Mario Fannin's Role

[bzlivn 0]

I was suprised with the number of touches for Mario.    I know he had the drop but . . .

One thing is for sure he has to be one of the best receiving backs in the country.

[Guest jojo1515]

i agree... I just hope he either doesn't have to carry the load as the starting rb or gets more comfortable doing it (which is very possible).  I was very impressed on his pass plays and underwhelmed on his run plays.  I think i would like to see omac and dyer both in the game a bit more at the same time....how in the world would you defend speedy omac, vision and power dyer, and heman newton in the same backfield??  Sounds next to impossible for me 

[Rednilla 5,095]

Dyer is not ready to start. As a runner, he's an absolute stud, but he obviously has to work on his blocking, or he would have been in more when we weren't just handing the ball to him.

Fannin fumbled once when he got absolutely hammered and lifted off his feet by two A State players. Yes, it's disheartening, but fumbles happen. I just hope he keeps this in mind and protects the ball a little better once the SEC schedule comes around.

[guerra aguila 0]

Mario Fannin will run the ball 15 times against MSU... we didnt need him last night and it was a perfect opportunity for Dyer and McCalebb to get some good carries. We are going to need Fannin down the stretch and its a long grueling season.

Malzahn had the perfect game plan last night... he wanted to expose Newton to the world and remind them that he can really burn teams on the ground if they over pursue, or if they back off to far.

Its going to be a lot of fun to watch because now teams cant just focus on the running back, they also have to account for Newton and where he is at all times.

Mario hasnt gotten started... but hes about to.

[auskull 239]

Did you see the first half??? I thought we needed Mario and anyone else who could suit up. Malz didn't toy around because the D couldn't stop State. If this had gone as planned, then Cam probably wouldn't have played as much in the second half. What we saw was our O is much further along than our D. Much like last year. By the way, Cam exceeded anything I envisioned and is a game changer. Can he play Defense and special teams?

[COXWELL 0]

Mario Fannin will run the ball 15 times against MSU... we didnt need him last night and it was a perfect opportunity for Dyer and McCalebb to get some good carries. We are going to need Fannin down the stretch and its a long grueling season.

Malzahn had the perfect game plan last night... he wanted to expose Newton to the world and remind them that he can really burn teams on the ground if they over pursue, or if they back off to far.

Its going to be a lot of fun to watch because now teams cant just focus on the running back, they also have to account for Newton and where he is at all times.

Mario hasnt gotten started... but hes about to.

I agree - I think the coaches wanted to get Dyer and Newton in the groove before the REAL stretch of games start.  Fannin will have his time to contribute as a back, but with Dyer now with valuable learning experience, we have just the more weapons.  AND, Fannin did not get hurt in the ARK ST game because he did not have to run  from the backfield.  Strategic and it worked.

[COLORADOTIGER 0]

I could easily see Cam being the leading rusher on the team this year

[312234 0]

You can't defend a fumble.  A fumble is a fumble and it's the players fault.

Look last night at the North Carolina receiver that got nailed (something like 15 seconds left in game), but made a spectacular catch and held onto the ball.

The UNC receiver got hit harder, in the air, and at a weird angle, BUT still caught the ball even though he was injured.

I agree Mario got hit hard, but that's no excuse.  He needs to lock and load, and do what we do.

[Connecticut Tiger 0]

I don't think that there is a specific role for Mario.  He is going to be expected to run, catch, block, lead and teach.  It appears that he is a better receiver, right now, but linebackers just can't be concerned with Mario coming out to catch the ball.

What was surprising was O'Mac and Smith didn't catch a ball...but then..they didn't need too.  I think it was the same thing with Mario...He didn't need to run it more than he did.  I don't think that we can read anything in it yet.

[guerra aguila 0]

I don't think that there is a specific role for Mario.  He is going to be expected to run, catch, block, lead and teach.  It appears that he is a better receiver, right now, but linebackers just can't be concerned with Mario coming out to catch the ball.

What was surprising was O'Mac and Smith didn't catch a ball...but then..they didn't need too.  I think it was the same thing with Mario...He didn't need to run it more than he did.   I don't think that we can read anything in it yet.

About Omac and Smith not catching a ball... thats the wonderful thing about this offense... we didnt see everything last night, we kept it pretty simple if you ask me. Smith will be there when we need him, and Im sure you know that.

Those veterans will be there when we need them, you brought up a great point. Malzahn is going to play games with defensive coordinators this year... should be a lot of fun.

[Boytano 0]

first i think it was great to get he first game behind us and have something in the win column.

Mario and the rest of the backs did a pretty good job with what they were given, but the failure to secure the ball has haunted him through out his AU career, I think he'll get it figured out.

Was i just me or did the o-line not really get off the line and open lanes when we really needed them too?

All in all i'm proud of our team, and happy for them.

Time to get back to work, gotta take MSU to the shed!

[Mustprotect 20]

For Fannin to be a senior leader he has to lead by example and if everyone talks about ball security everytime your name comes up you cant go out and fumble your first game as starter your senior year and he did get hit pretty hard but this is my motto hit them before they hit you so if he had put his head down and went in on those guys it wouldnt have looked as bad i love fannin but i dont think he is a every down back he has the potential to be but when i see him its kinda like a larger couple of steps slower version of Reggie Bush

[AUFan1 0]

I was surprised to see Fannin not get very many touches, but I think this game was about 1 thing only..... breaking in the new guys. Also when you have multiple scores over 30 yards, it tends to eat up a lot of those opportunities for touches. There just isn't the same opportunity to touch the ball when you go 70 yards in 1 play, versus 70 yards in 8 or 10 plays. As for his fumble, I couldn't tell from the replay if the ball was out before or after he hit the ground. He does need to lower his shoulders more, and have better leverage when he runs. Those guys hit him when he was running straight up, and literally lifted him up, and drove him backwards.

[Weegle777 63]

Chizik and Malzahn weren't going to show our cards last night, we have the stage Thursday night. Expect us to burst onto the scene and be on everybody's radar come Friday morning.

[tsande07 271]

Dyer is not ready to start. As a runner, he's an absolute stud, but he obviously has to work on his blocking, or he would have been in more when we weren't just handing the ball to him.

Fannin fumbled once when he got absolutely hammered and lifted off his feet by two A State players. Yes, it's disheartening, but fumbles happen. I just hope he keeps this in mind and protects the ball a little better once the SEC schedule comes around.

^^^This^^^

When the gameplan calls for Fannin to run the ball more, he will.  I think we can all agree that our gameplan on O worked pretty well.  Ben Tate didn't "start" every game either, it depended on what we were trying to do to the defense.

As a side note, to those people that think "A fumble is a fumble," I'm sorry, but that's just not true.  It's basically like saying that every interception is the same, and is always the QBs fault.  If  you have poor/lazy ball protection and the ball comes out without anyone hitting you that hard, that's one thing.  If someone comes in and lays a helmet right on the ball with a huge hit, that's another.  It happens - I don't care who you are.