Multi-talented Mario

[AUChizad]

Multi-talented Mario
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
By EVAN WOODBERY
Times Auburn Writer evan.woodbery@htimes.com

Auburn's Fannin getting looks at many positions

AUBURN - Mario Fannin is a running back or a receiver or an H-back or the "3" in Gus Malzahn's offense.

He works with the tight ends coach or the running backs coach or the receivers coach or participates in special teams drills.

His role is both undefined and, perhaps, essential.

"Mario's going to play every position," said running backs coach Curtis Luper. "He'll play running back, he'll play slot receiver, you'll see him everywhere."

"He's pretty versatile," acknowledged Malzahn, who doles out praise sparingly.

Other coaches are less cautious.

"He's one of the best players on our football team, so we've got to get him the football," Luper said.

"He's awesome," said tight ends and special teams coach Jay Boulware. "Mario is one of the most explosive players we have on our offense."

Of course, recognition of Fannin's skills and plans to give him an expanded offensive role are nothing new. Each of the two (or three, if Steve Ensminger is included) previous coordinators have had grand ambitions for Fannin as well. And while he was a productive contributor in 2007 and 2008, injuries and offensive inefficiency have kept him from realizing predicted stardom.

"They just want to get the ball in my hands in a variety of ways," said Fannin. "Anyway they can get the ball to me, I guess they're going to try and do it."

Fannin has added a few extra pounds of muscle to his already well-built frame to bring him to 230 pounds. He wears the weight well, with bulging muscles on his chest and shoulders, but said he would like to shed a couple pounds to improve his speed.

Even so, Fannin believes his improved physique convinced coaches that he could be relied on for the blocking roles of the H-back position, which is identified by the number 3 in Malzahn's number-based position system.

"I kind of bulked up on my own," he said. "That's one of the things coaches took into consideration, because they saw how I wanted to be big as well as fast."

Fannin didn't participate in Saturday's scrimmage after spraining his ankle earlier in spring camp. That may thwart plans to shift him from coach to coach as the practice goes on. Boulware works with players like Fannin and John Douglas, who will play a sort of H-back role. Luper said Fannin could also get looks at a more traditional fullback position, in addition to his familiar home at tailback.

"Everybody looks at me as a tight ends coach, but really and truly I'm tight end/back/receiver coach," Boulware said. "With my background, it's afforded me the opportunity to be whatever coach Malzahn needs me to be. (Malzahn) had a player who was a 1,000-yard receiver for them last year, so that's what we're looking for from Mario. We're looking for that type of productivity."

Can Fannin successfully juggle all the roles that might make him that productive?

"In high school, I started off at running back and then I went to tight end, then I went to receiver, then I went to quarterback," he said without missing a beat.

Quarterback battle continues

The two (or possibly three) quarterbacks vying for Auburn's top job said they would prefer a resolution by the end of the spring.

That would give one quarterback the chance to work exclusively with first-team receivers during summer workouts.

"The advantage is the extra work," said junior Kodi Burns, who started the last half of the 2008 season. "If you have one guy established, you're going to be that guy. The ones will go with the one all the time.

"It would be a lot easier if you have one guy to get your timing and your cohesiveness down."

Dye speaks at stadium

Auburn conducted its Tuesday night practice on Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Dye, the legendary former Auburn coach, spoke to players before the practice.

Coach Gene Chizik said the talk centered on what it meant to be an Auburn person, student, football player and, eventually, an alumnus.

Luper said Dye had visited with the new coaching staff several times before.

"He's been around through the offices a bunch," Luper said.

"I'm locked into every single word he says, because there's so much wisdom in his words. He's experienced a lot."

[stewiegriffin]

DAMN Mario up to 230, he will be a beast. Would love to see him reach his potential.
 

[hoov5]

Seriously, is he a junior or senior?

[stewiegriffin]

Seriously, is he a junior or senior?

seriously, fuck you
 

[hoov5]

Thanks for the answer.

