An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. View Current Leaderboard. Matt Toeainais the most unheralded member of the Chicago Bears tough defense. This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. Alexander Boris Johnsons Net Worth vs Jeremy Bernard Corbyns Net Worth: Who is richer? He benefits from a strong and talented supporting cast, but everything the Steelers are able to do on defense, is determined by the play of Hampton. In the game of football, every player is given a specific position both on offense and defense that determines their role when on the field. I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. But the tenacious and resourcefulfourth-year prois a significant member of the Bears defensive line rotation. That. He would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. Also, played some DE. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. This is where the defensive player lines up head-to-head with the offensive tackle. Excellent article, John T! 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. 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. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. 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. Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. The 6"1' 325 pound Hamptonis an immovable force in the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. See leaders through past seasons Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List. But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. I realize he was mostly a part-time player but I thought Pete Kugler for the 49ers played alot of quality snaps. 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). In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. Thomas was a solid defensive nose and could have been a terrific 3-technique. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and recorded 32.5 sacks. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. 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. Said Buchsbaum, "As good as Ball is, he'd be better if he controlled his weight. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. 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. 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. 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. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. It used to take three blockers to stop him. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. The Pittsburgh run defense has been at or near the top of the league standings throughout Hamton's decade long tenure over the center. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. While a 3-technique refers to the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, theres also something called the 2i-technique. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. 8. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. Akiem Hicks is one of the best run defenders in the NFL today. Charlie Johnson had a short career in the NFL, but he still managed to cement his preposition among the best nose tackles of all time in NFL history. 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. 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. Joel Steed will come . "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. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? 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. Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. His power and ferocity at the point of attack make him virtually impossible to handle one on one. Since the 5-technique features an odd number, that means the defensive lineman lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. Defensive tackles rarely line up head-to-head with the center. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. 4-3 duo Terrence Knighton and Brandon Mebane do not appear on the list due to the same inconsistency. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. This is because four linebackers can either drop back and guard the middle of the field or play at the line of scrimmage against the run. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. ", 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. 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." He also covers media and entertainment news on various online platforms. 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. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. A high-motor, hustle type. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. Cofield has not spent enough time anchoring a 3-4 and is plagued by inconsistency. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle. Wilfork played more than 100 games for the Patriots and is considered the best player in the nose tackle position for the Patriots. 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 . 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. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. 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). He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. He. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. Art Shell, 1968-1982. His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. Take a look at how they stack. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. . Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. It reached peak popularity with the Bill Parcells style in the mid 80's. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. 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. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. Danny Jaillet. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. 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. 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. + Indicates Hall of Famer. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! Packers stalwart B.J. The Oilers were next who committed to it after getting Curley Culp at mid-season, though they used it some in previous games and years. 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. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. 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. 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. But was a Pro Bowler in 1986, but was certainly worthy of selection in 1984 and 1985 as well. We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Here are the top 25 offensive tackles for the 2021 NFL season. The Dolphins defensive anchor is steadily building a reputation as one of the most difficult to handle nose tackles in the game. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. Wilfork has served as the centerpiece of BillBelichick's hybrid defenses for years. 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'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. Bills, in his career, became a total of a three-time pro bowler and a four times all-pro. But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. He was drafted into the NFL in 1987 and remained active till 2000. At 6-1 330 (350?) He played college football for the University. This article features the ten best nose tackles of all time in the NFL who set examples of how to contribute from the back. Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida, The 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring. He was a true 2 gap run stuffer. 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 Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? Domato Peko is the fulcrum of the Cincinnati Bengals aggressive 4-3 defense. The most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pouha is blessed with tremendous strengthand possesses deceptive speed when working down the line. 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 Take a look at how they. He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. 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. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. Take a look at how they stack up. 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. For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. 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. Houston Texans starter Shaun Cody has adapted well to the rigours of Wade Phillips' 1-gap 3-4. He ended his career with just 20.5 sacks but the main reason he was on the field was to stop the run and that he did, evidenced by his 90 run stuffs in his career (five times he had 9.0 or more). By this time, he played over 200 games to record 93.3 sacks, 1007 tackles, and four touchdowns, so many for a defensive nose tackle. No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. 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. If youre a football player, you must understand what a defensive technique is. 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. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. Burt also helped the 49ers in their Super Bowl seasons as a rotation nose tackle. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. A tall nose, like Bob Baumhower, at 6-5 and began his career as an inside designated pass rusher. This is different from defensive ends, which are usually taller (around 65) and slimmer (285 pounds) so they can keep up with offensive tackles. Press J to jump to the feed. Ranking of the NFL's top ten greatest offensive tackles of all time. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. As you learn more about football, you start to hear the term defensive technique. Its not something a normal fan has to be concerned about, but its something that gets mentioned by the announcers and commentators regularly. Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. But he did the dirty work of a shade tackle in a 4-3 under defense. 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. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. 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. Corey Williams of the Detroit Lions performs an important function for Gunther Cunningham's defense. During his stay in Kansas, Culp shined as a defensive nose tackle. 17. 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. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! 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. 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. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. As it turned out, Carter found his position and Alzado went on to be an excellent 3-4 end. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. 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. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). This is a subreddit for the NFL community. 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. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. The last time Donald recorded a PFF run-defense or pass-rush grade lower than 85.0 was during his rookie season in 2014. 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. 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.