Denver Broncos Draft Profile: OL Elvis Fisher

November 3, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Missouri Tigers offensive linesman Elvis Fisher (72) during the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Missouri Tigers 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

As I type up this article, we are only a mere two weeks away from the start of the 2013 NFL Draft. In previous articles I have spotlighted a couple of lesser known players, in all of whom the Denver Broncos might find great value. One of these, Margus Hunt of SMU has since become a first or second rounder in the opinion of many prognosticators. In fact, CBSSports has him projected as the 36th overall selection. I’d like to bring to your attention another player possibly flying under the radar in an area of need for the Broncos, but should not, much like Hunt. Fellow Broncoholics, I introduce to you Elvis Fisher.

Fisher, 6’5″ 296, a left tackle from the University of Missouri is a good pass protector who plays with a wide base. The criticisms are that he needs to anchor down and give less ground to bull rushers and improve on his kick-step to the inside. However he does not get beaten to the outside. He is proficient at maintaining the pocket by riding edge rushers and late blitzers to the outside. Fisher also displays the ability to cut down outside rushers quickly and keep them down when quick, short passes to his side dialed up. Elvis is also described as being versatile enough to move over to right tackle or either of the guard positions, providing much needed depth.

As a freshman in 2008, he was named to the freshman All-American team and Mizzou freshman of the year. Fisher protected the blind side of Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert in one of the most prolific offenses in college football from 2008-2012. He won the starting left tackle job as a true freshman and kept it through the end of his senior season. As for the intangibles, Elvis is described as a maximum-effort guy and friendly with the media, which in Denver, when it comes to the Broncos can be unrelenting at times.

One last plus about Fisher is that if the Broncos draft him, they will be able to replenish the “Elvis quota”, left depleted by the departure of the one named Dumervil.

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