Joe Alt, OT, Notre-Dame (Junior)

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Strengths :

    • Unbeatable in Pass blocks
    • NFL-ready physique
    • Good athleticism
    • Very clean execution on blocks
    • Excellent ability to anchor

     

    Weaknesses :

    • Footwork
    • Plays with Pad level too high
    • Handwork
    • Overall balance on certain blocks
    • Understanding and vision of blocks
    • Lacks power

    TTProfil

     

    Joe Alt, the tackle who has been tantalizing most CFB followers for the past two seasons, finally enters the draft, but what is his actual level? Is the hype deserved for the Notre Dame junior? The first piece of the puzzle for you in today's scouting report, or at least that's what I hope.
     
    And how can we not start the strengths section of Alt by mentioning his absolutely insane ability to protect his QB in situations of Pass pro.
    It's simple, his Pass blockIn pass protection, Joe is imperial; he maintains a well-balanced stance, makes the effort to lower his center of gravity, and utilizes his impressive reach to keep the Pass rusher At a distance, he exhibits impressive athletic abilities that enable him to effectively track even the most explosives Rushers Honestly, it's very promising. However, be careful not to get too anticipate too much on his Kick and slide because when he does that he is putting himself at risk on his inside.
    Still, on his ability to protect the QB, Joe demonstrates a strong capacity to anchor himself firmly to the ground in situations of Pass proHe has indeed protected QB Sam Hartman numerous times this season with this technique. However, I still find that he relies on it a bit too much and can sometimes be caught off guard against powerful Power rusher , who are very much present in the NFL
     
    Standing at 6'7" and weighing 317 pounds, Alt is tall without being overly bulky, which allows him, with his slender build, to be quite mobile while still having a good reach. In my opinion, he could even benefit from gaining a few pounds without drastically altering his athletic performance, which could, on the contrary, greatly assist him in running plays. 
     
    As I wrote earlier, Alt possesses impressive athletic abilities that he knows how to leverage. This is particularly evident when it comes to getting to the second level on certain running plays, but it could also be very promising for an offensive coordinator looking to rely on screen passes to construct their offense.
     
    There has been a significant improvement in his ability to block on running plays compared to his 2022-2023 season, and I'm pleased to see that he has progressed in finishing his blocks by effectively sealing off his opponent with his hips. However, there is still room for improvement as he still tends to miss his assignments too often.
    One thing to note about his ability to block in running situations is that Alt appears to be much more comfortable blocking on running plays when he is on the right side of the line. We've seen him take several reps on the right side of the line throughout the season, either in unbalanced formations or even pulling from his left tackle position to the right, and the difference in the quality of his blocking is evident. Joe is more at ease, smoother, with fewer errors of Footwork, fewer missed blocks, and a much greater sense of dominance. It's just an observation, but it could be significant if Alt were to be moved to the right, similar to how Penei Sewell was, for example.
     
    Joe is very clean in his blocking technique, whether it's in passing or running situations. He doesn't make bad moves and clearly doesn't have that nasty side that can appeal to some. This very clean and polished aspect may therefore appeal to some or displease others in the same way as the nasty side on other players

    Finally, Joe Alt's ability to reposition his hands on the defender during a play is rather decent. He does it quite often, and it's a positive aspect to see his hands so active. While Alt is very decent in this regard, there's nothing particularly flashy about it; it's just decent.

    Let's talk about the weaknesses, we need to start by the Footwork Joe's footwork tends to tighten once he's engaged with his hands on his opponent. While the fact that he often keeps his legs active is a positive point, it must be noted that they can sometimes stop on certain reps. Alt can still improve in this aspect, but it's really the tightening of his foot base that concerns me, as when he does this, he's no longer in a position of strength and can therefore be easily thrown off balance. 
     
    Alt also tends to play too high. Granted, he stands at 6'7", so I understand it's challenging for him to get lower than Rushers at 6'5" or less, and who themselves strive to play low. However, the fact remains that he straightens up too often and too quickly once the block is engaged, which prevents him from playing with sufficient power angles. He'll need to work on this, but if he can improve in this area, he could become truly formidable.
     
