Chiefs Covitz: Eric Fisher still not cleared for full practice sessions - Page 6

**Tribal Warfare** · 05-28-2014, 12:07 AM

Chiefs’ tackle Eric Fisher still not cleared for full practice sessions
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher’s move from the right side of the line to the all-important left side had to wait another day.

Fisher, who is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, participated in the first day of the Chiefs’ OTA session on Tuesday but has not been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 team practices.

Donald Stephenson, tabbed to start at right tackle — where Fisher started for most of his rookie year in 2013 — took over the left tackle spot Tuesday. For now, it’s Stephenson who’ll be protecting the quarterback’s blind side, the position vacated when longtime starter Branden Albert left Kansas City as a free agent.

That wasn’t the only change in the first-team offensive line. Rishaw Johnson, who started the regular-season finale at San Diego at right guard last year, was in that spot, a position vacated by Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah. Free-agent signee Jeff Linkenbach was at right tackle.

Only center Rodney Hudson and left guard Jeff Allen were in their same positions as a year ago.

“There are new faces and you have to get them caught up and get them in the mix,” said quarterback Alex Smith. “That’s everybody in the NFL. There is turnover year to year.

“This time of year, because we’re just in helmets, for those guys (on the line), it’s a time to work on assignments, technique … they don’t get to practice the physical part of the game. It’s a different aspect of it for us on the edge … at the skill positions, we can make a little more happen.”

Hurry up offense

It was just the first day of the OTAs, but the Chiefs were already working on their no-huddle offense.

“It’s something we’ve had in the package for a long time,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “I don’t know if (coach Andy Reid) is doing it from an execution or from a conditioning aspect. It’s good work for us out in the heat. These were great conditions to practice in. It makes the environment tough.”

New faces, old places

Free-agent signee Joe Mays took the place of Akeem Jordan at inside linebacker in the base defense; backup Frank Zombo, not first-round draft choice Dee Ford, played in the outside linebacker spot of Justin Houston, who did not report; second-year man Marcus Cooper started at left cornerback in place of Brandon Flowers, who did not report; and veteran Husain Abdullah was in the free safety spot vacated by Kendrick Lewis.

When the Chiefs went to their nickel and dime packages, second-year man Sanders Commings was the third safety; and free agent Chris Owens joined Cooper and Sean Smith as an extra cornerback.

“This league is about change,” Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson said of having a new partner on the inside. “I’m going into my 10th year, and I’ve probably had 10 mike-backers next to me, so it’s one of those things where the organization always gets a reliable mike-backer and Joe Mays is another guy that’s very smart.

“He’s been in the league. He’s a big thumper. We’re working good together right now.”

Plays of the day

In 11-on-11 work, Alex Smith connected on a deep corner route with tight end Anthony Fasano.

Owens made a nice interception of a pass by second-team quarterback Chase Daniel. Commings intercepted a bad throw by second-year quarterback Tyler Bray. Bray came back and hit tight end Richard Jordan for a nice gain down the middle.

Injury report

Tight end Travis Kelce, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, was on the practice field but could not participate. Nose tackle Risean Broussard (knee) and wide receiver Kyle Williams (knee) were also out.

**notorious** · 05-28-2014, 09:52 AM

I hope I am dead wrong.

It would be my pleasure.

RunKC · 05-28-2014, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

a much better pick than fisher

but then not using the pick would have had at least the same impact as drafting fisher

or we could have drafted your boy Tyler Wilson...ouch

RunKC · 05-28-2014, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

You missed a few.

You take a Ziggy Ansah or a Bark Mingo, who have playmaker potential as pass rushers.

You take a Tavon Austin, who has playmaker, gamebreaker potential in the slot.

Or a Kenny Vaccaro, who could have combined with Berry to give us playmakers at safety?

In a draft that has no clear #1, you throw out traditional thinking and take a risk.

Eric Fisher was a safe pick.

Luke Joekel would have been the only selection that would have been safer.

