Weekend Open Post | March 28th – 30th
Posted on: March 28, 2025
The Importance of John Mateer at OU
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 24, 2025
The Sooners head into the 2025 season coming off one of their worst offensive seasons in memory. For the most part, OU could not pass, run, or score without making life as difficult as possible for themselves.
Different issues led to the incompetent performance last season such as a rash of injuries to the wide receiver room and the offensive line room. Then, another part of the issue was the attempt by the Sooners to play Dr Frankenstein offensively by mashing different offensive philosophies and schemes together with hopes of churning out a competent if not prolific offense. Finally, you had a QB room that not only was young and unproven, but they had no real QB coaching support to help guide and manage the room.
Following the dismissal of Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley being relegated back to the TE room only, the Sooners brought in former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Arbuckle is bringing his own scheme to Norman and his scheme has roots in the Air Raid offense, which as you know, is a pass-heavy system pioneered by coaches like Mike Leach and Hal Mumme.
The OG Air Raid emphasizes quick decision-making, spreading the field, and exploiting defensive mismatches. However, Arbuckle’s approach is not a rigid adherence to the traditional Air Raid. Instead, it incorporates elements from multiple coaching styles: Air Raid, West Coast, and Pro Stye, which reflect the mentorship he received from coaches like Zach Kittley and Tyson Helton. The scheme’s hybrid nature allows him to tailor his playbook to the talent available rather than forcing players into a predetermined mold.
When OU landed Arbuckle to run the offense, they absolutely also had their eyes on improving the quarterback room. Enter John Mateer, who has been learning and playing under Arbuckle for the past two years. Mateer had a tremendous season for the Cougars last season. He led the nation in total touchdowns with 44, he had 29 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns. He threw for 3,139 yards with a completion rate of 64.6% and only seven interceptions, while adding 826 rushing yards, averaging 330.4 total offense yards per game which ranked 5th in the nation.
With the way Arbuckle approaches offense and with the flexibility he has built into his scheme, he has churned out what appears to be a quarterback-friendly scheme and it is a huge boost for the Sooners to have Mateer at the helm as he brings his experience and documented success to the fold.
Arbuckle’s system is built to empower quarterbacks. With his experience, Mateer will be focused on leveraging simple reads and quick releases to get the ball out fast. Having a QB with experience and proven success in this offense is huge. Arbuckle’s offense has put up some impressive years in back-to-back seasons with two different QBS at the helm as Cam Ward in 2023 (311.3 passing yards per game, 4th nationally) and Mateer in 2024 (3,139 passing yards, 16th nationally) prove.
This will be Mateer’s second season as a starting QB under Arbuckle which will give both of them some comfort and familiarity. Having Mateer at OU at this point, with the offensive scheme change and the new design, is a huge advantage for the Sooners when thinking about how things would likely be playing out if Jackson Arnold was still in town. Arnold would be trying to learn his third system in three years in college and he would be focused on himself (as he would have to be) rather than the offense as a whole.
Mateer comes in knowing the offense inside and out and having experience and familiarity with what Arbuckle wants and needs to make the offense go. He will be able to serve as another coach for his teammates to a degree and he has certainly already become more of a leader than Jackson Arnold ever could have become at this same point last year. That is not a dis on Arnold, it is just the reality of the situation.
Without Mateer, the Sooners offense would have a lot more questions around it at this point than it currently does.
Personnel Staff Evaluating & Autonomy | Sourced
– Super K – Posted on: March 25, 2025
Came across an interesting note when speaking with a source recently. As you know, the Sooners have made some major moves in the personnel department including the hiring of Jim Nagy.
I’ve been told that Nagy and co are settling in and are set to begin reevaluating the 2026 recruiting targets later this week and beyond.
I got the impression that they are being quite a bit of autonomy and will be able to evaluate even the current 2026 targets.
I don’t know much the targets will change but I’m told that it is possible as BV seems to want those guys to take a large role in the evaluations.
I was told for now there is a bit of a wait and see from the staff as to what direction the personnel guys will go with the current targets and what additional targets will be added.
As such, expect us here to bring you an updated round of the 2026 class targets since it seems there may very well be some changes.
Sourced Team Notes | March 25th
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 25, 2025
Now that the team has resumed spring practice, time to pass along a couple of sourced notes on the offensive side of the ball…
***First, when it comes to the tight end room, a source says there are no real standouts this spring. The source goes on to say they all “Look about the same.”
When a three-year linebacker turned first-year spring player at the position, Jaren Kanak has a legitimate chance to be in the rotation. This all makes sense.
I know this isn’t breaking news, but the source was pretty blunt about the situation, and that’s not typical from a group that is generally super optimistic.
