Scouting OU's New QB: Opposing Team's Real Scouting Report On John Mateer

After a tough 2024 campaign, University of Oklahoma football fans are hopeful transfer quarterback John Mateer can help turn the program back into a contender.

Mateer led the country in total touchdowns while playing for Washington State last year (with new OU Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle running the offense). Still, numbers don’t always tell the whole story. So, I reached out to a mentor from my playing days, a defensive coach who faced Mateer this past season.

He shared some notes from his team’s actual scouting report, explaining what Mateer brings to an offense from the perspective of an opposing coach.  

 Mateer Notes: 

1. Incredibly athletic and sneaky fast runner with the ability to run through tackles or make you miss 
2. Great arm strength with the ability to make throws to the opposite sideline 
3. ‘Baseball guy’ who can make off-balanced throws 
4. He throws well on the run and buys time with his feet 
5. Decision-making on the run is below average. He will force throws, which can lead to takeaways 
6. He seems to scramble too quickly, which could wear on his body over time.

Defensive Schematic Notes (opposing team’s strategy to try to stop Mateer): 

1) “Cage the Chicken”  

1. Defensive ends must stay disciplined in pass rush to keep Mateer contained 
2. Interior D-Line and Blitzers must be deliberate to avoid opening escape lanes 
3. Add “spy” players to mirror Mateer

-Spy player can’t get too close to the rush 

2) Flush Mateer left (if he does escape the pocket) 

1. Mateer is most dangerous rolling out to his right, so left DE has to be most disciplined 

3) Defensive Backs need to stay in coverage 

1. Mateer will throw late in the play while scrambling, so DBs need to stay in their zones until the whistle or until Mateer crosses the line of scrimmage 

4) Add an extra hat to run fit for designed Quarterback runs 

1. Designed QB run plays allow the RB to serve as an extra blocker. The defense will need an extra body to account for the extra gap that creates 
2. An extra player will be added to the box in short-yardage situations