John Mateer threw a pair of strikes to Isaiah Sategna to set up the Sooners’ game-winning field goal. First, a 13-yard completion on the left sideline. Then, a 20-yard beauty of a back-shoulder toss to the right sideline. Clutch, clutch throws to cap a Red River Rivalry classic.
Most of what Mateer and the OU offense did before that will and should be forgotten. It was … bad. Mateer was money when he needed to be, but the only reason the Sooners were in position for a game-winning kick is because the defense and special teams combined for two touchdowns to the OU offense’s one.
Mateer’s last two throws accounted for 21% of his passing yards (155) against Texas. It was his third-lowest passing total in 17 starts as a Sooner. The hope for Sooners fans is that Mateer carries the confidence from that last drive and forgets about the nine drives that ended in a punt.
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Underwhelming as Mateer’s overall numbers were against Texas, there was a pristine one: a zero in the interceptions column. OU, since the start of last season, is 5-1 in SEC games in which Mateer has gone interception-less. The only loss was against Ole Miss last October.
Asking this OU offense to score a couple of touchdowns per game is way too ambitious, but hanging onto the football? If it can do that, the defense is great enough to keep the Sooners in every remaining game.
OU hosts Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in what figures to be one of those first-to-20 games. (OU’s offense has accounted for at least 20 points in one of five games this year. And the opponent was UTEP).
In the most basic of offensive stats, yards per game, OU ranks dead last among Power Four teams. The Sooners are looking up to the likes of Michigan State and Stanford. Neither of which is the 2000 Rams.
Only 10 schools nationally are averaging fewer yards than the Sooners: Wyoming, Northern Illinois, Charlotte, Central Michigan, Washington State, Kent State, San Diego State, Bowling Green, Old Dominion and old friend UTEP.
In yards per play, OU is only sixth-worst among Power Four teams. Better than a couple of conference mates in Texas A&M and Arkansas.
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Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle was asked Tuesday what he envisions of this offense when it’s at its best.
Aside from “score every single drive” (let’s rule that one out), “it’s also to play complementary (football), take care of the football, make timely plays,” Arbuckle said. “If that’s what it takes to win, then that’s what it takes to win.”
The schedule has maybe made the offense look worse than it is. OU’s last four opponents — Michigan, New Mexico, Georgia and Texas — all rank top-12 nationally in total defense. Now, those are good-to-great defenses, but all four have something else in common: they’ve all played OU’s offense, which is a surefire way to juice your numbers.
Kentucky ranks 101st in total defense and 66th in yards per play.
After the Texas win in which Mateer made a couple of throws and the Sooners established a run game with Lloyd Avant, this could be a get-right game for what’s been a wayward unit.
But even if it can’t move the ball, hanging onto it is a good place to start.
OU vs. Kentucky
KICKOFF: 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman (SEC Network)
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Can John Mateer, OU football offense get groove back vs Kentucky?