http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20081001/ARTICLES/810010333/1164/SPORTS?Title=Fannin_getting_more_looks_in_new_formationFannin getting more looks in new formation
By Luke Brietzke,
For the TimesDaily
Published: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 11:23 p.m.
AUBURN - For weeks, Auburn coaches have said they want to get the ball in Mario Fannin's hands more often.
Yet,
Fannin got the ball just nine times through the first four games.
After Fannin failed to get an offensive touch in the LSU game, Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin approached the sophomore with an idea.
Franklin wanted to design an entire package - dubbed the War Eagle formation - for Fannin.
The set is very comparable to The Wildhog formation Arkansas employed last year with running back Darren McFadden taking direct snaps.
Auburn unveiled it during the Tennessee game. The set puts Fannin in the shotgun with four receivers. He takes signals from the sideline, just like a quarterback, then takes a direct snap with quarterback Chris Todd lined up as a receiver.
Auburn used the formation three times Saturday all on one drive. Fannin gained 12 yards on what proved to be Auburn's lone offensive scoring drive.
"It worked out pretty good," Fannin said. "We picked up 4 or 5 yards every time we ran it. We've basically just got to hit the hole better and just get better at it."
Fannin moved from tailback to receiver during the spring and became a permanent receiver when he separated his left shoulder during a spring scrimmage game. That shoulder is healed now, and Fannin is getting more carries.
Auburn exclusively ran from the War Eagle package Saturday, but there are other options. Fannin was a high school quarterback, and he makes sure he leaves his receivers gloves on the sideline when running the package.
Fannin injured his non-throwing shoulder and seems excited for the opportunity to throw a pass.
"Mario will give you an extra dimension in the backfield," Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said. "
He can throw the ball, and he played this position in high school when they played this formation. It's new to him, especially on this level, but he understands it more than somebody who you threw out there into the mix and had them run it. I liked it. I think it gives you a couple of options, so we'll see how it works out."For now, Fannin is mostly a runner in the system, which he said gives him some natural advantages.
"It actually gives you more blockers," Fannin said. "You can see where the blocks are going to take place better. It's just like high school to me.
"It's kind of like you just pick where you want to go. It's a set hole, but at the same time, that hole might not be there. So you just got to make a play happen. Just got to basically pick and choose where to go."
Tuberville said the War Eagle formation is something the team will consider running with three or four variations during each game.
If Auburn adds something to Fannin's set, it will likely also take something out of the playbook.
Fannin said he's excited that the coaches are making good on their goal to get him the ball more often.
"It makes me feel great," he said. "Coaches trust me in that aspect of the game, and that's big to me. I'm just going to work hard at it and try to get better each time."
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