NORMAN — John Mateer knew there were high expectations as soon as he arrived in Norman. He knew he needed to grow as a leader, and he knew he needed to get the best out of his teammates. One way he ramps up the competitiveness? He’s definitely not afraid to talk some trash. He’s not […]
NORMAN — John Mateer knew there were high expectations as soon as he arrived in Norman. He knew he needed to grow as a leader, and he knew he needed to get the best out of his teammates.
One way he ramps up the competitiveness? He’s definitely not afraid to talk some trash. He’s not afraid to get in the middle of things.
During Monday’s practice, which opened with one-on-one battles between OU’s pass catchers and defensive backs, Mateer came running into frame following a highly-contested battle between Keontez Lewis and Courtland Guillory.
“He’s a dog, man,” Lewis said of Mateer after practice. “It’s great having a quarterback that goes out there with a little nastiness to him. So you couldn’t ask nothing better for a quarterback back there, honestly.”
The defense has certainly taken notice. Mateer isn’t afraid to challenge his teammates on the other side of the ball as the Sooners’ new quarterback looks to ramp up the intensity.
“He has a little mocking-ness to him,” OU veteran cornerback Gentry Williams said. “We like that in a quarterback, how he talks to the offense. He puts belief into them. When Kip (Lewis) and (Robert Spears-Jennings) and R Mason (Thomas) are talking to us, (they’re) putting the belief to us to go back and stop them. It has been great.”
It’s an element to Mateer’s game that comes naturally for him. He’s definitely used to being the pot stirrer for an offense, particularly for Washington State last season. It’s an aspect that has led some comparisons to former OU quarterback Baker Mayfield.
But Mateer knows he also has responsibility to bring that energy to Norman.
“I would just say I know from playing football it gets people going a little bit,” Mateer said. “And that’s what you need on this field. It’s practice (number) four and it’s great, but come here soon it’s going to be, ‘man it’s practice… and it’s hot.’ This and that. So you get everybody going a little bit more. And that comes from me.
“I’m the quarterback, I’m the leader so I’ve got to do it and I love doing it. You talk a little crap and get the best out of everybody.”
Sometimes, even Brent Venables is the target for Mateer’s trash talk as the head coach calls the defense in practice.
“I talk a little crap to him,” Mateer joked. “I probably shouldn’t, but he loves it. He’s a football guy, and football guys love to smack-talk. You know him, he loves practice, and he loves football.”
Mateer’s trash talk helps increase the intensity in practice, but it’s also been part of his growth as a leader. That’s been a key focus for Mateer over the last few months as he’s worked to gain the trust of his teammates, both on offense and defense.
OU center Troy Everett has seen Mateer bring an element to the field that was missing last season.
“He came and it’s like he’s almost been here forever,” Everett said during media day. “… As soon as he got here, me and him would talk. And I had a little bit more credibility coming in from last season because I’d been here. So right when he got here, I’d be like, ‘Hey, send a text. Do this.’ Like, we could work together, me and him could work to take over the offense together. Because last year we just didn’t have a lot of vocal leaders. We had a lot of newer pieces, a lot of injured guys, so it’s hard to have one true voice.
“And so now having John come in there, me and John have been able to work around it. And now everyone, offensive and defensive side, they respect him. He works out with defensive guys, and he’s just got ‘it’ to him, He’s got what you need as a quarterback.”
The Sooners are hoping that translates to success this fall. The offense was a mess all of last season as it lacked cohesiveness, and it’s a big reason why they brought in Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State during the offseason.
While Mateer hopes to bring much-needed energy, he’s primarily focused on being a leader for his teammates.
“Trying to build relationships, put myself in uncomfortable situations, that’s been real good,” Mateer said. “And the guys seem to respect me and I appreciate that so much. That’s all you can ask for when you come in as a new guy.
“You just want to earn everybody’s respect and I hope I’ve done that and it should lead us to good places.”
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Category: General Sports
