The Football Brainiacs

Continuing with our plan this offseason to share some content that a couple members of our community have been creating for close to a year now!

I am happy to be able to announce that TFB supports The Champion Standard Podcast!

Our guys @soonerbrad and @Birddawg have been pumping out some high-quality podcasts that talk about Xs and Os, hot topics, and OU football talk in general. This podcast represents the views and opinions of Rob and Brad and TFB is not part of their operation, but we do endorse it wholeheartedly!

Each time a new podcast drops I will post it here for the community. Give the guys a listen, sub to their YouTube channel, and include their pods on your mobile devices!

 

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Comprehensive Breakdown of the John Mateer. 
by the Champion Standard Podcast

If there’s one name you’ll hear echoing through Norman this summer, it’s John Mateer.

Not just because of his stats. Not just because of the hype. But because when you turn on the film—when you really study the reads, the throws, the grit, the poise—you start to see what Champion Standard hosts Rob and Brad spent an entire episode convincing their audience of:

“He’s got that it, man,” Rob said, practically beaming through the mic. “We’re talking legit juice. He’s the walking ‘It-Factor.’ And the tape proves it.”

This wasn’t just a hype session. It was a surgical, multi-layered film and analytics breakdown. Rob had Mateer’s entire 2024 season catalogued. Every throw. Every coverage. Every scramble. Every mistake. Every moment of brilliance. And the episode unpacked it all.

Here’s what you need to know about the quarterback Oklahoma fans are about to fall in love with—and why his game, quirks and all, might be the perfect fit for Ben Arbuckle’s attack in year one.

From Little Elm to Takeover Mode

Mateer hails from Little Elm, Texas—an unassuming Dallas suburb known more for aquatic athletes than football stars.

“His parents were swimmers,” Brad noted. “Both competitive. So the genetics are real. But John carved his own path, said ‘nah, I’ll do it on land.’ And look where it’s gotten him.”

The former 3-star QB committed to Washington State after flying under the radar in a loaded 2022 Texas QB class. He redshirted behind Cam Ward, but when Ward bolted for Miami, Mateer stepped in. He didn’t just hold serve—he lit it up: 29 passing touchdowns, 15 rushing, just 7 interceptions, and only 3 fumbles on 164 carries.

“It was a full workload,” Rob said. “And he handled it like a dude. 44 total touchdowns. That’s not fluky. That’s real production.”

And it was enough for OU’s staff to not only offer—but hand him the reins with no portal QB brought in for competition. That confidence speaks volumes.

Coverages, Concepts & Completion Rates: The Data Breakdown

The episode pivoted hard into stats—right where Rob thrives. The first big point? Mateer was statistically elite against most coverages… with one major exception.

“Cover 5? Number one in the country. 85% completion %. Cover Zero? Top 10. Red zone stuff? Very efficient,” Rob rattled off. “But Cover 1? That’s the dip. 49% completion %—82nd out of 150 qualifying QBs.” – According to SIS data. 

That’s not a death sentence—but it’s a clue. Especially since the SEC runs Cover 1 nearly a quarter of the time (24%, per SIS compiled data).

“You’ve got to beat man in this league,” Brad said. “If you can’t punish single coverage, you’re gonna get punished. Simple as that.”

Why the drop-off?

The podcast connected the dots with film. Against Cover 1, Rob noted, Mateer too often defaulted to low-percentage fade throws—especially slot fades and boundary go balls.

“It was like the offense was telling him, ‘Hey, if you see man, take the shot.’ And sometimes it worked. But when it didn’t, it tanked his numbers.”

They rolled tape of a sideline fade against Washington where Mateer launched into perfect coverage.

“This corner’s in-phase. Totally glued. And Mateer just chucks it anyway,” Rob said. “Can’t do that. That’s a wasted play at best—or a pick, like here.”

They followed it up with a red zone pick vs. Fresno State.

“Look where the safety’s eyes are,” Rob said. “He’s staring straight at the route, doesn’t even disguise it. And Mateer never looks at him or looks him off. Just throws it straight into trouble.”

Still, not all fades were bad. Rob pulled up a slot fade TD.

“Now this? Watch the timing. Watch the arc. Drops it in the breadbasket. So he can hit it—but he’s gotta pick his spots better.”

The Wyoming Game: A Masterclass in Disguise & Disruption

The hosts agreed: Mateer’s lowest moment came in the season finale vs. Wyoming. Not just statistically—but situationally.

“Last chance to score, fourth-and-three,” Rob recapped. “Game’s on the line. Arbuckle calls mesh. Tight end leaks open on the shallow cross—tons of green in front.”

Instead, Mateer pulled the ball down and tried to run—getting stuffed short.

“You make that throw? You move the chains. Maybe you win the game. Instead, the season ends.”

Brad chimed in. “It’s the difference between a ‘gamer’ and a ‘closer.’ And to go win the SEC, you gotta be a closer.”

But Wyoming deserves credit. Rob laid out their defensive blueprint.

