NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Lawrence Taylor changed the game immediately upon his arrival in New York, not just on the defensive side but the offensive side as well. On a fateful Monday night, Taylor sacked Notre Dame legend Joe Theismann, shattering his leg and in essence making the left tackle one of the most coveted positions in all of football.
Protectors of the quarterbacks “blind side” quickly became a need for many NFL teams, as making sure the most important position in all of sports stayed upright and healthy was and is a top priority. Taylor’s dominance of offensive lineman changed the ideal physique of the offensive tackles, with teams trying to find larger, more agile men to protect their QB.
The value of protecting the team’s most valuable asset has shown in the NFL Draft, since 2000, the only other position selected first overall aside from quarterbacks and defensive ends were offensive tackles. Having a good quarterback, getting to the quarterback, and protecting the quarterback are the highest priorities in the league.
Notre Dame has a commitment from one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the nation, Blake Fisher (57th overall nationally), and today Rivals compared him to Louisville’s OT Mekhi Becton, who the Irish faced off against last year in the season opener. Mike Farrell, their National Recruiting Director, said “Becton was a massive lineman with surprisingly good feet and athleticism. Fisher is the same way and one of the biggest linemen in the last few years. Fisher is more polished at the same stage and it will be interesting if he can maintain and increase his athleticism as Becton did in college.”
Comparing Fisher to most likely a first-round NFL tackle is high praise, fueling the hype prior to his arrival on campus next year. If Fisher lives up to Farrell’s projection, he would join a long line of Irish offensive lineman as first round