Cook was a much better QB then Pribula and OU and Mateer didn't have MU'S run game to fall back on which MU has had for the last several years.onemizzou wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025 22:27 pmI didn't. They had two really good receivers though (and a good OC). I don't think Mateer is bad just not special at all, Alabama showed that. Beau wasn't great but given decent pass protection we could have had a 2023 type of season, I mean we did it with Brady Cook for chrissakes.11WSChamps wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025 19:31 pmYou forgot the better QB part.onemizzou wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025 17:49 pmI thinks it's as simple as they had a better OC. Certainly Pribula's injury factored into it as well.11WSChamps wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025 19:09 pmThen how did OU make the playoffs?onemizzou wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025 18:06 pmYou wouldn't hear it on this board but it was all over PM. Also, in a presser during Zollers starting Drink said that Zollers had gotten considerable time with the ones earlier in the season (before the Vandy game) because they weren't sure Beaus was going to be able to go. I didn't give the rumors much weight until I heard that statement. You look at how he threw the ball early in the season and then after the KU game and it's a different guy throwing the ball. We do not make the playoffs if Mateer is the QB. He's still getting hammered every other drop back. He didn't look so good against 'Bama in Norman (he didn't even look good in T-town either it was the turnovers that won zero-U that game).11WSChamps wrote: ↑19 Dec 2025 23:29 pmI guess you're the only one who believes it because I never heard anything about a hand injury and apparently no one else has either.onemizzou wrote: ↑19 Dec 2025 23:22 pmI believe Beau had an injured hand since the kU game. We had a suspect oline this year and you see what happened. Mateer isn't much better than Pribula but our line's pass blocking was borderline horrendous.11WSChamps wrote: ↑19 Dec 2025 17:59 pmUh I'm well aware of the relationship between the Oline and QB.onemizzou wrote: ↑19 Dec 2025 17:33 pmI think that's a little backwards without an OLine I don't really care who you have at QB you're not going anywhere fast. That was proven this year. Look at OU, they had the great John Mateer and were pretty much a (bleep) offense like ours except we could run the ball (at least against 2nd tier defenses). What did they have in common with us? A bad Oline. They did have a good OC and some good receivers though and that made the difference.11WSChamps wrote: ↑19 Dec 2025 17:30 pmAgree on the Oline of course, and if we don't have to spend 4 million on a QB then that goes a long way towards the Oline.onemizzou wrote: ↑19 Dec 2025 17:14 pmYou have to have a pocket first when he had it he played fine. Once the Oline was exposed as not SEC caliber things went downhill. We can get any QB you want but they'll be running for their life.11WSChamps wrote: ↑18 Dec 2025 12:11 pm The OL in pass protection wasn't conducive to any kind of vertical passing game.
That and Pribula's inexperience as a pocket passer was apparently too much for Moore/Drinkwitz to overcome.
There was a time when a running game and great defense was enough but to reach the next level QB play is the key.
Drinkwitz has beaten the teams he should beat consistently with the old formula now he has to take the necessary step to beat the teams to make the CFP which is all anyone is going to measure success with from now on.
Also, to anyone saying we may have to go to the portal for a QB if Zollers doesn't ball out in the Bowl Game aren't thinking clearly. We're going to the portal for some sort of QB no matter what. We're not going into next season with Gavin Sidwar as the #2 QB.
Finally, WE NEED MASSIVE OLINE HELP!! Does no one get that the only reason we won 11 games two years ago is because we had one of the best OLines since we came to the SEC. We had Foster, Delgado, Membou, and pre-injury Tollison on that line. That's three NFL talents and a very solid (at the time) young center. We need 4 olinemen in the portal and I don't mean depth pieces I mean starters. Is that going to happen, I highly doubt it. The offense next season is going to be shaky to say at best even if we do have a good QB because we have no receivers to throw to. You can't only throw to Olugbode. Maybe Norfleet won't get injured again and will finally have a breakout year.
Im not worried about getting receivers, that's the least of my worries for next season.
The right QB cures a lot of ills.
As I said before if you don't get that right nothing else is going to matter.
But if I have to choose Id rather have a top flight QB and a suspect oline than the other way around.
Not to mention Mateer had been playing with an injured thumb on his throwing hand most of the season.
If Mateer was our QB this season MU makes the playoffs.
I'm willing to bet Pribula has little success wherever he lands. My guess is a group 5 school.
MU had a better run game and a defense on par with OU's and arguably an easier schedule.
It's a different guy throwing the ball against much better defenses. That may have a lot more to do with him being ineffective than anything else.
Mateer if I'm not mistaken beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa earlier in t he season for goodness sake so I don't know what your point there is. When is the last time anyone beat a playoff worthy Alabama team twice in a season?
I would bet 99% of MU fans would take Mateer over Pribula in a heartbeat.