“They ran creepers—replacement pressures where a boundary DE drops into a QB spy. Brilliant. Forced him into tacklers. Built a wall. Took his legs out of the equation.”

In the SEC, Mateer will see even more defensive diversity—and smarter spies. The key? Identifying and punishing man coverage when it shows up.

The Arm Talent Is Real

Okay, enough of the data. Let’s talk film.

The first clip Rob played was, in Brad’s words, “insane.” Fourth-and-10. Own territory. Far hash to opposite sideline. Sail concept. Mateer drops it in over the corner, in front of the safety. First down.

“That’s an NFL throw,” Rob said flatly. “That’s a Sunday throw.”

Another was a deep corner route from a compressed set—Mateer reads cover three, holds the safety, and fires a laser into the boundary.

“That’s what gives him a ceiling,” Rob said. “The mechanical consistency isn’t perfect. But the raw talent? Huge.”

They also highlighted a slot fade against Stanford with textbook timing.

“Launched it before the break. Trusted the landmark. Just like you draw it up.”

 

You want to sit back and play Zone eyes on a running QB  then give him time.

 

What the Legs Add

Film didn’t stop at the arm. Mateer’s mobility came under the microscope too. Rob played a quarterback power from the Boise State game where Mateer broke two tackles and housed it from 56 yards.

“This is Tebow-esque. He’s not juking—he’s running through people.” – Braf

In the red zone?

“He is a menace,” Rob said. “Third-and-goal at the 2? Just tush-push it. You’re not stopping a dude that squats 550.”

They projected 6-9 rushing touchdowns just from short-yardage situations.

 

“Mateer is a low red Menance,” Rob added. “Mack Truck Legs churn into TDs.”

John Mateer’s Legs: The Hidden Weapon 🦵🔥

Mateer isn’t just mobile — he’s a violent runner. In the film, he consistently turns broken plays into chunk gains, and in the red zone, he transforms into a short-yardage monster.

“He’s a Mack truck inside the 5. Good luck stopping him on a QB power or tush push,” Rob said.

He had 164 carries (many from scrambles), but only 3 fumbles all year, showing elite ball security despite heavy usage.

The staff emphasized:

• He’s built like Jalen Hurts with a punishing downhill style
• Has true dual-threat instincts, not just escape speed
• Will be used in low red zone packages to steal touchdowns
• Defenses that turn their backs in Cover 1? He makes them pay

Wyoming neutralized him with a spy, forcing throws. That game proved: to stop Mateer, you must gameplan for his legs.

“You’ve got to build a wall and funnel him into tacklers. Otherwise, he’s just going to wear you down,” Rob said.

In short — Mateer’s legs aren’t just a bonus. They’re a weapon. Especially in Arbuckle’s system.

 

 

Sidearm Swagger & The “Whoa” Moments

One play that got major airtime was a sidearm throw from the Wyoming game. Mateer had a defender in his grill and slung a 3/4-angle dart on a dig route in stride.

“Herbert-style,” Rob said. “Justin Herbert does that s***. You’re not supposed to make this throw with someone in your lap. But he throws around him like he’s skipping rocks.”

It’s a small thing—but elite QBs change arm angles. Mateer flashed that tool.

 

The Misses That Can Be Fixed

Rob wasn’t blind to Mateer’s inconsistencies. The podcast replayed a Mills concept vs. Hawaii where Mateer ignored an open dig and forced a double-covered post.

“He just doesn’t trust the progression yet. But that comes with reps.”

Another sequence showed a double-move route where the receiver torched the corner, but Mateer pulled it down and scrambled for 25 instead.

“He can run. But this should’ve been six through the air. That’s a read he’s gotta make.”

But even his mistakes were framed as teachable.

“You see the talent,” Rob emphasized. “It’s about refining the decision-making. He has every throw in the bag.”

Projecting Mateer’s Year at OU

By the end, the hosts moved from film to future.

“This is a guy who should throw for over 3,000,” Rob predicted. “If Arbuckle tailors the offense, cuts the fades, adds more quick game and bootlegs? He can thrive.”

Brad tempered expectations slightly.

“It all comes down to the offensive line. If they protect him, he’ll shine. If not, it’ll be last year all over again. But man, the upside… it’s there.”

They each gave a comp.

Rob: “He’s got Jalen Hurts’ power and Herbert’s off-platform arm. That’s rare.”
Brad: “Maybe a little Josh Allen pre-polish. Wild legs. Big throws. A bit reckless. But totally fearless.”

They ended with a laugh.

“He’s not walking on water yet,” Brad said.
“Nope,” Rob replied. “But he might start turning some of it into steam.”

 

The Final Word

John Mateer isn’t the most famous QB in the SEC this summer. He’s not on most Heisman lists. He didn’t get the PFF love. But the Champion Standard crew made one thing clear:

If you know ball—and if you watch the tape—you’ll see it.

“He’s the It-Factor,” Rob said in closing. “And I’ll bet on that every time.”

OU fans, buckle up. Your quarterback room might’ve just struck oil again. And this time, it wears #10, throws sidearm darts, and carries defenders like firewood.