Still Thankful Eric Fisher Went to the Chiefs
By Luke Sims
We’ve highlighted how poorly Luke Joeckel has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. We know he has to step up his game and be a leader on an offensive line that is currently being led by a rookie guard. Joeckel has the skills to be something special, that’s why he was taken number two overall. Eric Fisher, the first overall pick in 2013, went to the Kansas City Chiefs and has also struggled.
For a bit of perspective before we continue, this is being written before J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans take on the Jaguars twice over the last four games.
Joeckel, originally playing at right tackle for the Jags, has needed to rebound following an injury-shortened rookie campaign. Just after switching to left tackle he was suddenly out for the season. So, we treat 2014 like rookie year number two.
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So far, we haven’t been especially impressed. In a season when Joeckel was supposed to make strides, replacing the quality play of Eugene Monroe (who was traded away to make room for Joeckel), he has instead been inconsistent and played poorly.
, his five sacks, seven QB hits, 17 QB hurries and especially his five penalties (a fourth of the O-line’s penalties this season) make him much more of a liability than a stalwart foundation piece moving forward.
Yet, I’d still rather have him over Eric Fisher (who likely would have been chosen if the Chiefs had picked Joeckel).
Now, don’t get me wrong. The Chiefs are a solid team overall and taking an athletic “building piece” like Fisher was the right move. Yet, like Joeckel, he just has not lived up to his billing.
Fisher has struggled with penalties (seven this year), has allowed five sacks (of 33 total), nine QB hits (4th most in the league), and 15 QB hurries. That’s a rough outing for a first overall pick in his second year. It’s also improvement over last season so far (he allowed a monster 35 hurries playing right tackle last year). It just isn’t the level of play that the Chiefs
want
need out of their left tackle.
So, as I continue to lament the poor play of Joeckel along the offensive line, I can take solace in knowing that of the top two picks of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Jags’ left tackle is playing better, even if we’re dealing in level of terribleness here.
I’m big on clean football play and would like to see both Joeckel and Fisher no longer called for penalties. They both need to buckle down. These are two players who should be the best in the business in just a couple years. They need to make strides. I don’t want to be thankful for not having the “not as bad” player. I want to be thankful because the Jags have one of the two best left tackles in the league.
So far, Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel have been disappointing.