Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. He spent the first 11 years of his career with the Patriots, a time during which he was one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL -- especially against the run. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. He ended his career with just 20.5 sacks but the main reason he was on the field was to stop the run and that he did, evidenced by his 90 run stuffs in his career (five times he had 9.0 or more). By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. Like all 4-3 nose tackles, Pekoregularly operates in a shaded alignment over the center. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. Smerlas was among the first bigger nose tackles, weighing about 290 (though often listed as less) and he also was among the first to crowd the center. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. That. Take a look at how they stack up. Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. Is The NBA Star Tyrese Maxey & Lavender Briggs In A Christian Bale Lost Five Roles to Leonardo DiCaprio in the 90s, The Legend of Maula Jatt: A Pakistani Movie Breaking Records. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. He was a First-team All-Pro in 1986-88 and was Second-team in 1985 when he had 7 sacks (he had 6.5 in 1988) and was a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion. If you can do that, then your coach will always have a spot for you on the defense. So I discount guys like Ngata who may have played in the middle of a 3 man line on occasions but were never 2 gap players. Till 1949, The Browns were playing in the AAFC, and then the team joined the NFL. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. Jake Matthews, Atlanta Falcons. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. An excellent run defender, Soliai needs to refine his technique in order to make more plays behind the line of scrimmage. After his stellar 1980 season, coaches from opposing teams would fly to Buffalo to watch how Smerlas played in the middle of the Bill defense and exported the style to their own 3-4 teams. Nose Tackles typically don't stuff the stat sheet so it can be hard to measure their greatness unless you're watching tape but I would say that any 3-4 team with a great NT had good numbers v the run, I find your lack of Casey Hampton disturbing. Thomas played in 213 games, started 199 of them, totaled 864 tackles including 93.5 sacks and 95.0 run stuffs, totals that rival players like Warren Sapp and Bryant Young, two of the 1990s All-Decade selections. However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. Consistently an excellent player, he had a career year for Pittsburgh when they needed to lean on him more than usual with his running mate Stephon Tuitt going down hurt. Probably not over the full course of his career since he was injured so much, but I'll throw peak Kris Jenkins in the mix for top 10 best NT peaks. Bill Pickel in an interesting player. See leaders through past seasons They silently contribute and help their team to win. The players Hey there! Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! Equally comfortable operating as either a 1 or 2-gap defensive tackle, Wilfork possesses both the raw power and schematic versatility to disrupt any blocking scheme. Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. In his first four years he was a top backup for Ted Washington forming an amazing 1-2 punch. But his lightning-quick first step, long arms and aggressive hands technique, allow Ratliff to challenge and overcome blockers. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. May 14, 2020. By this time, he played over 200 games to record 93.3 sacks, 1007 tackles, and four touchdowns, so many for a defensive nose tackle. Hopefully, Whitworth and the rest of Los Angeles can have a bounce-back year as they will look to contend in a very competitive NFC West. View Current Leaderboard. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time | NFL Highlights NFL 11M subscribers Subscribe 269K views 5 years ago Former VP of Player Personnel Gil Brandt's Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time! Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". Lets take a look at some of those specific nose tackles: Its unclear if well ever see any nose tackles in the future that live up to the names listed above, but theres no doubt that these players are some of the least-recognized superstars of their time. Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. 8. CoachingKidz.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. The Oilers were next who committed to it after getting Curley Culp at mid-season, though they used it some in previous games and years. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. He played a total of 200 games and recorded 20.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. He toiled in obscurity in Seattle at a time when the league wanted to forget Seattle existed & still was a 1st team AP & Pro Bowler in 1984, and could easily have been a Pro Bowl player in 2 other seasons. We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. He did not focus on personal achievements, which is one of the reasons that his stats are not filled with rich numbers. A nose tackle has to occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. If youre interested in learning more about the nose tackle position in football, continue reading for a full breakdown of what a nose tackle does and what it takes to be a dominant nose tackle. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. The Steelers have had some of the best nose tackles of all time and when that position is thought of, often the Steelers come to mind. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. These players are often the most recognized players in the locker room especially among the defensive coordinators for helping clear up space for the rest of the team. Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots. Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? Maryland totaled 279 tackles, with 25 for loss, and 20.5 sacks in his four dominant years for Miami. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. A high-motor, hustle type. The nose tackle is largely used in the 3-4 defensive scheme as well as a 5-2 defensive scheme. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. Take a look at the photographs that served as the artistic blueprint for Super Bowl LVII, and see how they were incorporated into the numerous event spaces throughout the state. Its okay for a nose tackle to be smaller or bigger than the average nose tackle, so long as that player is good at taking up space and freeing up room for the rest of the defense to do what they do best. This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. started his career with the Detroit Lions in 1987 and later played in three more teams, including Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. Early on it was mostly the more experimental AFC teams, including the perfect Dolphins, and was part of why the AFC dominated the NFC in the 70's. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. 3-4 Defences have only become really popular around the nfl in the last 15 years so there hasn't been that many Nose Tackles in the last 40-50 years in comparison to other positions. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? Such is life. