Ignoring the Hype: How Notre Dame RT Fisher Stays Grounded Amid High Expectations
Fans and media members alike anointed Blake Fisher Notre Dame’s next great offensive lineman prior to the season.
At right tackle, he dwarfs defenders due to his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame and then punishes them thanks to nimble feet and a nasty competitive streak.
How could he not be the second coming of Ronnie Stanely or Quenton Nelson as a true sophomore? Only they didn’t earn starting nods as freshmen.
Due to Fisher’s elite traits, it’s easy to forget he’s a 19-year-old or that he played just six quarters in 2021 because of a significant knee injury.
“I try not to listen to the hype, truthfully,” Fisher said. “I think the moment you start letting those outside thoughts come in and those outside opinions, you get humbled. For me, it's about always improving. I want to be the best player I can be.”
That’s the same message he communicated upon the return of revered offensive line coach’s return to Notre Dame in the offseason.
He immediately told his new position coach his goal is to be “the baddest” player possible, no matter what it takes.
That includes welcoming Hiestand’s tough coaching and boisterous voice. Fisher quickly learned to focus on the advice Hiestand imparts rather than how the message is delivered.
“It's not how loud he raises his voice,” Fisher said, “but sometimes it does get pretty loud, I'm not going to lie. But you just listen to what he's saying more than how he's saying it.”
He quickly got to work on his technique in pass protection, a vital skill for an offensive tackle.
Despite his God-given abilities, Fisher’s technique was miles away from where Hiestand wanted it to be.
“My pass set was atrocious, I would say,” Fisher said. “We worked on that tirelessly after practice, before practice, just constantly. We're still working. It's nowhere near where I want it to be. It may look good, but it's not where I want it to be at all. [I’m] never satisfied.”
Whenever he wanted to give up or take a break, he reflected on how it felt to be injured and unable to practice, which helped him stick with the day-to-day grind.
By the start of 2022, expectations for Fisher and the offensive line were sky-high. But Fisher acknowledges that opening the season in front of 106,000 spectators at Ohio Stadium provided an initial shock to the system.
Overwhelmed by the spectacle and noise, the offensive line struggled to communicate properly and failed to establish a consistent rush attack or adequately protect quarterback Tyler Buchner, with Fisher allowing one of three Buckeye sacks.
The Irish finished the game with 253 yards of total offense and lost to No. 2 Ohio State, 21-10.
Fisher played in his first home game the following weekend and allowed two quarterback hits in a 26-21 upset loss to Marshall. For the second week in a row, the offensive line received the brunt of the blame for an Irish defeat.
During this tumultuous time early in his career, Fisher and the entire offensive line kept their heads down, evaluated their mistakes and stuck to their process.
Fisher also relied on the consult of veteran Irish offensive linemen Jarrett Patterson and Josh Lugg, especially in overwhelming moments.
“You look to those guys,” Fisher said. “In the heat of the moment you're like, 'dude, what do I do? I've never been here before. I'm nervous.' You just talk to them, and it calms you down. That's the biggest thing that I appreciate them for is just always being there.
“No matter what the circumstances are, no matter how bad you mess up, everybody in that room has your back.”
He also made sure to momentarily step away from football, school and even his social life. He needs time to himself to reflect and get back to reality.
“Every now and then I just take some space for me,” Fisher said. “I go drive or just do something just alone to free my mind because we've got so much stuff going on.”
Midway through the Cal game in week three, the offensive line finally began to hit its stride and play with the physicality most expected to see at the start of the season.
Now five games in, the offensive line continues to rebound from its rocky start.
Against North Carolina and BYU, the Irish amassed 523 rush yards. They’ve also projected the quarterback much better. Current signal-caller Drew Pyne was sacked just once over the course of two games, and the offensive line has strung together seven straight sackless quarters.
Fisher, in particular, has shown marked improvements, especially in pass protection. He didn’t allow a quarterback pressure in either game, which bodes well for the remainder of his sophomore campaign.
“My confidence level is at an all-time high,” Fisher said. “We have one of the best offensive line coaches in the country, and I truly believe that. Coach Hiestand has really elevated my game. Week-to-week, it's just about improving for me.”
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