Taking a small 175 lb midget who will never be a true #1 WR 1st overall is the epitome of stupidity.

jd1020 · 05-28-2014, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

the only benefit we've derived from drafting fisher with the #1 pick in the draft (....sorry....still get sick at the thought...just a sec)

...is that we have forever ended the stupid argument about QBs being 'risky' and OL being 'safe'

every pick is a risk, the idea of a safe pick is a lie

by 'safe' people have always just been saying they want to draft of a position of less importance than QB (True Fans)...which is, of course, absurd

Safe pick or not, it's not going to stop the Chiefs from going out of their ****ing way to make sure they beef up the line with top picks and save the playmaker positions for last.

ThaVirus · 05-28-2014, 10:16 AM

If able to re-draft at this point, which is admittedly too soon to say definitively, I'd take a number of players over Fisher. Not only a number of non-OL, but several OL as well. At this point in time, it looks like an absolute waste of a pick..

This team with Vaccaro, Sheldon Richardson, Lotululei, Eric Reid, Mingo, etc would have been far better off up to this point.

Shit, even having a guy like Geno waiting in the wings would give us insurance in the Alex Smith deal. Tavon Austin, despite not really having #1 potential, would do some crazy ****ing things in the return game with Toub coaching him.

saphojunkie · 05-28-2014, 10:22 AM

"Off season" surgery would - by definition - happen at least in February. And you are all freaking out that a dude who had surgery in February isn't cleared for full contact in May.

My god there's so much stupid nonsense from otherwise smart people it's shocking.

I'm not talking to you, Inmem. You're just a ****ing twat all the time, so it's expected of you.

TEX · 05-28-2014, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

"Off season" surgery would - by definition - happen at least in February. And you are all freaking out that a dude who had surgery in February isn't cleared for full contact in May.

My god there's so much stupid nonsense from otherwise smart people it's shocking.

I'm not talking to you, Inmem. You're just a ****ing twat all the time, so it's expected of you.

REP!

ChiefsCountry · 05-28-2014, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

He's not Brian Jozwiak bad, but BJ was taken 6 picks later in round 1............

Jozwiak was such a worst pick than Blackledge yet we keep on picking tackles yet scared to death of quarterbacks.

milkman · 05-28-2014, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Jozwiak was such a worst pick than Blackledge yet we keep on picking tackles yet scared to death of quarterbacks.

That's what makes tackles safe picks.

No one remembers, or cares.

jd1020 · 05-28-2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

That's what makes tackles safe picks.

No one remembers, or cares.

Dude... this shit is forever!

**Rausch** · 05-28-2014, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

That's what makes tackles safe picks.

No one remembers, or cares.

Trezelle "Leroy" Jenkins, John Taint, Eric "Sack Bait" Fisher...

**BigMeatballDave** · 05-28-2014, 11:22 AM

Most of you are chomping at the bit to bitch about Fisher and how bad of a pick he is/was.

Holy ****ing shit. Find some new material.

The horse is dead.

Move on.

**RealSNR** · 05-28-2014, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Tedd

I think Fisher was a bit of a risk/reward type of pick. Most people thought that Joeckel was the safe pick IIRC.

Here are the non O line or D line picks in the top 20 of the 2013 draft.

Tavon Austin (WR), Dee Milner (CB), DJ Hayden (CB), Kenny Vaccaro (S), EJ Manuel (QB), Jarvis Jones (LB), and Eric Reid (S)

Do you see a #1 overall type of talent there? The draft class sucked and there is nothing we can do about it.

We win a playoff game with Vaccaro or Reid on this team.

Instead we manufactured a need by cutting Winston.

RunKC · 05-28-2014, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

We win a playoff game with Vaccaro or Reid on this team.

Instead we manufactured a need by cutting Winston.

And we lose Eric Berry or Justin Houston bc we gave that big time money to Branden Albert.

**BigMeatballDave** · 05-28-2014, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

You're like a teenage girl.

Those crying about Fisher on a regular basis, aren't?

Seriously, it's like the whole 'hell hath no fury' thing.

A bunch of scorned bitches.

Every time someone posts a thread about Fisher, tantrums ensue.

Wash.
Rinse.
Repeat.

