NFL Draft 2019: Paddy Fisher could be good fit in heart of Chiefs defense

Weaknesses

Despite Paddy Fisher’s impressive size, leadership, and production there are still some legitimate questions about his game. Fisher is still a young player and may benefit from another year in college, or a year on the bench learning in the pros. Either way, there are questions that Fisher still needs to answer before NFL teams will be confident calling his name early in the NFL Draft.

Athleticism: I was tempted to list this as “speed” in general, as that has been the knock on Fisher since his High School playing days, but I have some questions about his acceleration and agility as well. Fisher does not explode through gaps and make plays for a loss despite being in a position to do so. Fisher’s instincts and positioning hide a lot of his limitations, but they may be exposed more at the next level.

Tackling: Despite registering over 100 tackles in both seasons as a starter, Fisher can be an inconsistent tackler. This is a seemingly minor detail to his game, but it is something the young linebacker has to sort out. He tends to hit players way too high, often trying to wrap up around the shoulders instead of breaking down and driving through their hips. This is especially apparent in the open field. Fisher has plenty of examples of great form tackles, but when he misses it is because he is hitting high and not getting his pads underneath the ball carriers.

Pass Coverage: I actually really like the way Fisher looks in coverage. He has fluid hips, keeps his eyes on the quarterback, and has good reaction time. That said, Fisher has not proven himself to be a player that can be left in man coverage or asked to drop into deeper zone coverages. This goes back to the concerns about his overall athleticism and is amplified by the fact that Fisher simply has not been asked to do much in coverage for Northwestern.