[stewiegriffin]

Thanks for the answer.

your welcome, fuck you
 

[The Prowler]

Super Mario is a Junior

[hoov5]

Super Mario is a Junior

Thanks man.  As long as the offense can get him the ball, the offense will improve. Coach Mal is 10 times the offensive cord. Franky was.

[stewiegriffin]

Thanks man.  As long as the offense can get him the ball, the offense will improve. Coach Mal is 10 times the offensive cord. Franky was.

take your compliments and shove them
 

[AUTiger1]

Super Mario is a Junior

It doesn't seem like it has been that long does it?

[The Prowler]

Thanks man.  As long as the offense can get him the ball, the offense will improve. Coach Mal is 10 times the offensive cord. Franky was.

I agree that if the offense can actually get him the ball, and if he can stay healthy....that's a big IF, then yeah, the offense should improve....Hell, it couldn't get much worse than last year.  

As for Coach Z, I really don't know if he's 10X better than Coach Franklin was.  I think the thing with Coach Franklin was that he had Zero people coaching with him, that knew how to run the type of offense he was going to run.  From a personality standpoint...I would take Coach Z 10 times over Coach Franklin.  Coach Franklin pissed off A Lot of players with the way he handled them.  And, if you don't know, if you have one or more players that are pissed off...and those players are some of your better ones, then they become a Cancer in the locker room and before you know it, it becomes a lot more than the few ticked off.

[hoov5]

I agree that if the offense can actually get him the ball, and if he can stay healthy....that's a big IF, then yeah, the offense should improve....Hell, it couldn't get much worse than last year.  

As for Coach Z, I really don't know if he's 10X better than Coach Franklin was.  I think the thing with Coach Franklin was that he had Zero people coaching with him, that knew how to run the type of offense he was going to run.  From a personality standpoint...I would take Coach Z 10 times over Coach Franklin.  Coach Franklin pissed off A Lot of players with the way he handled them.  And, if you don't know, if you have one or more players that are pissed off...and those players are some of your better ones, then they become a Cancer in the locker room and before you know it, it becomes a lot more than the few ticked off.

Like you stated, Coach Malz has coaches around him that know what he is gonna try to do. It seemed like it was only Franky trying to install the system last year.

[AUChizad]

Like you stated, Coach Malz has coaches around him that know what he is gonna try to do. It seemed like it was only Franky trying to install the system last year.

Did you let someone log into your account? Why are you suddenly literate?

[hoov5]

Did you let someone log into your account? Why are you suddenly literate?

Haha, nope its still me. I do have some sense.

[Thrilla]

Haha, nope its still me. I do have some sense.

Sense enough to stick your finger up your butt and smell it!!!  :thumbsup:

HAHAHAHAHA WAR EAGLE!!!!   The retard nashion is goin' down 
6 in a row bammers!!! 

[hoov5]

Sense enough to stick your finger up your butt and smell it!!!  :thumbsup:

HAHAHAHAHA WAR EAGLE!!!!   The retard nashion is goin' down 
6 in a row bammers!!! 

WOW! Thats a good one.......dumbfuck!

[Thrilla]

WOW! Thats a good one.......dumbfuck!

HAHAHAHAHAHA nice reply!!!    That's as good as a 6th grader could come up with!!!! 

You so scared of us barners you can't even think of anything else better to say!!!

WAR DAMN EAGLE 6 IN A ROW!!!!  :thumbsup:

[stewiegriffin]

Haha, nope its still me. I do have some sense.

Maybe you have some sinse and you have obviously been smoking it, but you have no fucking sense at all
 

[JR4AU]

Haha, nope its still me. I do have some sense.

This is the first time anybody's gotten a glimpse of it. 

[#2Bammer]

Maybe you have some sinse and you have obviously been smoking it, but you have no fucking sense at all
 

Silly barners..... Championships are for BAMMERS!!!!!