best nose tackles of all time

Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time | NFL Highlights - YouTube A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time | NFL Highlights NFL 11M subscribers Subscribe 269K views 5 years ago Former VP of Player Personnel Gil Brandt's Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time! The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. As they continue to learn the What Is a Secondary in Football? 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. 8. 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. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. They are often referred to as the anchor of the defense because their sole responsibility is to limit the amount of space an offense has down the middle of the line of scrimmage. 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. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? 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. He was drafted into the NFL in 1987 and remained active till 2000. 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. 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. 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. The Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. If you can do that, then your coach will always have a spot for you on the defense. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. Probably the most technically sound nose tackle on this list, Wilfork's leverage and footwork are outstanding. The Ultimate Guide, What Is the Neutral Zone in Football? 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. Patriots' Vince Wilfork thinks he is the best nost tackle of all time This site is owned and operated by Coaching Kidz. 13. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. May 18, 2022 9:45 am ET. 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. 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). It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. It frequently took 2 or 3 linemen to block him, freeing up teammates to double-cover or blitz. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. 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. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. This makes it hard for the running back to find a hole through either of the two B-gaps (in-between the guard and tackle). They silently contribute and help their team to win. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. The NFL's top 11 interior defensive linemen - Touchdown Wire Nose Tackles typically don't stuff the stat sheet so it can be hard to measure their greatness unless you're watching tape but I would say that any 3-4 team with a great NT had good numbers v the run, I find your lack of Casey Hampton disturbing. 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. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! 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. Excellent article, John T! A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. Wilfork has served as the centerpiece of BillBelichick's hybrid defenses for years. It reached peak popularity with the Bill Parcells style in the mid 80's. 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. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 25. The Top Five New York Jets Defensive Tackles of All-Time - The Jet Press Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. 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. Equally comfortable operating as either a 1 or 2-gap defensive tackle, Wilfork possesses both the raw power and schematic versatility to disrupt any blocking scheme. Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. By Matthew Valdovinos. Well.it's more that it goes through cycles. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! 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. Check. When on form, Antonio Garay is capable of regularly collapsing the pocket. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 interior defensive linemen ahead of the He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. 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. And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. 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. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with. He was drafted into the NFL in 2004 by the New England Patriots. Consistently an excellent player, he had a career year for Pittsburgh when they needed to lean on him more than usual with his running mate Stephon Tuitt going down hurt. 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. The Best New York Jets of All Time Fred Smerlas Tackle and Nose tackle from Waltham, Massachusetts Age: 65 Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is a former American football defensive lineman who was a 5-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, .more 280 Alameda Ta'amu NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. 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. 4-3 duo Terrence Knighton and Brandon Mebane do not appear on the list due to the same inconsistency. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. ", 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. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. Email us at: STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. 1. Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. It used to take three blockers to stop him. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. 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. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. Top 25 defensive tackles heading into the 2021 NFL Season A 5-2 defensive scheme is extremely effective against the run, especially the inside run. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. He ended his career with 32.5 sacks and 75.5 run stuffs. With a little more experience at the position, Sopoaga could beexpected to top a similar list in the near future. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. He recorded 137.5 sacks over his 14-year career and was. Jamal Williams career seemed to be heading into obscurity as a very good shade (nose) tackle in a 4-3 defense for the Chargers from 1998 to 2004. 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. 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. But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. Another big man, around 330-350 (390?) You have entered an incorrect email address! His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. Any coach that wants to find success with a 3-4 defensive scheme needs a dominant nose tackle. 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. 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 following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. Patriots' All-Time Team: Defense - Sports Illustrated New England Some NFL players are just physical freaks in terms of taking a pounding and lasting and lasting. 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 was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? Sopoaga is such a powerful and active presence, that he demands a double team on almost every play. Upon arriving in Houston, the Oilers fortunes changed, going from the bottom of the AFC to among the better teams from 1975 through 1980. 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. Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - 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. However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! 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. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! In terms of pure 3-4 nose tackles, to this day no nose has played in and started more games at the position than Fred Smerlas. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. Also, played some DE. 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. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). 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. Smears was an exceptional talent. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. 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. Joel Steed will come . 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. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. 2022 NFL interior defender rankings and tiers - PFF All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. He was All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro once and an All-AFC pick twice and voted to four Pro Bowls. 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. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). Lets take a look at some of those specific nose tackles: Its unclear if well ever see any nose tackles in the future that live up to the names listed above, but theres no doubt that these players are some of the least-recognized superstars of their time. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. Paul Soliai is one of the finest 2-gappers in the league. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. The players Hey there! He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. Enjoy! Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. 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. For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. Casey Hampton Jr. (born September 3, 1977), nicknamed "Big Snack," is a former American football nose tackle who played twelve seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, The Best Miami Football Players of All Time, The Greatest Out of Shape Athletes in Sports. He played both ways early in his career but his primary position was right over the center in 5-man lines. With 91 games played during his career, made . NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 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. Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare.

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