***Source did say that the wide receiver room does seem to be in a much better position than at any point last season. Source said there is a distinct difference in the way that guys in that room are going about their business this spring as compared to last year.
Source added that the only guys who have really created any separation in the competition in the room right now are Javonnie Gibson and Isaiah Sategna (as you know if you have been following along). Said the rest of the guys are really battling every day, and that is paying off as they are pushing each other and making each other better in the process. Source said that the room looks “pretty deep”.
More on What I’m Hearing on Mateer | Sourced
– Super K – Posted on: March 27, 2025
Last week, I mention that, like Charlie and James, overall what I’ve heard on both Mateer and Arbuckle has been very good.
I did get a chance to have a more detailed discussion about Mateer with a source and this is basically what I was told…
***The biggest thing that seems to stand out is the difference between having a talented seasoned guy versus what OU had last year – a talented young guy…
***Essentially Mateer is a coach. Yes, Arbuckle is the coach but Mateer, I’m told, is essentially Arbuckle’s assistant coach…
***Mateer is not only familiar with the system (which obvious gives a player more confidence to lead) but he’s a natural leader. I’m told he’s very vocal. He’s a hard worker and he has that “it” factor.
***I don’t want to build it up too much – just passing along what I was told but the person I spoke to say he’s similar to Baker in the way that he leads.
***Again, Mateer knows the system so well that, as one source said, “he can teach it.”
***A source also noted that Mateer’s way of approaching the game is aggressive – almost like a defensive mind set where he’s vicious and wants to attack the other side of the ball.
I hope that’s rosy enough for everyone.
The Buzz | What We Have Been Hearing About Halfway through Spring
– Charlie S – Posted on: March 27, 2025
We are about halfway through spring practice.
The next extensive ‘Live Period’ (scrimmage) will take place this weekend.
Lets take a quick look and a refresher on the buzz at each position group at this point of spring ball.
QB: John Mateer is the buzz. He has come in and shown solid leadership and complete command of the offense. Lot of positive talk about what he brings and it sounds like he is backing it up on the practice fields.
RB: Not a lot of buzz about any back in particular, but the consensus is that OU has 4 backs that ‘could’ be the guy. (Barnes, Robinson, Tatum, Sawchuk). Right now, pretty quiet tho as Barnes is on the shelf and the other guys are going through their paces.
WR: Lot of buzz coming out of this room, in part because of all the new pieces. OU knows (believes) what they have in Deion Burks, but transfers Javonnie Gibson and Isaiah Sategna have been the talk of spring. True freshman Elijah Thomas has some folks drooling with his potential, and we talked about Keontez Lewis in the winter as a standout.
TE: Zero buzz. Jaren Kanak making the move from LB to TE is the ‘fun’ story of the spring, but if he is in line to perhaps start (which he is), that says all you need to know about this room.
OL: The buzz starts with the starters on the left side from last year (Howland, Ozaeta) out for the spring and that has opened up some opportunities. Eddy Piere Louis has capitalized on those opportunities to this point, as he has a lot of folks believing he may not give up that LG spot. OU’s freshmen have come in and made a lot of noise as Michael Fasusi has been running with the 2’s at LT and Ryan Fodje is making serious noise inside. Transfer Derek Simmons is also getting nice reviews.
DL: David Stone has come out swinging this spring, and a lot of the buzz around the DT room centers on him and how he is on track to make a huge leap in year two. Markus Strong is also being talked about, and with Jayden Jackson on the shelf, OU is seeing and hearing exactly what they wanted from the young guys. Trent Wilson has also received praise for both his talent and his approach, as we have noted.
DE: Building buzz on PJ Adebawore is what I am paying attention to of late. Sounds like PJ is fully healthy, and the work he has put in and his continued development have him in a very good spot, and he has been making plays this spring. Also, hearing nice things about Danny Okoye throughout the spring which is welcomed.
LB: While Kobie and Kip are expected to be the starters, a lot of the LB buzz in regard to players has been on transfer Kendal Daniels and his speed and versatility. A lot of the other buzz has been around new LB coach Nate Dreiling and how energetic and engaging he is.
CB: The buzz is on Courtland Guillory as we have noted throughout spring, and that is in part due to OU’s top 3 perceived corners being on the shelf when it comes to live periods. Guillory has been able to get a ton of reps and he has been a constant point of buzz.
S: The buzz centers around the young guys (Boganowski, Powers, Hardy, Robinson) in large part as you know what you are getting from RSJ and Peyton Bowen has not been taking part in live practice. Hardy seems to be the guy who is in the lead spot for ‘safety 3’ right now and Boganowski and Powers are cross training at safety and cheetah. Robinson is turning heads on special teams as well as at safety.
Best buzz: So far, to this point, knock on wood and all that…no significant additional injuries.
