He was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler (all when playing as 1/2 of the "Williams Wall" in Minnesota. However, we are going to keep it short. Bills, in his career, became a total of a three-time pro bowler and a four times all-pro. Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. 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). Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a rusher. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. NFL players are large in size. Bill Wills is one such example, he was undrafted in the 1946 draft! Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. As we learned above, the nose tackle lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 3-4 defense which consists of one nose tackle and two defensive ends. His 61 tackles for loss or no gain against the run over that span rank third among defensive linemen, behind only Brandon Graham and Jadeveon Clowney. 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. 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. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Hank Thomas is one of the more underrated players in recent NFL history in our view, right up there with Eugene Robinson, LeRoy Butler, Larry Brooks, and others. 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. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. He was First-team All-Pro twice and a Second-teamer three other seasons and went to five Pro Bowls as a nose tackle (tied with Fred Smerlas for the most-ever by a 3-4 nose). Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. 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. 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. 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. Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. Instead of going head-to-head with the center, theyll line up on the outside shoulder of the center, either on the left or right. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. 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. With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. Much like you have the 2i-technique, which lines up on the inside of the offensive guard, you also have the 4i-technique, which lines up on the inside of the offensive tackle opposed to the outside of the tackle. 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. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). Peko plays with intensity, but his technique is smart and precise. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. 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. Any coach that wants to find success with a 3-4 defensive scheme needs a dominant nose tackle. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. I like Davis' chances of having a productive rookie season behind Payne and the rest of this defensive line. 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). NFL, one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world, is the gathering place of all American football legends. This is because the 4-3 defensive scheme has two inside linebackers that can fill those two gaps if needed. From Culp to Jerry Ball, everyone featured in this article has played major roles in their teams success, which established them as the best defensive nose tackles of all time in the NFL. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. Wilfork played more than 100 games for the Patriots and is considered the best player in the nose tackle position for the Patriots. What does it need to be a good nose tackle? Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. profootballjournal@gmail.com. This allows the defensive ends to cover the outside of the offensive line and frees up the middle linebackers to find the quarterback or running back. A tall nose, like Bob Baumhower, at 6-5 and began his career as an inside designated pass rusher. Sione Pouha has quietly emerged as one of the most effective run defenders in the game. STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. . 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. 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. 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. . 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. 11. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. His power and quick takeoff enables him to drive blockers backwards and his speed and range allow him to disengage and envelope a ball carrier. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. This type of scheme consists of five players on the defensive line a nose guard, two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. This allows the safeties to stay deep and maintain the integrity of Chicago's preferred Tampa-2 coverage scheme. Nose tackle is an underappreciated and selfless position in American football. This is where the defensive player lines up on the inside shoulder of the offensive guard. He was an eight-time First-team All-League selection and was a Second-team selection one additional time and was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame team All-1940s Team and the owner of five championship rings. He could even muster some pass rushfrom 2010-2012 he had a total over 15.5 sacks, averaging just over 5 a season which is very good considering his positional responsibilities. He also covers media and entertainment news on various online platforms. What does that make the 5-technique? As one of the few proponents of the traditional, 2-gap style 3-4 leftin the game, the Steelers are absolutely reliant on a dominant nose tackle. This comment has been removed by the author. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. 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. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. The players Hey there! Cofield has not spent enough time anchoring a 3-4 and is plagued by inconsistency. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. The nose tackle is largely used in the 3-4 defensive scheme as well as a 5-2 defensive scheme. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. 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. 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. 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. The change of league did not have much impact on the team as the team continued to dominate, and in 19450, they became the NFL champion. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. He used his size to his advantage and made the lives of the blockers impossible. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. This article features the ten best nose tackles of all time in the NFL who set examples of how to contribute from the back. 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. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. 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. Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights " The Freak" Fletcher Cox Team: Philadelphia Eagles He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. 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. Really, on a game-to-game basis, Hamilton was the NFL's first modern nose tackle. With 91 games played during his career, made . But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. 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. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. Sopoaga is such a powerful and active presence, that he demands a double team on almost every play. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! You can guess from his career highlights how much we could write about him. 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. He can sometimes be a little inconsistent against the run and doesn't always bring the same fiery determination to disrupting the ground game. ", Minnesota Vikings, 1967-1978; Chicago Bears, 1978-1981 Played in four Super Bowls, one-time NFL champion 1971 NFL MVP Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times NFL 1970s All-Decade Team Played in 238 consecutive games Had six seasons of double-digit sacks, including 18 in 1976; unofficially finished with 173 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, 2014-Present Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Set record for fastest recorded 40 time for DT at NFL Scouting Combine Has logged 28 sacks and 116 tackles in his three NFL seasons Voted 15th best player in NFL on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017, Cincinnati Bengals 2010-present Voted to Pro Bowl six times, First Team All-Pro twice 290 career tackles, 61 sacks, and eight forced fumbles, Detroit Lions, 1960-1966; Los Angeles Rams, 1967-1969 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Member of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" First player in NFL history with playing weight exceeding 300 pounds Sacked Bart Starr seven times (one for a safety) in the famous 1962 "Thanksgiving Day Massacre", Kansas City Chiefs, 1968-1974; Houston Texans 1974-1980; Detroit Lions, 1980-1981 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Unofficially had 68 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in 14 NFL seasons Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1990-2000; Seattle Seahawks, 2001-2003 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times 1997 NFL sacks leader NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Played in 219 career NFL games, recording 137.5 sacks and 556 tackles Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Kansas City Chiefs, 1963-1975 One-time Super Bowl champion, two-time AFL champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times, six AFL All-Star games Played in 182 career NFL games, including 166 consecutively Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seattle Seahawks, 1990-2000 Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Had 58 sacks and 568 tackles durin 11-year NFL career Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Yanks, 2948-1949; New York Giants, 1950-1953 Two-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1995-2003; Oakland Raiders, 2004-2007 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL All-Decade Team in 1990s and 2000s Recorded 96.5 career sacks, 435 tackles, and 19 forced fumbles Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1975-1988 One-time Super Bowl champion Super Bowl XII co-MVP Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Unofficially recorded 111 sacks (high of 16 in 1978) and 1,104 tackles in 14 NFL seasons Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Rams, 1962-1977 Voted to 14 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times 1962 NFL Rookie of the Year NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team,Br> Member of two NFL All-Decade Teams (1960s, 1970s) Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1969-1981 Four-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Recorded unofficial 78.5 career sacks and 16 fumble recoveries Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1961-1974 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team member of NFL's All-Decade Teams in 1960s and 1970s Started every game (164) of his 14-year career 29-yard sack of Bob Griese in Super Bowl VI is NFL record and one of the most memorable in Super Bowl history Scored four defensive touchdowns in career Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55.

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