Pass On Aiden Fisher
April 7th, 2026
CBS analyst points out flaw in game of Indiana LB Aiden Fisher.
Trust that Joe researches prospective Bucs.
This draft is supposed to be loaded with inside linebackers. And Todd Bowles has said you draft best player available in Round 1 and target needs beginning Day 2.
So Joe was surfing for inside linebackers who might be second-round picks. Reading the 2026 Football GamePlan Draft Guide put together by CBS football analyst Emory Hunt, the Czar of the Playbook, Joe noticed Indiana inside linebacker Aiden Fisher ranked as his No. 4 inside linebacker.
Hhhmmm? Joe could see that. Played on a B1G champion. Won a national title. So an inside linebacker from the best team in the land doesn’t seem like a dumb move. (Knowing how horrible Indiana football was for decades, Joe is in disbelief typing that paragraph.)
Here is what Hunt typed about Fisher:
* Very fluid hips and spatial awareness with regards to zone coverage. Shows the ability to fluidly flip his hips to cover the nearest option and also the speed to carry a receiver down the seam in Cover 2.
* Has good flow to the ball on both ends of defense. Takes very good angles to the ball carrier. Can also get on his horse and pursue the ball very well.
* Has a knack for making a big play at the right time. A real sixth sense in that regard.
Sounds great, right? Sounds like a smart, physical guy with a nose for the ball. That’s what you want. But then Hunt typed what Fisher needs work on. And after reading the very first sentence, Joe started doing a Curly Howard in horror (“Nah-ah-ah-ah-ah!”)
Will miss some tackles by not wrapping up properly. He’ll run in there and go too low or just forget to bring his shoulders with him on the attempt.
No sir. No, no, no, no, no! Pass!
If a dude struggles to wrap up in college, what makes anyone think he will suddenly get better in the NFL? Joe’s rather surprised a good coach like Indiana’s Curt Cignetti didn’t correct this already.
The Bucs don’t need an inside linebacker who doesn’t wrap up. The Bucs defense was bad enough with that malady the past couple of years.
Scratch Fisher off the board, man.
Aiden Fisher (6’1 233) Indiana
+ Quick to diagnose and react
+ 69.3 run defense grade in 2025
+ Team captain and leader
+ 57 career pressures
+ Special teams’ experience
+ Coach on the field– Inconsistent pursuit angles
– Allowed a 75.0% completion rate against him in 2025
-… pic.twitter.com/KqaTUMNeEF— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) January 27, 2026
April 7th, 2026 at 9:27 am
wouldnt mind him in the 4th round or later….
looks like he can and will contribute on ST….he seems like the type of player of ST coach would drool over lol…
with so many holes, beggars cant be choosers lol….
select a player and coach it better!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
April 7th, 2026 at 9:38 am
Nope!
April 7th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Jacob Rodriguez is the pick to QB the defense. Shouldn’t try too get cute with 15 pick. Just take him and watch how the middle of the field defense improves.
April 7th, 2026 at 10:31 am
What the heck is wrong with College, and for that matter, high school coaches? Tackling is fundamental football. Is it not? You did not play defense or even teams if you could not reliably tackle! Those dudes mostly did not even make the team because… Get this… most of them were afraid of contact. Can’t hit? Cant play. We learned how to wrap up before High School ball.
Diving at someones legs is not tackling! Poking at the ball is not tackling. Soft! In the words of Lombardi…”Grab, Grab, Grab Nobody is tackling!” Hardy would be chewing some tails Joe.
Stepping off the soapbox now…
Go Bucs!
April 7th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Plays with a high center of gravity which explains the tackling knock.
April 7th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Can’t tackle — Allowed a 75.0% completion rate against him in 2025
Sounds like he would fit in with the clown show they have been rolling out there.
Hopefully they are sick of the above.
April 7th, 2026 at 11:07 am
They just don’t teach fundamentals like they used to. Kirby Smart is constantly complaining about it. NFL coaches are complaining about it, too. Nobody has ‘full-contact’ practices with actual ‘hitting’ anymore. There is NO-WAY possible to improve your technique. Especially, when it comes to real LIVE game speed. And, HS is NOT going to prepare you for the SPEED and TALENT level, of a Power-2 BIG-TIME College Football Program, or the NFL. Especially, given the overall ‘talent level’ that a player is playing against, in most state’s HS Football Programs. Then, throw in NIL and players switching schools now, every fricken year… EVEN, in HS Ball. You can just forget it. It ain’t happenin. Players don’t want to get hurt, or end up becoming a meme. I mean, even at the public schools in the state of Florida. Oh, you didn’t earn the starting QB job at Lakeland!? Well, Venice is needing/looking for one… DONE. So, you got beat out at Venice!? Well, Miami Central’s starter just went down… Yeuuup. It’s a different fricking WORLD. 💯
April 7th, 2026 at 11:36 am
I like Aiden Fisher as a ST, backup MIKE
He reminds me of KJ Britt when he was Auburn MIKE
He’s probably a 5th round draft pick like Britt
April 7th, 2026 at 11:38 am
I know the clips are just highlights, but it looks like he wraps up pretty well to me. He certainly has quickness to the ball, doesn’t get lost in the wash, and hits with authority. I wouldn’t totally negate him.
April 7th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Agreed. A solid negatory.
April 7th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Can’t teach tackling in the NFL either apparently. At least not our coaches.