INDIANAPOLIS – When Eric Fisher is healthy and ready to go, the Colts will handle their left tackle position like they did when Anthony Castonzo lined up there.
Hardly any help will be needed.
“No doubt, that’s exactly what you’re getting,” offensive coordinator Marcus Brady says of Fisher’s presence at left tackle.
“You’re getting a veteran that has done it and has done it well. So we are going to be able to trust him where we can just line up and no matter who is lined up over there – our philosophy always is to try and give them some help with a chip every now and again just to give them a breather, but at the same time we are going to be able to trust both sides with Braden (Smith) on the other side, which is going to be huge to open up our offense.”
But what about the time until Fisher is deemed healthy enough to play?
Fisher tore his Achilles in late January.
While the Colts are pleased with Fisher’s rehab (they think he’s slightly ahead of rookie Dayo Odeyingbo, who also tore his Achilles around the same time), the thought is he will miss some time to start the 2021 season.
Until Fisher returns, the Colts will take an unquestioned step down in play at left tackle.
Based off everything the Colts have been saying in the spring, Sam Tevi (44 career starts, 14 at left tackle) will be the guy at left tackle until Fisher is fully recovered.
From a game plan standpoint, Tevi at left tackle means the Colts will likely have to offer more help towards that left edge, thus taking away a skill player on some passing plays.
It is being assumed that Tevi will be the guy next to Quenton Nelson, until Fisher is healthy.
When Tevi missed a spring OTA session, the Colts had Will Holden as the starting left tackle. In late December last year, Holden had those duties in a Week 16 game against Pittsburgh, and held his own.
So much of an unknown this season comes from exactly when Fisher will be ready to go.
If he has to miss 3 games, does that mean Tevi (and thus more protection help from other Colts) will be starting against the Seahawks, Rams and Titans?
What will that do to the Indy offense, being led by Carson Wentz?
We know the Colts struggled mightily when Castonzo was not in the lineup.
Is that going to happen again when Fisher is missing or has the depth improved enough to withstand such a loss?
