From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I will be profiling Shepherd offensive tackle, Joey Fisher.
#76 Joey Fisher, OT, Shepherd (rSR) — 6035, 292 lbs.
NFLPA Bowl/Pro Day Measurements
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Joey Fisher | 6’4 1/8”/296 | 10 1/4 | 32 | 79 1/8 |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.96 | 1.72 | 4.86 | 7.51 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 9’4” | 32 | 40 |
The Good
— Dominated at the lower level
— Excellent play strength
— Quick, heavy hands in pass protection
— Nice chop of pass rushers’ hands to knock them off balance
— Good anchor and core strength
— Effective quick sets
— Good leg drive, pad level on power blocks
— Mobility to pull, fold and climb to the second level
— Good mental processing on stunts and twists
The Bad
— Level of competition
— Lacks the length to stay at tackle
— Doesn’t get a lot of depth initially in kick step
— Speed can surprise him around the edge and speed to power
— Inside to outside counters test he lateral agility
— Hands get wide exposing his chest
— Identifying targets on screen
— Getting his head across on backside blocks
Bio
— Senior Bowl, NFLPA, Hula Bowl invitee
— First-team D-II All-American
— 43 games, 43 starts
— 2022 Gene Upshaw Award finalist
— All-PSAC first-team 2021, 2022
— Offensive line led second-ranked offense nationally in Division II in 2022
— In high school, also played basketball, track and JV baseball
— Brother Dustin is a fullback at Shepherd
— Broke a bone in his hand during NFLPA Bowl
Tape Breakdown
Joey Fisher made the rounds during this year’s all-star circuit. He was invited to three different games including the Senior Bowl. Every year there are a few small-school players that impress. Fisher is part of that group in 2022. He played right tackle in college and already has had some contact with the Steelers so let’s take a look at his game.
In the passing game, he plays with good snap quickness, balance and pad level when getting into his pass set. His punch is quick and heavy, and he works with patient, independent hands. When a defender extends his hands, he likes to use a chop to get them off balance. He displays solid quickness up the arc and reacts quickly to inside counters. When anchoring he shows good play strength and balance to cut off the rusher’s push. Quick and jumps sets are effective getting his hands on defenders quickly to gain control. He has the agility to get out in front of screens and has good mental processing on twists and stunts.
Fisher (76) is the right tackle in all these clips. His hands are quick and effective. A punch with the right hand to stun the rusher followed by a chop with the left hand to put the rusher on the ground.
Plays to his inside he likes to torque the defender to the ground.
In the run game Shepherd used multiple schemes. Fisher seemed to like power runs where he could use good pad level, play strength and leg drive to move defenders. He executed well on down and double-team blocks and sustained them well. When pulling and folding, he displayed good balance, mobility and awareness to identify his target. On inside zone runs, he was effective kicking out on the edge, getting his hips inside and mirroring defenders. He displayed good timing and balance when climbing to the second level. On outside zone runs he was more effective on the front side of plays where he could drive defenders on the move.
Second level defenders were at a severe disadvantage. Good sustain and push on these plays.
A couple plays kicking out on the edge with good positioning and sustain. Followed by a powerful down block clearing the road.
When setting, Fisher doesn’t get a lot of depth with his kick and favors the inside gap. Pass rushers with good speed up the edge can give him trouble, getting him on his heals. Inside to outside rushes test his lateral agility to the right. He will miss with his hands to the outside of the defender, exposing his chest. On screen passes, he was adequate identifying a target and making the block. On the backside of runs he displayed adequate quickness to get his head across and cut off defenders.
Against Ferris State, his hands are wide and wrapped around the defender as he gets driven back.
At the Colorado School of Mines, speed beat him around the edge a couple times leading to turnovers.
He leaves the chest open here and the defender shoves him back to disengage to make the tackle.
The defender beats him to the inside to make the play in the backfield.
Conclusion
Fisher has good balance and pad level in his pass sets. He has patience with his hands, uses them independently and shows good timing and quickness on punches and chops. He has a good anchor, reacts well to inside counters and good mental processing on stunts and twists. In the run game, he was best in power/gap runs where he could use his play strength, sustain and leg drive to move defenders. He has the agility and athleticism to pull, fold and lead on screens.
Areas to improve include getting more depth to handle speed rushes and counters to his right. Consistency with hand placement inside the defender to not expose his chest will be beneficial. Identifying his target on screens and improving his quickness to get across the face of the defender on the back side of runs would also be helpful.
For a Division II player to gain attention he needs to dominate at that level and for the most part that was Fisher’s game. He was essentially the biggest guy on the field wherever he played. And putting up 40 reps of 225 lbs. will open eyes. He was listed at 322 lbs. on the school’s roster yet weighed in at his Pro Day 26 lbs. lighter.
For the NFL, Fisher lacks the length to stay at tackle, so he’ll have to kick inside. Some teams are looking at him at center as well as guard. His best fit would be a power/gap running scheme and passing scheme that utilizes quick sets.
Pittsburgh has focused on the offensive line and has shown interest in Fisher, despite not showing a lot of interest in smaller school players in the past. He could be of interest if he is available at the right draft capital cost. For his comp, I’ll go with Netane Muti, who was of similar size and strength (44 reps) with efficient hands and a good power blocker.
Projection: Mid-Day Three
Depot Draft Grade: 6.8 Backup/Special Teamer (5th Round)
Games Watched: 2021 vs Ferris State; 2022 – Vs New Haven, Vs Slippery Rock, At Indiana (Pa.), At Colorado School of Mines
