They try to take up as much space as possible down the middle of the line of scrimmage, which often means taking on the center and one or both of the offensive guards. Press J to jump to the feed. And for a nose, he was very durable. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Other than Polamalu there wasnt a better player on those defenses. I think Wilfork has to be up there too but Wilfork has been used in more than 1 tech for a lot of his time on the Pats but that just shows what a good skill set he had. Ted Washington was another great nose tackle, dude was massive! NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? View Current Leaderboard. Another big man, around 330-350 (390?) 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. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with. His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. 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 . Houston Texans starter Shaun Cody has adapted well to the rigours of Wade Phillips' 1-gap 3-4. He ended his career with 32.5 sacks and 75.5 run stuffs. With a little more experience at the position, Sopoaga could beexpected to top a similar list in the near future. He played college football for the University. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. He was a bit of a vagabond playing for seven different teams in his 17 years, with six for the Bills, the most of any of his stops. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. 17. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? 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. 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. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. Raji possesses a more diverse and dynamic skill set than Pouha. But he did the dirty work of a shade tackle in a 4-3 under defense. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! Coming out of Georgia, Wynn was clearly a great athlete and an accomplished player, but he was far from the prototype in terms of height and length for offensive tackles in the NFL. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Nose tackle is an underappreciated and selfless position in American football. These savvy veterans and youngsters such as Knighton, Cleveland Browns rookie Phillip Taylor and Arizona Cardinals youth Dan Williams, are collectively ensuring the nose tackle remains very relevant. 10. With 91 games played during his career, made . Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. Smears was a very durable nose tackle and had played 149 consecutive matches. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. Corey Williams of the Detroit Lions performs an important function for Gunther Cunningham's defense. 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. Williams would rush into the offense and occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. 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. 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. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. 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. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers Tuitt is the second Steelers player to find his way into the top 12, coming off another strong showing in 2020. The 0-technique is generally played in the 3-4 defensive scheme, which is why its largely a nose tackle technique. He's pure run-stopper, he's one of the few players to actually go to a Pro Bowl in a season when he had zero sacks. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. Defensive tackles rarely line up head-to-head with the center. A 4-technique lines up head-to-head with the tackle. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season He was also part of the Dolphins pass rush packages for the first 2/3 of his career, totaling 9 sacks in 1981, 8 in 1978 and 1983 and 6 in 1979. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. 15 Greatest New England Patriots of All Time - Sportscasting His tremendous upper body strength and relentless motor help Sopoaga to constantly move the pocket. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. 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. 1. As with any list there is room for debate here and there but he's ranked about right.Let me guess, you are a Steeler's fan? To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. They rank up there with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Red Sox, and all the other teams to win several championships since the turn of the century. As it turned out, Carter found his position and Alzado went on to be an excellent 3-4 end. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. 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. I swear every time there is a discussion about nose tackles Ngata is mentioned, and Ravens fans go berserk because he doesn't play nose tackle. 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). The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. . The ball was so dominant that the opposition had to make a change in their alignment to bring their best player in the middle to face the pressure Ball created. Al Amin Sagor is simply a movie freak who is passionate about writing entertainment content. 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. 11. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. Paul Soliai is one of the finest 2-gappers in the league. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! But his lightning-quick first step, long arms and aggressive hands technique, allow Ratliff to challenge and overcome blockers. He played a total of 179 and recorded 68.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. It all depends on the game situation. But Garay's brute force makes him formidable at the point of attack. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Pouha is blessed with tremendous strengthand possesses deceptive speed when working down the line. If its a 2-technique, the player must line up head-to-head with the guard. Art Shell, 1968-1982. Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights " The Freak" Fletcher Cox Team: Philadelphia Eagles The Top Five New York Jets Defensive Tackles of All-Time - The Jet Press The Best New York Jets of All Time Fred Smerlas Tackle and Nose tackle from Waltham, Massachusetts Age: 65 Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is a former American football defensive lineman who was a 5-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, .more 280 Alameda Ta'amu If you can do that, then your coach will always have a spot for you on the defense. No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. he was a good player, but didn't play enough to really fit in. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He recorded 137.5 sacks over his 14-year career and was. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. They silently contribute and help their team to win. The type of reliable-backup career you just don't see much anymore. 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. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. Casey Hampton Jr. (born September 3, 1977), nicknamed "Big Snack," is a former American football nose tackle who played twelve seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, The Best Miami Football Players of All Time, The Greatest Out of Shape Athletes in Sports. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Domato Peko is the fulcrum of the Cincinnati Bengals aggressive 4-3 defense. He also covers media and entertainment news on various online platforms. 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. And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. This list includes some nose tackles who operate in versions of a 4-3 frontthatrely on a powerful presence over the center. 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. