I created this website to share my passion with all of you. Take a look at how they stack. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. Nose Tackle: A Comprehensive Guide to the Football Position one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. 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. Career stats of Henry Thomas: 6. Bullshitter. He played both ways early in his career but his primary position was right over the center in 5-man lines. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. Ted Washington was another great nose tackle, dude was massive! Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! But his lightning-quick first step, long arms and aggressive hands technique, allow Ratliff to challenge and overcome blockers. He was All-Pro in 1990 then made a Pro Bowl in 1995. 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. Wilfork has served as the centerpiece of BillBelichick's hybrid defenses for years. He has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. 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. Bill Wills is one such example, he was undrafted in the 1946 draft! For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. "Snacks", in our view is the top nose/shade tackle in the game today and if he continues his career arc he could move up this list quickly. 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. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. 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. One of his best assets is his quick first step, giving him an excellent takeoff at the snap. 4-3 duo Terrence Knighton and Brandon Mebane do not appear on the list due to the same inconsistency. 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. 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. A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. 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. + Indicates Hall of Famer. Some of these men are considered to be the best nose tackles to ever play the game, and if you're looking for a specific football player you can look for them by using the "search" function on this list. Patriots' Vince Wilfork thinks he is the best nost tackle of all time Danny Jaillet. Career stats: 106 games started, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 150 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler. May 4, 2021 8:47 AM EDT. He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. 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. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive linchpin Kyle Williams didn't make the list. He can sometimes be a little inconsistent against the run and doesn't always bring the same fiery determination to disrupting the ground game. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. Probably the most technically sound nose tackle on this list, Wilfork's leverage and footwork are outstanding. Patriots all-time 53-man roster: 'Dynasty Era' players dominate, but He recorded 137.5 sacks over his 14-year career and was. 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. 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. 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. Cofield has not spent enough time anchoring a 3-4 and is plagued by inconsistency. 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. By Matthew Valdovinos. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. Art Shell, 1968-1982. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time - NFL.com Kyle Williams and Others Who Missed the Cut 1 of 11 A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive. 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. Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. I would have thought Manu Tiuasosopo would have been in there as he was mixing it up well in the era with Sugar Bear Hamilton, Rubin Carter, Fred Smerlas, etc.And if Reggie Kinlaw makes the list then I would have put Dave Rowe in as well. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. The 6"1' 325 pound Hamptonis an immovable force in the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. What does it need to be a good nose tackle? The Top Five New York Jets Defensive Tackles of All-Time - The Jet Press Since nose tackles are largely responsible for clogging up the middle of the line of scrimmage, its almost required that they have a big body thats difficult to block. I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. That. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1968-1982 Voted to eight Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro two times Two-time Super Bowl champion Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 1946-1967 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro four times Four-time NFL champion Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Buffalo Bills 2004-2008; Philadelphia Eagles 2009-present One-time Super Bowl champion (LII) Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, First Team All-Pro twice Has started 166 of 176 career games Has two career receiving touchdowns, Dallas Cowboys 2011-present Voted to Pro Bowl five times, First Team All-Pro twice Voted No. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. Really, on a game-to-game basis, Hamilton was the NFL's first modern nose tackle. This list includes some nose tackles who operate in versions of a 4-3 frontthatrely on a powerful presence over the center. Bills, in his career, became a total of a three-time pro bowler and a four times all-pro. They silently contribute and help their team to win. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. ", 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. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and recorded 32.5 sacks. The type of reliable-backup career you just don't see much anymore. 25. But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. 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. NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) - Pro-Football-Reference.com These Are Unarguably The 10 Greatest Defensive Tackles Of All Time The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. See leaders through past seasons And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. 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 . 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. Here is a ranking ofthe 10 best nose tackles in the game today. Nose tackles dont receive a lot of glamour in modern football. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? He played college football for the University. 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. 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. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. 1 overall Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seattle Seahawks, 1997-2009 Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Bengals, 1980-1992 Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro nine times Started 184 of 185 NFL games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 1996-2007 One-time NFL champion Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Started 176 of 177 NFL games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1958, 1959 Two-time NFL champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro eight times (five times at OT, three times at OG) Called by Woody Hayes "the best offensive lineman I've ever coached." A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. 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. This allows the safeties to stay deep and maintain the integrity of Chicago's preferred Tampa-2 coverage scheme. 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. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? My name is Steven and I love everything sports! He did play some 3-4 end in his career and was always effective as a defensive tackle in the Chiefs 4-man lines when they went to nickel, he would routinely turn in 5, 6, or 7-sack seasons. The way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. Obviously, times have changed since 1963, but Buck's legacy lives on as one of the greatest defensive tackles ever. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. 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. A tall nose, like Bob Baumhower, at 6-5 and began his career as an inside designated pass rusher. This site is owned and operated by Coaching Kidz. However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. He ended his career with 510 tackles and 35.5 sacks and 57.5 run stuffs. Here are the top 25 offensive tackles for the 2021 NFL season. 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? It's tough to find true nose tackles. 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 Ultimate Guide, Volleyball Scoring 101: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Score. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. You simply cant run a 3-4 defensive scheme without one. 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. He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. 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. Check. Also, played some DE. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. 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. Concerns about his every down durability have persisted in recent seasons, but Ratliff is still the best pure athlete to play nose tackle in the NFL. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Take a look at how they stack up. 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. 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. 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. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. Ted Washington's the best I've seen play. Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. They just don't. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. There have been many legendary nose tackles in the NFL and NCAA, and you'll find all of them on this list below. 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. Jamal Williams was the monster in the middle. The last time Donald recorded a PFF run-defense or pass-rush grade lower than 85.0 was during his rookie season in 2014. 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. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. 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. The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. Tom LaMarre. Till 1949, The Browns were playing in the AAFC, and then the team joined the NFL. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. 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. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. 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. Take a look at how they. The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. 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. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. As they continue to learn the What Is a Secondary in Football? 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). Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. Dominant against the run, Wilfork commands attention from multiple blockers. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 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. 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. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! 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. Top 5 Canes: DTs - State of The U At 6-1 330 (350?) 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. Top 10 NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time Rankings The Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. 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.
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