — Grant: Arbuckle can draw up plays, but he has to know his personnel
18:03 — Did Oklahoma’s staff misunderstand its own offense?
19:11 — Mateer will still have good moments, but the Michigan performance was alarming
19:56 — Mateer needs his confidence rebuilt
20:34 — Ben Arbuckle’s offenses have never consistently run the ball well
24:24 — How many first reads is Mateer simply not seeing?
29:01 — Elijah Thomas and Parker Livingston now need bigger roles
33:45 — Michigan’s seven-minute drive that quietly helped win the game
36:23 — Is OU’s defense pressing because it does not trust the offense?
39:05 — Is another “season from hell” developing for Oklahoma?
39:31 — Grant: Venables’ history of responding to adversity is mixed
41:59 — New Mexico is a legitimate G6 test under Jason Eck
42:52 — Could Oklahoma actually lose this game if the Michigan problems remain?
46:26 — How Oklahoma wins matters more than simply winning
46:46 — Grant: run the core offense until OU actually gets good at it
47:23 — New Mexico’s experienced defense presents a useful test
48:31 — OU’s defense should dominate New Mexico’s offense
49:38 — New Mexico’s three-quarterback rotation
50:42 — Jason Eck’s rise from the FCS ranks
53:18 — New Mexico has created takeaways; Oklahoma has not
54:01 — What Grant wants to see from OU’s offense
54:17 — Lee wants a return to the UTEP offensive blueprint
54:55 — Arbuckle needs to create easy completions for Mateer
55:11 — Defensive key: stop trying to do too much
55:37 — Grant’s defensive priority: tackle better
56:22 — OU-New Mexico score predictions
59:32 — What would a convincing win mean before Georgia?
01:00:33 — Early look at how big an underdog OU could be at Georgia
01:01:03 — Around college football: SEC and national games to watch
01:02:11 — Michael Hawkins and West Virginia hit the road at Virginia
01:02:27 — James Franklin discussion
01:03:14 — Weekly picks against the spread begin
01:03:36 — Houston at Texas Tech
01:05:39 — SMU at Louisville
01:06:42 — Mississippi State at South Carolina
01:08:50 — Florida at Auburn
01:09:55 — LSU at Ole Miss
01:12:09 — Back to Mateer’s running ability and field vision
01:13:30 — Does Mateer need an eye exam? Jameis Winston tangent
01:14:56 — New Mexico postgame podcast scheduling update

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