Nov 9, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher (72) during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Most recently, Fisher was running with the second team in OTA workouts, allowing Donald Stephenson to get some reps with the first team. Head coach Andy Reid tried to throw water on the possible fire, saying, “We want to make sure we’ve got everybody covered. Actually, Fish has done a very nice job, so I wouldn’t read anything into that. We’re staying consistent.”
This is some classic damage control being worked by Reid, who like many coaches can be a wizard of words. Reid is a players’ coach who is trying to salvage the young career of a player with much upside but limited results to this point.
In Fisher’s defense he was asked to go learn and play a new position (right tackle) his first year and then go back and re-learn the left tackle assignments on top of battling injuries. His strength has become the biggest concern as it seems that any time he goes up against a player with great strength he gets moved around.
For example, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, who was 36 years old and previously retired, dominated Fisher when the Chiefs played Pittsburgh last year. That can’t happen if Kansas City wants stability at left tackle. Alex Smith needs peace of mind because as you can see he tends to hit the panic button, the cause for a lot of check downs.
Fisher is entering the third year of his four-year contract (with an option for a fifth year), so one could say this is a pivotal year for him and the Chiefs. Most teams will give a couple of seasons for a player to develop and learn the ropes of their position in a much more competitive environment. Kansas City fans are hoping that this offseason Fisher makes some progress and becomes the anchor we all hoped he would be.
Pro Football Focus graded Albert at a +17.5 overall grade for the season which ranked him eighth in the league in the nine games he played. His replacement Fisher was inadequate to put it lightly with a -17.5 overall season score. Did the Chiefs make the wrong move letting Albert walk? All signs seem to be pointing to a resounding yes but Fisher may have the final say in the matter starting this September.