05-28-2014, 12:07 AM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2777187	Covitz: Eric Fisher still not cleared for full practice sessions Chiefs’ tackle Eric Fisher still not cleared for full practice sessions By RANDY COVITZ The Kansas City Star Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher’s move from the right side of the line to the all-important left side had to wait another day. Fisher, who is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, participated in the first day of the Chiefs’ OTA session on Tuesday but has not been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 team practices. Donald Stephenson, tabbed to start at right tackle — where Fisher started for most of his rookie year in 2013 — took over the left tackle spot Tuesday. For now, it’s Stephenson who’ll be protecting the quarterback’s blind side, the position vacated when longtime starter Branden Albert left Kansas City as a free agent. That wasn’t the only change in the first-team offensive line. Rishaw Johnson, who started the regular-season finale at San Diego at right guard last year, was in that spot, a position vacated by Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah. Free-agent signee Jeff Linkenbach was at right tackle. Only center Rodney Hudson and left guard Jeff Allen were in their same positions as a year ago. “There are new faces and you have to get them caught up and get them in the mix,” said quarterback Alex Smith. “That’s everybody in the NFL. There is turnover year to year. “This time of year, because we’re just in helmets, for those guys (on the line), it’s a time to work on assignments, technique … they don’t get to practice the physical part of the game. It’s a different aspect of it for us on the edge … at the skill positions, we can make a little more happen.” Hurry up offense It was just the first day of the OTAs, but the Chiefs were already working on their no-huddle offense. “It’s something we’ve had in the package for a long time,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “I don’t know if (coach Andy Reid) is doing it from an execution or from a conditioning aspect. It’s good work for us out in the heat. These were great conditions to practice in. It makes the environment tough.” New faces, old places Free-agent signee Joe Mays took the place of Akeem Jordan at inside linebacker in the base defense; backup Frank Zombo, not first-round draft choice Dee Ford, played in the outside linebacker spot of Justin Houston, who did not report; second-year man Marcus Cooper started at left cornerback in place of Brandon Flowers, who did not report; and veteran Husain Abdullah was in the free safety spot vacated by Kendrick Lewis. When the Chiefs went to their nickel and dime packages, second-year man Sanders Commings was the third safety; and free agent Chris Owens joined Cooper and Sean Smith as an extra cornerback. “This league is about change,” Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson said of having a new partner on the inside. “I’m going into my 10th year, and I’ve probably had 10 mike-backers next to me, so it’s one of those things where the organization always gets a reliable mike-backer and Joe Mays is another guy that’s very smart. “He’s been in the league. He’s a big thumper. We’re working good together right now.” Plays of the day In 11-on-11 work, Alex Smith connected on a deep corner route with tight end Anthony Fasano. Owens made a nice interception of a pass by second-team quarterback Chase Daniel. Commings intercepted a bad throw by second-year quarterback Tyler Bray. Bray came back and hit tight end Richard Jordan for a nice gain down the middle. Injury report Tight end Travis Kelce, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, was on the practice field but could not participate. Nose tackle Risean Broussard (knee) and wide receiver Kyle Williams (knee) were also out.
Posts: 43,420

05-28-2014, 09:52 AM	#76
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $-754116	I hope I am dead wrong. It would be my pleasure.
Posts: 88,500

05-28-2014, 10:16 AM	#80
ThaVirus 5 o’clock free crack giveaway Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $-1607631	If able to re-draft at this point, which is admittedly too soon to say definitively, I'd take a number of players over Fisher. Not only a number of non-OL, but several OL as well. At this point in time, it looks like an absolute waste of a pick.. This team with Vaccaro, Sheldon Richardson, Lotululei, Eric Reid, Mingo, etc would have been far better off up to this point. Shit, even having a guy like Geno waiting in the wings would give us insurance in the Alex Smith deal. Tavon Austin, despite not really having #1 potential, would do some crazy ****ing things in the return game with Toub coaching him.
Posts: 46,919

05-28-2014, 10:22 AM	#81
saphojunkie MVP Join Date: Aug 2011 Casino cash: $2356550	"Off season" surgery would - by definition - happen at least in February. And you are all freaking out that a dude who had surgery in February isn't cleared for full contact in May. My god there's so much stupid nonsense from otherwise smart people it's shocking. I'm not talking to you, Inmem. You're just a ****ing twat all the time, so it's expected of you.
Posts: 12,907

05-28-2014, 11:22 AM	#87
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	Most of you are chomping at the bit to bitch about Fisher and how bad of a pick he is/was. Holy ****ing shit. Find some new material. The horse is dead. Move on.
Posts: 59,997