Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! 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). Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. They try to take up as much space as possible down the middle of the line of scrimmage, which often means taking on the center and one or both of the offensive guards. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. List of the most famous (American) football nose tackles in the history of the sport, listed by popularity with photos of the players when available. 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. One of his best assets is his quick first step, giving him an excellent takeoff at the snap. An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. This allows the defensive ends to cover the outside of the offensive line and frees up the middle linebackers to find the quarterback or running back. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. Such is life. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. 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. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. 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. 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. 4-3 duo Terrence Knighton and Brandon Mebane do not appear on the list due to the same inconsistency. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. First-team All-Pro: 5 times (1980, 1981, 82, 83, 88). 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. 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. Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. 8. 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. Patriots' Vince Wilfork thinks he is the best nost tackle of all time He used his size to his advantage and made the lives of the blockers impossible. Jump Around This Article Click to show. Instead, they line up head-to-head with the offensive guards. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. Thomas was a solid defensive nose and could have been a terrific 3-technique. 13. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. 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. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. Burt also helped the 49ers in their Super Bowl seasons as a rotation nose tackle. Raji possesses a more diverse and dynamic skill set than Pouha. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Defensive tackles rarely line up head-to-head with the center. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. But was a Pro Bowler in 1986, but was certainly worthy of selection in 1984 and 1985 as well. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. 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. 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 . He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. 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. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! The most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. 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. Wilfork played more than 100 games for the Patriots and is considered the best player in the nose tackle position for the Patriots. Super Bowl champion: 2 times (XXXIX, XLIX). What does it need to be a good nose tackle? And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. And love seeing Smerlas getting recognized so high. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? Another big man, around 330-350 (390?) 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. He was the straw that stirred the drink for the 2x Champion defenses for the Steelers in the 2000s. Nose Tackle: A Comprehensive Guide to the Football Position Dominant against the run, Wilfork commands attention from multiple blockers. A 4-technique lines up head-to-head with the tackle. Take a look at how they stack up. Is The NBA Star Tyrese Maxey & Lavender Briggs In A Christian Bale Lost Five Roles to Leonardo DiCaprio in the 90s, The Legend of Maula Jatt: A Pakistani Movie Breaking Records. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1987 and a consensus First-team All-Pro in 1988 and was picked to Paul Zimmerman's (. He's likely best known for a gruesome broken leg in the Super Bowl versus the 49ers but he came back from that in 1989 and had a couple solid seasons after that. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. "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. They silently contribute and help their team to win. I created this website to share my passion with all of you. 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. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. Maas was "Big, mean, strong, and nasty" according to Buchsbaum who also though Maas would have been an excellent 4-3 tackle. An excellent run defender, Soliai needs to refine his technique in order to make more plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Pittsburgh run defense has been at or near the top of the league standings throughout Hamton's decade long tenure over the center. He did not focus on personal achievements, which is one of the reasons that his stats are not filled with rich numbers. 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. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games. 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. He got the do the grunt work for the guys that replaced John Randle and Warren Sapp. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. 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. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? 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. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. 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. ", 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'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 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. 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 more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. 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. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. His 61 tackles for loss or no gain against the run over that span rank third among defensive linemen, behind only Brandon Graham and Jadeveon Clowney. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! WATCH: Vince Wilfork just dropped the best retirement video ever Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. 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. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. His penetration causes havoc in the running game and makes hima credible danger to the quarterback. 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. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. Theyre usually the largest player and go head-to-head with the opposing center. His 10 kick blocks rank top 10 among all NFL players. Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. 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. I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. 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. Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). 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. His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. 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. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. NY Jets: Selecting the greatest all-time defensive line - The Jet Press