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Matt Toeainais the most unheralded member of the Chicago Bears tough defense. The last time Donald recorded a PFF run-defense or pass-rush grade lower than 85.0 was during his rookie season in 2014. Charlie Johnson had a short career in the NFL, but he still managed to cement his preposition among the best nose tackles of all time in NFL history. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. Also, played some DE. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games. We may reconsider in the future, but for now, we put him with the tackles. John Randle Awards: 7 Pro Bowler, 6 All-Pro, 1997 NFL sacks leader, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Championships: None NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. Nose tackles dont receive a lot of glamour in modern football. Jamal Williams career seemed to be heading into obscurity as a very good shade (nose) tackle in a 4-3 defense for the Chargers from 1998 to 2004. Take a look at how they. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. He. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. 10. Corey Williams of the Detroit Lions performs an important function for Gunther Cunningham's defense. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. Wilfork frequently drew. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. He's likely best known for a gruesome broken leg in the Super Bowl versus the 49ers but he came back from that in 1989 and had a couple solid seasons after that. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. Email us at: The goal of this website is to provide you with content that will help you get a leg up on the competition, whether thats in the realm of coaching or on the field itself. Cofield has not spent enough time anchoring a 3-4 and is plagued by inconsistency. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. The one season he filled in for an injured 3-tech (Keith Millard) he did will, recording 8.5 sacks and 7.5 stuffs and 82 tackles. Jamal Williams was the monster in the middle. An excellent athlete for the position, Sharrif Floyd (6'3", 305 lbs, one season) has lateral quickness and moves well both along the line of scrimmage and heading upfield to make tackles. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL defensive tackles of all time NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. 17. Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. The creative direction of Super Bowl LVII was inspired by the beauty of Arizona's natural landscapes - from its grand rock formations to its vast rainbow skies. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. Just because a NT doesn't 2 gap doesn't mean he's not a true NT, that's all down to preference of scheme by the coach. Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981) is a former American football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. As you learn more about football, you start to hear the term defensive technique. Its not something a normal fan has to be concerned about, but its something that gets mentioned by the announcers and commentators regularly. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. This allows the safeties to stay deep and maintain the integrity of Chicago's preferred Tampa-2 coverage scheme. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. The type of reliable-backup career you just don't see much anymore. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. This is about where we'd put Klecko if we had put him on this list, having been a guy who truly played three positions about equally in terms of years, we chose to put him with the 4-3 tackles even though his best two single seasons were as a 4-3 end and a 3-4 nose. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Besides, he had been a part of the 49ers three super bowl winning teams and a three-time first-team all-pro and three-time pro bowler. Pouha has gone from a deputy to the oft-injured Kris Jenkins, to becoming a significant force at the heart of the Jets opportunistic defense. Regular five-on-five basketball is a fun game on its own, but its always nice to have some variety in the types of games that can be played, especially with kids. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. He played college football for the University. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. Enter Wade Phillips who installed a 3-4 and Williams as the nose andvoila, he's in the Pro Bowl for the next three years. He frequently drives blockers backwards and is a consistent threat to penetrate the line of scrimmage. Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a rusher. Defensive techniques serve two major purposes they tell the defenders where they need to line up for that specific play and they tell the defenders what their role is when on the field. Check. You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. One name that might get overlooked among some of the best defensive tackles all-time is the former Baltimore Ravens great Haloti Ngata. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". Bullshitter. They need to have a big body, but they also need to have some speed and strength to make them quicker and stronger than a center and offensive guard. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. This is different from defensive ends, which are usually taller (around 65) and slimmer (285 pounds) so they can keep up with offensive tackles. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. He was All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro once and an All-AFC pick twice and voted to four Pro Bowls. He ended his career with 32.5 sacks and 75.5 run stuffs. His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. List of the most famous (American) football nose tackles in the history of the sport, listed by popularity with photos of the players when available. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. Ted Washington always amazed me. What does it need to be a good nose tackle? Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. Although used in very specific situations in the NFL, the 5-2 defensive scheme was largely phased out of pro football in the 1950s and eventually college football in the 1980s. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. This site is owned and operated by Coaching Kidz. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Sugar Bear Hamilton began his career as a defensive end in 1973 but when the Patriots moved to a 3-4 defensive full-time in 1974 he was the middle guard. So far, weve mentioned how the 0-technique lines up head-to-head with the center, and the 2-technique lines up head-to-head with the offensive guard. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. Hell, I bet JJ Watt would be the best nose in the league if they lined him up there. For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. This is where the defensive player lines up on the inside shoulder of the offensive guard. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and recorded 32.5 sacks. He had unusually large legs and Dolphin locker room lore includes the fact that even the large socks would not fully cover Baumhower's calves when stretched all the way to the top. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. We think he would have been a fine left 3-4 defensive end and inside rusher in nickel but the Raiders already had that guyHowie Long.