It’s only been a few months and one press availability, but Wisconsin football’s new offensive line coach, Eric Mateos, appears to be ideally suited for the post.
He took care of things in the transfer portal. He’s taking care of business on the high school recruiting scene. Everywhere he travels, his offensive lines are robust and disciplined.
His origins, as well as what he’s already achieved in Madison, should give Badger supporters confidence. However, if that wasn’t enough, Mateos gave a powerful press conference during spring practice, outlining his strategy to restore Wisconsin’s offensive line to its former glory.
“There has to be a passion for physicality,” he said. I believe that a lot of what is taught, such as tempo attacks, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, has led o-linemen to prioritize conserving energy over emptying the tank on a single play. The attitude and excitement for the physical aspect are the most important.
Having a passion for physicality is not exclusive to Mateos’ philosophy; every offensive line coach in the country will provide you with a comparable statement when asked to describe the mentality necessary in the trenches.
However, the notion of emptying the tank every play rather than training oneself for a speed attack is what stands out. Wisconsin is on its fourth offensive line coach in the last five years, but the team is still recovering from a two-year experiment with the Air Raid concept under previous offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
Subtle shot at Phil Longo?
Is this a covert criticism of Longo’s strategy and the impact that his offensive philosophy had on the development of the Badgers’ offensive line? It is impossible to say with certainty. However, it is evident which type of attack Mateos, who has a long relationship with run-heavy, pro-style play-caller Jeff Grimes, favors. And, of course, pace was an important element of Longo’s strategy.
Whether this was a jab at Longo or tempo attacks in general, Mateos has a point. If an offense’s philosophy is on how fast it can reach the line of scrimmage and execute the following play, this may align with the mental processes of skill players who want as many touches as possible. But it’s hardly ideal for an offensive line that wants to pummel a defensive front into submission throughout a game.
From the manner he recruits to the way he trains and interacts with the press, all indications suggest that Mateos is the ideal person to revitalize Wisconsin’s offensive line. Now, he must put it all together on the gridiron.
