Nothing Dominant About Notre Dame’s Joe Alt on Game Film

Don’t tell the rest of the NFL Draft Community that there are three things keeping Notre Dame left tackle (LT) off my first-round draft board.

It’s only August and already Walter Football, Pro Football Network, 247Sports, Draftwire, CBS, Fox Sports, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic, Barstool Sports, Bleacher Report, USA Today, Pro Football Focus, and The 33rd Team, among others have handed out a first-round grade on Alt.

I’m just not there yet based on the five games I studied of Alt playing for the Fighting Irish in 2022.

Why?

He’s just not dominant enough on game film.

Yeah, I get he’s the son of John Alt, a former Chiefs’ first-round pick back in 1984, who played back when I was growing up. No doubt NFL teams love prospects who have family members who have played in the league. That information is part of the predictive process.

However, I just couldn’t get excited watching his game film at Notre Dame. He often did just enough, but that doesn’t do it for me.

What’s holding him back?

1. Lateral foot speed and technique

I’m referring to his lateral foot speed when he’s sliding out on the perimeter of the pocket in pass protection.

Granted, he wasn’t giving up sacks or a lot of pressure at the college level. In fact, many times, he did just enough. At the next level, in the NFL, pass rushers have even more speed, and that concerns me.

Alt has a glaring tendency to stop moving his feet at the backdoor of the pocket, and waist bend while losing leverage and control of the blocks. He can end up chasing them.

Playing LT in the NFL is all about going up against the best speed edge rushers in the game. It’s the premium position for teams with right-handed quarterbacks to protect their blindside.

I’m not sold.

2. Average anchor

If you look at Alt’s body type, he’s high-cut with a high center of gravity. He’s got this elongated frame and most of his power comes from his upper body.

When pass rushers bull-rushed Alt, they tended to rock him back in the pocket too far. Granted, he eventually was able to drop his weight and hold up.

It wasn’t dominant looking.

At the college level, it proved to be just enough to get the job done.

Will it be enough in the NFL?

3. Inconsistent sustaining run blocking

Watching Alt run block is like eating French fries with no dipping sauce. It was decent, but not great.

He’s not one of these ass-kicking pancake blockers that’s for darn sure. Yes, he does finish once in a while inside with leverage, but overall, that’s not him.

The big concern about his run blocking was the inconsistency that showed up on game film sustaining his run blocks. Often it was just barely enough to get the job done, while at other times his guy got in on assists and tackles.

I wasn’t impressed.

#76 Joe Alt 6-foot-8, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Summer 2023 Grade: Second-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 94.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of August 23, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Ohio State, USC, North Carolina, CAL, and Clemson (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 0 sacks allowed, 8 QB pressures

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Imposing-sized prospect with long arms who plays at a high pad level. In pass protection, kicks out and tends to place active hands high at the point. Handled stunts well but was questionable on blitzes through his gaps. Can absorb and hold up. Showed he can handle spin moves. A positional run blocker who thrives with leverage. Tends to stay off the ground. Got the job done about 60% of the time. A lot of pushing and shoving. Thrives pulling and getting out in space to the second level and beyond. He can really run with mixed blocking results. Average movement in short-yardage situations.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Losing control of pass blocks at the backdoor of the pocket?

2. How does he look against bull rushes?

3. Sustaining run blocks?

4. How does he look against blitzes?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.