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. While most nose tackles dont receive a lot of praise from the fans (largely due to their lack of stats), some nose tackles throughout history were so good that you had to recognize them no matter what. Patriots' All-Time Team: Defense - Sports Illustrated New England He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. Plus he played the position until 39 years old; amazing longevity for a position where you're fighting off double teams from other 300 lb men your whole career. Rogers started his career hot, playing shade most often in a 40 defense, and was playing lots of plays (36.5 run stuffs in his first four seasons) and then went to his "All-Pro-type" years from 2004-08 when he was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. Defensive tackles are mostly the silent killer of a team. An excellent run defender, Soliai needs to refine his technique in order to make more plays behind the line of scrimmage. 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. One of his best assets is his quick first step, giving him an excellent takeoff at the snap. One name that is well worth mentioning among the Top 10 Strong Safety All-Time list is the former Seattle Seahawks and Pro Football Hall of Famer strong safety Kenny Easley. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. One name that might get overlooked among some of the best defensive tackles all-time is the former Baltimore Ravens great Haloti Ngata. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. 18 in NFL Network's Top 100 Players list in 2017 Has started all 105 career games played, Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers, 1960-1969; Oakland Raiders 1971 Voted to eight AFL all-star games, First Team All-AFL eight times Appeared in five AFL title games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1986-1992; Denver Broncos, 1993-1997 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Made 169 consecutive starts Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995-2001 Voted to five Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Drafted with the Jaguars' first-ever pick, New Orleans Saints, 1993-2001; Kansas City Chiefs 2002-2005 Voted to 11 Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One of 13 players to be named to multiple all-decades team (90s and 2000s) Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1953-1965 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times One-time NFL champion Named NFL's Lineman of Year, 1956 Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Philadelphia Eagles, 1964-1968; Los Angeles Rams, 1969-1970; Oakland Raiders, 1971-1973 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro five times Selected to All-Decade Team of the 1960s Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Los Angeles/St. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. This is different from defensive ends, which are usually taller (around 65) and slimmer (285 pounds) so they can keep up with offensive tackles. Pro Football Journal: The Best Nose Tackles in NFL History - Blogger I created this website to share my passion with all of you. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. The players Hey there! Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. pounds, Wilfork was the anchor of the Patriots defensive line for more than a decade making First-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro four times and five Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons and earned himself two rings. 16. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. Not only is Art Shell at the top of this list, but he was also among the best tackles in NFL history, and there those who believe . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? While a 3-technique refers to the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, theres also something called the 2i-technique. 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). The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) - Pro-Football-Reference.com Ranking the NFL's 10 Best Nose Tackles - Bleacher Report Where the 3-4 defense has two gaps in-between the nose tackle and defensive ends, those two gaps are completely covered by two defensive tackles in the 5-2 scheme, which makes it hard to run the ball. Taylor Lewan gets a lot of attention for his off-field attention-seeking antics. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. He was a true 2 gap run stuffer. Excellent article, John T! During his stay in Kansas, Culp shined as a defensive nose tackle. He was drafted into the NFL in 1987 and remained active till 2000. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. I like Davis' chances of having a productive rookie season behind Payne and the rest of this defensive line. . A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? 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. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. Bills, in his career, became a total of a three-time pro bowler and a four times all-pro. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. With that said, the nose tackle position is highly respected by their teammates and is most likely going to be the defensive coordinators favorite player when things are going well. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. There have been many legendary nose tackles in the NFL and NCAA, and you'll find all of them on this list below. John Banaszak: Born in rival city Cleveland, Ohio, John Banaszak played in Pittsburgh's final three Super Bowls of the 1970s starting in Super Bowls XIII and XIV. But his place went to a division rival who doesn't benefit from quite as strong a supporting cast around him. May 18, 2022 9:45 am ET. Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. Maas was "Big, mean, strong, and nasty" according to Buchsbaum who also though Maas would have been an excellent 4-3 tackle. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. Maybe if he hadn't gone to USFL but really, except for 1983, he was a backup---someone who got to play when Carter was hurt, would play some 40 tackle in nickel/dimeHe was considered by the 36 starts was kind of a problem. They just don't. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. Sione Pouha has quietly emerged as one of the most effective run defenders in the game. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Undrafted Team: Nose Tackle But the tenacious and resourcefulfourth-year prois a significant member of the Bears defensive line rotation. Here is a ranking ofthe 10 best nose tackles in the game today. The number one requirement of a nose tackle is to take on and occupy blockers. Wilfork frequently drew. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. 8. The Top Five: Best 3-4 Nose Tackles in the NFL - Bleacher Report NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. While Ngata fell to the shadows behind the likes of Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, the former Oregon Ducks star was a force to be reckoned . PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 interior defensive linemen ahead of the 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. Bob Baumhower Baumhower was a unique player, tall (6-5) for a nose tackle and may have been better suited as a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 end. Raiders All-Time Top Five: Tackles - Sports Illustrated Las Vegas By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. A NT will either be head on v a centre or on the strongside A gap, either way a NTs job is to absorb a double team and not allow either of the OL trying to move him to get downfield. Bullshitter. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. A nose tackle, also known as the nose guard or middle guard, is a player that aligns themselves in the middle of the defensive line. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). Email us at: 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. Ted Washington's the best I've seen play. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. With a player like Raji over the center, Dom Capers can utilise every page of his zone blitz playbook. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. Top 25 offensive tackles in the 2021 NFL season - Pro Football Network 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. Ngata, from 2008-14 received post-season honors every season, three of those years he was a First-team All-Pro and the others Second-team or Pro Bowl or All-AFC, showing remarkable consistency. The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974.