Kansas City Chiefs Eric Fisher struggling with mental side of game
Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) blocks at the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds (93) during the second quarter at Heinz Field. The Kansas City Chiefs won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs touted rookie right tackle Eric Fisher is having a rough start to what should end up being a great NFL career, and he definitely didn’t look good in Thursday night’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Fisher, the first pick in the draft, constantly gave up pressure to the Eagles, and he was also called for a pair of holding penalties. That result was eerily similar to what the No. 2 overall pick in the draft did, as fellow elite tackle Luke Joeckel gave up too many pressures and penalties in Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders. He stated that he would correct those mental issues and strive not to be “Mental Error Guy”, and that’s something Eric Fisher is undoubtedly trying to do (or not to do, in the case of being “Mental Error Guy”).
According to FOX Sports’s Mike Garafolo, a source stated that the biggest issue with Eric Fisher is mental and not physical, and this news doesn’t come as a surprise knowing how talented Fisher is. Per the source close to Garafolo, Fisher, as the Chiefs have stated, is having major issues switching from the left side of the line to the right side (switching sides is honestly an extremely difficult adjustment for several linemen to make). He also reportedly had issues against the Eagles blitzing schemes, but I wonder if his issues are more fundamental. I mean, Fisher is adjusting from playing at Central Michigan to playing in the NFL, and adjusting from college to the NFL is incredibly difficult to do at the tackle position- that fact has to be emphasized. For example, Washington Redskins LT Trent Williams was putrid as a rookie, but he’s one of the best in the business right now. Ditto to Russell Okung of the Seattle Seahawks.
Nobody is- and nobody should- be panicking about Eric Fisher, because the Kansas City Chiefs have a really talented tackle on their hands. I’m sure he’ll figure things out, and Garafolo reports that the Chiefs are hopeful he can as well. I have no worries regarding Fisher going forward, but I will most certainly say that he’s looked really bad through three weeks.
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