Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer struggled again in Saturday night's win over the New Mexico Lobos. The quarterback completed 19-of-25 passes for 238 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Mateer was picked off on the first drive. The Lobos brought a blitz that the offensive line failed to pick up. That forced Mateer off his spot as he tried to fit the ball into a tight window. The second interception came from a mental mistake by Xavier Robinson, who head coach Brent Venables said ran the wrong route. Still, Mateer decided to throw it.
Mateer opened up after the game about his early season struggles.
"I knew I was being tested, so I was like, 'All right, well, next play, go make a play,'" Mateer said. "Then it happens again; I throw
another one. I'm like, 'You've got to be kidding me.' I need to be better at the game of football. I knew I just can't give in. I'm not going to tap out. I'm not going to give up on my guys. They're not going to give up on me. My teammates have done a great job. I appreciate them more than they know. Saying they have my back. Getting tired of them saying that they have my back because they're only saying it because I keep making mistakes."
That combination of frustration and accountability may be the most revealing part of Mateer's response. He isn't dismissing the mistakes or pretending they aren't hurting Oklahoma. At the same time, he isn't allowing them to define his confidence.
The Sooners won Saturday, but the performance showed that the offense still has plenty to fix. With the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs next, Mateer will have to turn his refusal to give up into cleaner decision-making and more consistent execution if Oklahoma's offense is going to take the step forward it was expected to make this season.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's John Mateer opens up about his early season struggles
