It’s crazy to see how a single player can fix an NFL team’s biggest issue.
Of course, this is a team sport, and coaching always plays a huge part.
Then again, sometimes, adding the right piece could completely turn a team around.
That’s why the Los Angeles Chargers didn’t even consider taking a wide receiver with their first-round pick, even though they were in big need of one.
They knew that Joe Alt was a potentially generational player at tackle, and that also happened to be their biggest need.
Notably, it didn’t take long before his colleagues realized he was special.
As a matter of fact, star pass rusher Joey Bosa took notice of him as early as in Week 1, as he saw him hold his own vs. a defensive superstar like Maxx Crosby.
Recently, Bosa talked to Chris Long on the Guilty As Charged podcast, and he raved about his new teammate and his skills.
Joey Bosa said he knew from day one that #Chargers rookie tackle Joe Alt was different.
“To be able to come out, and I wouldn’t say lock down (Maxx Crosby) but he definitely *chuckles* more than held his own out there.”
Via @JOEL9ONE & @greenlight #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/rg5p6RaLE3
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) September 21, 2024
Alt has been an immovable force on almost every single snap there.
His presence has opened up plenty of lanes for Greg Roman’s run-heavy offense, with JK Dobbins thriving now that he’s finally healthy.
More importantly, he’s also made sure to keep Justin Herbert safe and sound, which had been a concern over the past couple of years during the Brandon Staley days.
Granted, offensive tackles might not be the flashiest players or make most of the highlights, but being set at that position might be the difference between being a Super Bowl contender and not even making the playoffs.
