Oklahoma’s offense heads into Sanford Stadium with more questions than answers, and Georgia is the last place any struggling unit wants to go looking for a reset.
The Sooners have been dragging for weeks. They were poor on offense in a loss to Michigan two weeks ago, then barely scraped past New Mexico 14-6 the next week. Now they have to deal with a Georgia defense that has been dominant to open the season, and the matchup does not set up kindly for Brent Venables’ group.
Quarterback John Mateer has been under the microscope, and not just because of the results. His admission that crowd noise helped him find an open receiver for a touchdown against New Mexico last week has already taken on a life of its own. On the field, he has not looked comfortable, and Oklahoma’s passing game has lacked rhythm.
The run game has been just as shaky. The Sooners are 97th in the FBS in rushing and 128th in yards per carry at 3.3. Both marks are second-worst in the SEC, ahead of only Arkansas, and injuries along the offensive line have made the problem worse.
The frustration has spilled over into the stands, where fans are already calling for offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s job. Asked after the New Mexico game whether Oklahoma had anything it could “hang its hat on” offensively, Venables gave a blunt answer: “Not really, no.”
Venables was even more direct when talking about what he wants from the offense going forward.
“I don't want to be the offensive coordinator,” Venables said this week. “I want the offensive staff to come up with a great gameplan and to have great balance, to be physical, take care of the ball, run the football, create explosive plays… attack people's weaknesses, all of those types of things. I want them to play with more confidence and more continuity and a better rhythm.”
Still, Oklahoma does have some weapons that can change a game if they get the ball in the right spots. Senior receiver Isaiah Satenga is one of the SEC’s most explosive wideouts, and his speed and ability after the catch can flip a drive in a hurry. He was the player Mateer leaned on while using crowd noise to identify an open target against New Mexico.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart knows exactly what kind of threat Satenga can be.
“He can accelerate from point A to point B really fast,” Smart said of Satenga. “He’s a great returner.
He’s got great hands. They find schemes, find ways to get him touches.
He has to touch the ball to be explosive, and they’ve done a good job with that. You look at the history at what he’s been able to do in the return game and being able to touch the ball.
He is a very good playmaker.”
Tight end Rocky Beers has also emerged as a real bright spot this season. He’s been Mateer’s best outlet in the quick game and has shown he can make things happen after the catch. With Mateer likely needing to get the ball out fast against Georgia, Beers could be a key piece.
The Bulldogs are taking Mateer seriously, even if his season has been uneven.
“They have a great quarterback,” linebacker Justin Williams said. “[Mateer] is really good.
He's a dual threat quarterback. He can make plays with his legs and with his arms.
So that brings a challenge to us for sure.”
Mateer has only 69 rushing yards this year, but five sacks have chipped away at that total. If Oklahoma is going to find any traction on the ground, his scrambles may be the best path. The Sooners will likely dial up some designed runs for him too.
Smart sees the danger there.
“He’s hard to tackle, he breaks a lot of tackles,” Smart said. “He’s tough.
You talk about the run game. He runs inside.
He runs outside. He runs to pass.
He scrambles to throw. He’s made explosives with his legs.”
That’s the part that gives Oklahoma at least a fighting chance, because Georgia’s defense has been excellent to start the year. The Bulldogs are allowing the fewest yards per game in the SEC.
Oklahoma’s defense is no slouch either. The Sooners rank second in the conference in fewest yards allowed, and they bring a unit loaded with disruptive talent: David Stone and Jayden Jackson up front, Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory at corner, Reggie Powers III and Owen Heinecke at linebacker, and Peyton Bowen at safety.
Smart described what makes that group difficult to prepare for.
“Sometimes you don't know what they're doing,” Smart said. “There's not a lot of predictability.
You know, you're looking for pictures. As an offensive coach, you want to be like, "Okay, if I do this, I know they're going to do this."
There's nothing, you know, they're going to do.”
Georgia’s own offense has some uncertainty too. The pass protection didn’t look clean in last week’s game against Arkansas, when the Bulldogs allowed three sacks. Their receiver group has shown flashes but is facing its first real test of the season, and running back Nate Frazier might be banged up for this one.
For Oklahoma, though, the spotlight stays on an offense that has to prove it can function at all against one of the toughest defenses it will see.
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