Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables isn’t backing down, confirming this week that John Mateer is still his starting quarterback despite serious turnover issues, especially with the Red River Rivalry looming. The coach made it crystal clear on Wednesday, and then doubled down on Thursday with News9’s Toby Rowland, flat out stating, “John’s our starting quarterback.” When pressed about whether any backups might see action against Texas, Venables was dismissive, saying, “I have no idea. We’re not there right now. John’s our starting quarterback.”
Mateer’s Past Success vs. Present Struggles
Look, Venables isn’t just pulling this out of thin air. The man’s got a reason, even if it feels like he’s going against the grain for some fans. He pointed to Mateer’s history, reminding everyone, “He was the starting quarterback on a 10-win team a year ago. The best version of John Mateer is really good.” That’s the faith talking right there. Venables, along with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and general manager Jim Nagy, put their trust in Mateer during the offseason, and they’re sticking with him now. They see the daily investment, the talent, the leadership, what he brings to practice every single day. As Venables put it, they “believe in John in every way” and are able to “compare a body of work.”
The Turnover Elephant in the Room
But let’s be real, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Even Venables can’t sugar-coat the massive issue that’s hanging over Mateer and the entire offense. “There’s no sugar-coating it, he’s got to be more consistent and the turnovers have been the biggest issue, critical moments,” Venables admitted. “There’s no discounting that.” You know it’s bad when the head coach has to say there’s “no sugar-coating it.” Despite those glaring mistakes, the coaching staff still believes Mateer gives them the best chance to win, and their primary job right now is to help him get to that “best version.” They even discussed a quarterback change after the Georgia loss, but ultimately decided to keep Mateer under center. The truth is, the entire offense is struggling mightily. Venables knows it takes more than just the quarterback: “Being a successful quarterback takes a lot of people around him to be good as well. And so whether that’s protection or the ability to run the football more consistently.”
So, here we are. The Sooners need a much better performance from the offense as a whole, which starts with a much better performance from the quarterback position. Venables is “excited to see him bounce back,” knowing that while words are great, “it still takes ability to go out and execute at a high level, and we expect him to do that.” The Red River Rivalry is next on the schedule. Mateer has had a “really good week” of practice, but the proof is in the pudding. This isn’t just about winning a game, it’s about proving that the coach’s unwavering faith isn’t misplaced.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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