profootballjournal@gmail.com. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. Alexander Boris Johnsons Net Worth vs Jeremy Bernard Corbyns Net Worth: Who is richer? 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. 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. Smerlas was among the first bigger nose tackles, weighing about 290 (though often listed as less) and he also was among the first to crowd the center. 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. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. 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. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. The ball was so dominant that the opposition had to make a change in their alignment to bring their best player in the middle to face the pressure Ball created. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! First-team All-Pro: 5 times (1980, 1981, 82, 83, 88). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! But his lightning-quick first step, long arms and aggressive hands technique, allow Ratliff to challenge and overcome blockers. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. He played a total of 200 games and recorded 20.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. He played college football for the University. He was a 'move' guy, not a power guy and he could rush the passer very well in addition to playing his two-gap responsibilities. Smears was an exceptional talent. Two slots for the Pro Bowl and at times 25 of the teams in the NFL playing a 3-4 defense. 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. Ted Washington's the best I've seen play. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. This type of scheme consists of five players on the defensive line a nose guard, two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. 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. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. That. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. 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. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs. Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. He won the super bowl once and was named all-pro once in 2001. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. 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. He ended his career with 510 tackles and 35.5 sacks and 57.5 run stuffs. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games. Really, on a game-to-game basis, Hamilton was the NFL's first modern nose tackle. With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. 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). This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. Some NFL players are just physical freaks in terms of taking a pounding and lasting and lasting. When on form, Antonio Garay is capable of regularly collapsing the pocket. The same argument applies to Barry Cofield of the Washington Redskins. 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. As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . 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. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. With a player like Raji over the center, Dom Capers can utilise every page of his zone blitz playbook. Though he played as a run stuffer in the later part of his career, he is mostly known for his role as a nose tackle. The six-time pro bowler is also an AFL and Super Bowl champion. However, we are going to keep it short. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. He used his size to his advantage and made the lives of the blockers impossible. However, his play for the Titans down the stretch was . 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). 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. 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. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a 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. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. 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 . Maryland totaled 279 tackles, with 25 for loss, and 20.5 sacks in his four dominant years for Miami. 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. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. 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. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Corey Williams of the Detroit Lions performs an important function for Gunther Cunningham's defense. 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. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and recorded 32.5 sacks. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. Bullshitter. And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. Maybe if he hadn't gone to USFL but really, except for 1983, he was a backup---someone who got to play when Carter was hurt, would play some 40 tackle in nickel/dimeHe was considered by the 36 starts was kind of a problem. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. 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. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. NFL, one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world, is the gathering place of all American football legends. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. 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. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. 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. In his first four years he was a top backup for Ted Washington forming an amazing 1-2 punch. A Complete Overview. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. 2022 The News Titan - All Rights Reserved, The 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL, The 10 Best Defensive Ends of All Time in the NFL. 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. 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. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. 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 Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. Not only is Art Shell at the top of this list, but he was also among the best tackles in NFL history, and there those who believe . Tier 2: Elite 2. Raji possesses a more diverse and dynamic skill set than Pouha. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. 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. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. This comment has been removed by the author. 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. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. Jamal Williams was the monster in the middle. After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? I swear every time there is a discussion about nose tackles Ngata is mentioned, and Ravens fans go berserk because he doesn't play nose tackle. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. Sopoaga is such a powerful and active presence, that he demands a double team on almost every play. Tim Krumrie was a very active-type nose tackle, all hustle all the time. Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. CoachingKidz.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. Taylor Lewan gets a lot of attention for his off-field attention-seeking antics. Theyre largely responsible for the C-gap, which is the space on the outside of the tackle, but they might try and confuse the tackle by starting outside and making a move inside. In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. And for a nose, he was very durable. Ted Washington is another. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? It all depends on the game situation. Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - 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. Wilfork has served as the centerpiece of BillBelichick's hybrid defenses for years. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. Packers stalwart B.J. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. 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. Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. Its okay for a nose tackle to be smaller or bigger than the average nose tackle, so long as that player is good at taking up space and freeing up room for the rest of the defense to do what they do best. He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. It frequently took 2 or 3 linemen to block him, freeing up teammates to double-cover or blitz. He could also expand his pass rush repertoire and become more of a rush threat for a Miami defensive line which struggles to support the efforts of Cameron Wake. He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. Like we mentioned above, the 0-technique (and any other even-numbered technique) is asked to line up head-to-head with the offensive line. By Matthew Valdovinos. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. The way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. Pro Bowl: 6 times (1969, 1971, 19751978), Defensive Player of the Year: 1 time (1975). New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. 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. Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. See leaders through past seasons But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. This is where the defensive player lines up on the inside shoulder of the offensive guard. He was a three-time First-team All-Pro and three-time All-NFC/Pro Bowler and was part of those very good Eagles defenses from 1979-81. Like all 4-3 nose tackles, Pekoregularly operates in a shaded alignment over the center. 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. 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. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. 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. Pro Football Network analyst Matt Valdovinos ranks the top 25 offensive tackles in the NFL. Matt Toeainais the most unheralded member of the Chicago Bears tough defense. Take a look at how they stack up. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. He played a total of 179 and recorded 68.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles. Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. 1 Joe Greene 3,939 votes Charles Edward Greene (born September 5, 1946), better known as "Mean" Joe Greene, is a former American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football .more #1208 of 1,316 The Best Athletes Of All Time #11 of 25 Old Athletes You Didn't Realize Are Still Alive #1 of 146 Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. 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. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. 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 The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. 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. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. 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. 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 Ultimate Guide, What Is the Neutral Zone in Football? His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! You simply cant run a 3-4 defensive scheme without one. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. Joel Steed will come . WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. The Ultimate Guide, Volleyball Scoring 101: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Score. I like Davis' chances of having a productive rookie season behind Payne and the rest of this defensive line. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. Instead, they line up head-to-head with the offensive guards. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. Nose tackles dont receive a lot of glamour in modern football. 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). May 4, 2021 8:47 AM EDT. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. 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. Tom LaMarre. 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. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. And love seeing Smerlas getting recognized so high. A 4-technique lines up head-to-head with the tackle. A 3-4 scheme has one nose tackle in the middle, while a 4-3 defense has two defensive tackles in-between the defensive ends. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. Wilfork frequently drew. 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.