    The two previous points lead us directly to another important aspect in assessing Joe Alt, which is his inability to dominate in running situations. He really struggles to create movement on running plays, and it's clearly not his strong suit.
    Of course, arriving too high and with a tight foot base makes his Run block approach imprecise, and it's not uncommon to see him miss a block at the second level because of this. Similarly, always on his Run blockOn running plays, he tends to arrive with his weight forward (or leaning forward, if you prefer) to maintain the push that will help him create movement. However, the problem is that as a result, he is no longer under control, and a simple Speed move can allow the LB to get rid of him.
    Still on his Run block and being off-balance forward, when he blocks in running situations, he has a strong tendency to extend his arms, somewhat like a defensive lineman. As a result, he puts himself off-balance forward and often ends up on the ground after his running blocks, having lost his balance. It is imperative to work on these points to see Joe progress.

    As we've seen in his strengths, Joe Alt has a good ability to consistently reposition his hands, but that's also because his initial hand placement is often quite mediocre. This naturally goes hand in hand with the fact that Joe plays too high, but his hands are often positioned quite high on his opponent, which doesn't help him effectively engage the player he needs to block without making it immediately apparent. Even without intentionally trying to make Holding on the sly, Joe's hands are simply far too high; he consistently touches the facemask of defensive linemen, which is a penalty that's often called in the NFL, much more so than in college football. Alt will absolutely need to work on this aspect. 

    In terms of IQ and game vision, Joe will clearly need to progress with the help of NFL coaching. During the Notre Dame vs. NC State game on a passing play where Alt was supposed to stay in man-to-man protection on his EDGE, Joe followed the EDGE for 5-6 yards of depth even though he was dropping into zone coverage (which is a penalty, by the way; an offensive lineman cannot move more than 5 yards downfield on a passing play), and this completely threw off the offensive line, resulting in a sack. Alt is sometimes caught out by this kind of Stunt and I find it unfortunate considering how technically dominant he can be on Pass pro.
    Later in the same game, during an outside running play on the opposite side that required him to pull, once again Joe misread the play and decided to block a player who was already engaged in a block, which not only disrupted the running back's read but also allowed the defender, who had already been blocked before Joe intervened, to shed the block and make the tackle. It's a shame because if Joe had made a good read and had gone straight to the second level, there was only one linebacker to block, and it would have been a gain of over 10 yards guaranteed for his running back. I think here again, Alt could make significant progress and really improve his overall level. 
     
    Joe sorely lacks power in my opinion and seems to have really based his game on finesse and technique. However, if he decides to truly base his game on technique, he will need to make much more effort to improve on the technical details mentioned above in order to be dominant at the pro level.
    Still on this lack of power and dominance, I find that Joe doesn't use his punch enough; we hardly ever see him punch on his strikes, neither on Pass pro, nor his Run blockHe does use his hands, which also seem to be rather quick in placing them on his opponent. However, he doesn't punch. It's a real shame considering the nice reach he has; with a quick and snappy punch, he could be even more unstoppable than he already is in Pass pro and could delay the defensive lineman in order to engage him low on running plays, which could greatly help Alt to be more dominant in running situations, which is precisely one of the areas where he needs to improve.
     
     
     
    In conclusion, Joe Alt clearly possesses weapons that would make NFL coaches drool. Between his size, his genuinely intriguing athletic abilities, a technical cleanliness on certain points that some pro players don't even achieve after several years in the league, and an absolutely insane ability to protect the QB at his age, it's clearly not difficult to see why Joe is a player who won't fall out of the top 15 of the draft..
    That being said, we shouldn't overlook the significant work Joe will have to do if he truly wants to dominate in the NFL, particularly in terms of his ability to effectively block in running plays. There are many aspects to work on, but it also means that Alt is far from reaching his ceiling, and when we see his current level, it's just as exciting as seeing his qualities in Pass pro.
    So, as you may have gathered, while I have some reservations about Alt, I am still clearly interested in the player whom I see as one of the top two tackles and offensive linemen in the class. While I do have a preference for Fashanu because I find him better in the running game, younger, and potentially with a higher ceiling in the long term, it's also because I like to see that dominant brute aspect in my offensive linemen, which I don't quite find in Alt. He's just too clean for my liking, and that's simply a personal preference. I would totally understand if someone who prefers clean offensive linemen and places greater value on protecting the QB than advancing a ball carrier decides to rank Alt as their top offensive lineman in the draft.
     
    Just like with Olu Fashanu, Joe Alt holds significant value in my eyes, and I have no problem seeing him as a lock for the top 5 of the draft. If Alt (or Fashanu, for that matter) falls out of the top 5 of the draft, any team should snatch him up regardless of their primary needs. Even if completely ignoring their needs, any team that picks him up would be committing highway robbery.
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