He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. 1. This is because the 4-3 defensive scheme has two inside linebackers that can fill those two gaps if needed. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. Top 10 NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time Rankings 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. I realize he was mostly a part-time player but I thought Pete Kugler for the 49ers played alot of quality snaps. 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. 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. They just don't. His tremendous upper body strength and relentless motor help Sopoaga to constantly move the pocket. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. Nose tackle is an underappreciated and selfless position in American football. Top 5 Canes: DTs - State of The U 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. May 14, 2020. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. 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. 8. Wilfork has served as the centerpiece of BillBelichick's hybrid defenses for years. After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. It all depends on the game situation. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 interior defensive linemen ahead of the He was the straw that stirred the drink for the 2x Champion defenses for the Steelers in the 2000s. Theyre usually the largest player and go head-to-head with the opposing center. 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 played a total of 179 and recorded 68.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles. Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. His penetration causes havoc in the running game and makes hima credible danger to the quarterback. This list includes some nose tackles who operate in versions of a 4-3 frontthatrely on a powerful presence over the center. 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. A nose tackle has to occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. Email us at: They line up in front of the offensive center and are responsible for clogging up the two gaps on both sides of the center in-between the center and two offensive guards. 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. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season The number one requirement of a nose tackle is to take on and occupy blockers. Washington had played for several teams in his 17-year-long career. He would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. 2022 NFL interior defender rankings and tiers - PFF With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. 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. 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! Best Defensive Tackles of All Time in the NFL - Ranker 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. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. 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 . This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. 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 most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". 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. The third-year pro has the power, leverage and quickness to threaten the pocket on every play. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. Burt also helped the 49ers in their Super Bowl seasons as a rotation nose tackle. Maas was "Big, mean, strong, and nasty" according to Buchsbaum who also though Maas would have been an excellent 4-3 tackle. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. Upon arriving in Houston, the Oilers fortunes changed, going from the bottom of the AFC to among the better teams from 1975 through 1980. as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. Corey Williams of the Detroit Lions performs an important function for Gunther Cunningham's defense. The Top Five New York Jets Defensive Tackles of All-Time - The Jet Press Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. Sione Pouha has quietly emerged as one of the most effective run defenders in the game. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. With 91 games played during his career, made . Tier 2: Elite 2. A Complete Overview. But Garay's brute force makes him formidable at the point of attack. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Underrated Team: Nose Tackle We may reconsider in the future, but for now, we put him with the tackles. 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. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. 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. Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. 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. Hopefully, Whitworth and the rest of Los Angeles can have a bounce-back year as they will look to contend in a very competitive NFC West. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981) is a former American football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. 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. Two slots for the Pro Bowl and at times 25 of the teams in the NFL playing a 3-4 defense. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. A high-motor, hustle type. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. 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. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tackling the Defense - City of Champions 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. 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. Thomas was a solid defensive nose and could have been a terrific 3-technique. 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. Tom LaMarre. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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). This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with. 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. The 0-technique is generally played in the 3-4 defensive scheme, which is why its largely a nose tackle technique. All-Time Tackles Leaders. Jake Matthews, Atlanta Falcons. He spent his last six seasons as a backup/rotational nose for the Raiders, then the Jets. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. Patriots' All-Time Team: Defense - Sports Illustrated New England . 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. 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. 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. He is one of the "Jewel" of The News Titan. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. Press J to jump to the feed. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. 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. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. View Current Leaderboard. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. May 18, 2022 9:45 am ET. Wilfork frequently drew. Again, these are two completely different positions in the game of football and have entirely different roles in defensive schemes. They silently contribute and help their team to win. For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. Tim Krumrie was a very active-type nose tackle, all hustle all the time. 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. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. 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. One of the least glamorous positions in the NFL is Nose Tackle, but they are still a critical position in the NFL so who are the greats? 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." First-team All-Pro: 5 times (1980, 1981, 82, 83, 88). He also covers media and entertainment news on various online platforms. Raiders All-Time Top Five: Tackles - Sports Illustrated Las Vegas 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. 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. We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. 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. 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. 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. 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. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. It frequently took 2 or 3 linemen to block him, freeing up teammates to double-cover or blitz. It's tough to find true nose tackles. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. Also, played some DE. And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. His power and ferocity at the point of attack make him virtually impossible to handle one on one. 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. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. Sopoaga is such a powerful and active presence, that he demands a double team on almost every play. Such is life. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. 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. At 6-1 330 (350?) Just because a NT doesn't 2 gap doesn't mean he's not a true NT, that's all down to preference of scheme by the coach. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). 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). All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. 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. Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. Domato Peko is the fulcrum of the Cincinnati Bengals aggressive 4-3 defense. 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. Till 1949, The Browns were playing in the AAFC, and then the team joined the NFL. He won the super bowl once and was named all-pro once in 2001. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. His 10 kick blocks rank top 10 among all NFL players. With that said, the nose tackle position is highly respected by their teammates and is most likely going to be the defensive coordinators favorite player when things are going well. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. Kyle Williams and Others Who Missed the Cut 1 of 11 A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive. 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 last time Donald recorded a PFF run-defense or pass-rush grade lower than 85.0 was during his rookie season in 2014. The NFL's top 11 interior defensive linemen - Touchdown Wire