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It's tough to find true nose tackles. 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. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. 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. 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? No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. He did that while ascending as one of the greatest nose tackles of all time. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. Klecko was a fan favorite and defensive stand out for the Jets through the 1980's. Arriving at the Jets after playing his college ball at Temple University, Klecko quickly had an impact on the . A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. More teams havemoved back toa 4-3 this season and many 4-3 teams are choosing to do without a nose tackle and attack an offense with double 3-techniques. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. Dominant against the run, Wilfork commands attention from multiple blockers. 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. Here is a ranking ofthe 10 best nose tackles in the game today. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. 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. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. This list includes some nose tackles who operate in versions of a 4-3 frontthatrely on a powerful presence over the center. 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. Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. May 4, 2021 8:47 AM EDT. 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. From his 121 games, he recorded 121 sacks. He recorded 137.5 sacks over his 14-year career and was. With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. edit* Hampton was a beast don't know how I didn't think of him! 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. You simply cant run a 3-4 defensive scheme without one. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. As it turned out, Carter found his position and Alzado went on to be an excellent 3-4 end. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. You have entered an incorrect email address! Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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 has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. + Indicates Hall of Famer. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. This is different from defensive ends, which are usually taller (around 65) and slimmer (285 pounds) so they can keep up with offensive tackles. 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. LOL, really curious where you got the film to do an in-depthanalysis of Les Bingaman. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. In the Bears under front,Toeaina is required to take on the center and occupy the interior, creating one on one matchups for pass rushing defensive ends and the 3-technique tackle. Ted Washington always amazed me. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. He played both ways early in his career but his primary position was right over the center in 5-man lines. First-team All-Pro: 5 times (1980, 1981, 82, 83, 88). Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". For the 3-technique, the defensive player is asked to line up on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). 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. The third-year pro has the power, leverage and quickness to threaten the pocket on every play. When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! Check. He spent his last six seasons as a backup/rotational nose for the Raiders, then the Jets. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. Till 1949, The Browns were playing in the AAFC, and then the team joined the NFL. 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. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. But on a serious note I would say wilfork or Hampton, with big Ted slightly behind those guys. Michael Carter Career Highlights: Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV) First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988) Pro Bowl: 3 times (1985, 1987, 1988) Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights " The Freak" Fletcher Cox Team: Philadelphia Eagles What does that make the 5-technique? The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. 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 . Maas was "Big, mean, strong, and nasty" according to Buchsbaum who also though Maas would have been an excellent 4-3 tackle. The Pittsburgh run defense has been at or near the top of the league standings throughout Hamton's decade long tenure over the center. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. Other than Polamalu there wasnt a better player on those defenses. The 55 Best Movies and Series on HBO Max (Where You 1968 (Denver Broncos, Round: 2 / Pick: 31), Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Detroit Lions, 1979 (Buffalo Bills, Round: 2 / Pick: 32), Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and San Francisco 49ers, 1991 (San Francisco 49ers, Round: 1 / Pick: 25), San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, 1987 (Minnesota Vikings, Round: 3 / Pick: 72), Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots andDetroit Lions, 1984 (San Francisco 49ers, Round: 5 / Pick: 121), 1977 (Philadelphia Eagles, Round: 7 / Pick: 175), Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, 2004 (New England Patriots, Round: 1 / Pick: 21), 1987 (Detroit Lions, Round: 3 / Pick: 63), Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. But he did the dirty work of a shade tackle in a 4-3 under defense. Jake Matthews, Atlanta Falcons. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. Pouha is blessed with tremendous strengthand possesses deceptive speed when working down the line. In some situations, they might line up in-between the guards and center if they want to directly fill the gaps during a run play. See leaders through past seasons Though he played as a run stuffer in the later part of his career, he is mostly known for his role as a nose tackle. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. started his career with the Detroit Lions in 1987 and later played in three more teams, including Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? Danny Jaillet. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. This is different from the 0-technique, which is responsible for the two gaps in between the center and both offensive guards. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. It seems unfair to rank him above more versatile players like Ratliff and Wilfork, but from a purist point of view, Casey Hampton is the finest nose tackle in the game. Louis Rams, 1976-1995 Voted to seven Pro Bowls First player to play 20 seasons for one team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, St. Louis Rams, 1997-2008; Chicago Bears, 2009 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Started 154 consecutive games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1967-1979 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Two-time Super Bowl champion Started in six NFC Championship Games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 1936-1946 Three-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Yanks, 1951; Cleveland Browns, 1954-1962 Voted to six Pro Bowls Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 2007-2016 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times Has started all 160 games he has played in the NFL, Green Bay Packers, 1956-1970; Dallas Cowboys, 1971 Started on eight NFL championship teams Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1968-1981; Los Angeles Rams, 1982 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times First O-lineman to be selected No. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. Jump Around This Article Click to show. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! 10. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! The way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. Like all 4-3 nose tackles, Pekoregularly operates in a shaded alignment over the center. He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. 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 A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). 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. He ended his career with 510 tackles and 35.5 sacks and 57.5 run stuffs. Well.it's more that it goes through cycles. This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. He's a shade tackle that played all three downs and never needed to be replaced by a designated pass rusher like so many nose tackles, which accounts for his high sack total, in fact, no nose/shade tackle is even close and from film review, he was as good versus the run as any of them. Take a look at how they. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. 17. We also mentioned how the 1-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the center and the 3-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. He played college football for the University. 4-3 duo Terrence Knighton and Brandon Mebane do not appear on the list due to the same inconsistency. This list below has a variety of items in it, from Casey Hampton to Jim Burt. 13. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. 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. A nose tackle has to occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. 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. Excellent article, John T! As mentioned above, the best feature of a nose tackle is that he sacrifices himself for the greater good of the team. This is where the defensive player lines up on the inside shoulder of the offensive guard. So it's harder to peg players. He is one of the "Jewel" of The News Titan. To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. He'd done yeoman's work, playing the run, coming out of the game on likely passing downs, but never getting a sniff of Hawaii and the Pro Bowl. With 91 games played during his career, made . The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . However, we are going to keep it short. Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. He was All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro once and an All-AFC pick twice and voted to four Pro Bowls. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. 11. Art Shell, 1968-1982. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. Highest single-season PFF grades since 2017 Donald's peers are the NFL's all-time greats on defense the Reggie Whites and Lawrence Taylors of the world rather than anyone else currently playing. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? 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. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. They line up in front of the offensive center and are responsible for clogging up the two gaps on both sides of the center in-between the center and two offensive guards. 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. Obviously, times have changed since 1963, but Buck's legacy lives on as one of the greatest defensive tackles ever. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. They just don't. So he ended up playing for three-techniques likeJovan Haye and Tony Williams, though he got to play some three-technique himself for a few years in the early 2000s when Fred Robbins manned the nose. 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. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. 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. 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). Tom LaMarre. Pouha is the basis for the Jets swarming rush defense and his stout performances in the middle of the line ensures the schematic flexibilitycharacteristicof Rex Ryan's multiple system. The 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida, The 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. While a 3-technique refers to the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, theres also something called the 2i-technique. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. 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. The six-time pro bowler is also an AFL and Super Bowl champion. One of the least glamorous positions in the NFL is Nose Tackle, but they are still a critical position in the NFL so who are the greats? This site is owned and operated by Coaching Kidz. He was drafted into the NFL in 2004 by the New England Patriots. Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. 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. Alexander Boris Johnsons Net Worth vs Jeremy Bernard Corbyns Net Worth: Who is richer? Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare. Enjoy! He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. 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. 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. 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. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. 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. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. A 3-4 scheme has one nose tackle in the middle, while a 4-3 defense has two defensive tackles in-between the defensive ends. Then in 1986-87 he was still the starter but played less in passing situations and recorded just one sack in 1987 and five in 1988. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! They dont always receive large contracts, they generally dont run up the stat sheet, and theyre most likely not going to be a fans favorite player on the field at least not like a quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. 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. There have been many legendary nose tackles in the NFL and NCAA, and you'll find all of them on this list below. Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. Smears was an exceptional talent. Joe Klecko (89%, 59 Votes) Kris Jenkins (8%, 5 Votes) Jason Ferguson (3%, 2 Votes) Sione Pouha (0%, 0 Votes) Abdul Salaam (0%, 0 Votes). Its generally reserved for the defensive end and theyre responsible for both the B-gap (in-between the guard and tackle) and C-gap (on the outside of the tackle). In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. 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. Bill Wills is one such example, he was undrafted in the 1946 draft! Ted Washington was another great nose tackle, dude was massive! When you think of the Steelers' 3-4, you think of a couple names: it starts with Casey Hampton, the best true nose tackle the team has ever had. He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. The Ultimate Guide, What Is the Neutral Zone in Football? But was a Pro Bowler in 1986, but was certainly worthy of selection in 1984 and 1985 as well. 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. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. When you line up in a 3-technique, youre only responsible for the gap between the offensive guard and offensive tackle also known as the B-gap. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks.