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. 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 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! Again, these are two completely different positions in the game of football and have entirely different roles in defensive schemes. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Soliai excels at drawing and occupying double teams. Smears was an exceptional talent. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs. To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. See leaders through past seasons 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. 11. "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. 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. 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. Besides, he had been a part of the 49ers three super bowl winning teams and a three-time first-team all-pro and three-time pro bowler. as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. 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. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. Smears was a very durable nose tackle and had played 149 consecutive matches. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. He ended his career with 32.5 sacks and 75.5 run stuffs. Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. His power and ferocity at the point of attack make him virtually impossible to handle one on one. This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . Excellent article, John T! One of his best assets is his quick first step, giving him an excellent takeoff at the snap. 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). The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. You have entered an incorrect email address! Gary Dunn/NT - 1976-1987. For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. Washington has four first-round picks on its defensive line, and Jonathan Allen might have been the best in 2020. 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. Nose tackle is an underappreciated and selfless position in American football. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with. 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. Al Amin Sagor is simply a movie freak who is passionate about writing entertainment content. He was drafted into the NFL in 1987 and remained active till 2000. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. What does that make the 5-technique? Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. This article features the ten best nose tackles of all time in the NFL who set examples of how to contribute from the back. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. 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. 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. He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. It frequently took 2 or 3 linemen to block him, freeing up teammates to double-cover or blitz. 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. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. Ted Washington is another. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. His tremendous upper body strength and relentless motor help Sopoaga to constantly move the pocket. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. He did play some 3-4 end in his career and was always effective as a defensive tackle in the Chiefs 4-man lines when they went to nickel, he would routinely turn in 5, 6, or 7-sack seasons. During his stay in Kansas, Culp shined as a defensive nose tackle. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 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 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). But Ball did it. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. He was a true 2 gap run stuffer. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. Some NFL players are just physical freaks in terms of taking a pounding and lasting and lasting. The quintessential 2-gap artist, Hampton is the cornerstone of the Steelers ferocious run defense. As mentioned above, the best feature of a nose tackle is that he sacrifices himself for the greater good of the team. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. If its a 2-technique, the player must line up head-to-head with the guard. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). 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). This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. You simply cant run a 3-4 defensive scheme without one. 25. All-Time Tackles Leaders. Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. profootballjournal@gmail.com. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. This site is owned and operated by Coaching Kidz. This player is mostly responsible for filling the two gaps on either side of the center in-between each guard also known as the A-gaps. He spent his last six seasons as a backup/rotational nose for the Raiders, then the Jets. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Upon arriving in Houston, the Oilers fortunes changed, going from the bottom of the AFC to among the better teams from 1975 through 1980. Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He did that while ascending as one of the greatest nose tackles of all time. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? He recorded 137.5 sacks over his 14-year career and was. And for a nose, he was very durable. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. The Dolphins defensive anchor is steadily building a reputation as one of the most difficult to handle nose tackles in the game. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. The players Hey there! I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. Thomas played in 213 games, started 199 of them, totaled 864 tackles including 93.5 sacks and 95.0 run stuffs, totals that rival players like Warren Sapp and Bryant Young, two of the 1990s All-Decade selections. 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. A tall nose, like Bob Baumhower, at 6-5 and began his career as an inside designated pass rusher. 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. He is one of the "Jewel" of The News Titan. He was solid in all aspects and could have been a terrific 3-technique if asked. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. It is no coincidence that with Peko disrupting the line of scrimmage, youngsters Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunalp have been able to blossom into dangerous pass rushers. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. Press J to jump to the feed. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. ", 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. 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. 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. He also covers media and entertainment news on various online platforms. Tier 2: Elite 2. So it's harder to peg players. A high-motor, hustle type. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle. Said Buchsbaum, "As good as Ball is, he'd be better if he controlled his weight. Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. 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. 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. The most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. 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. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. The Ultimate Guide, What Is the Neutral Zone 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. They need to have a big body, but they also need to have some speed and strength to make them quicker and stronger than a center and offensive guard. Chicago Bears, 1985-1993; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993-1994 One-time Super Bowl champion Recorded 29.5 sacks in 138 NFL games, Oakland Raiders, 1996; New Orleans Saints, 1997-2001; Dallas Cowboys, 2002-2005; St. Louis Rams 2006-2008 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 2000s All-Decade Team 2000 NFC Defensive Player of the Year 2000 NFL sacks leader (17.5) Finished career with 433 tackles, 83.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles, San Francisco 49ers, 1994-2007 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Had 89.5 sacks and 618 tackles in 208 career games, Cleveland Browns, 1946-1953 One-time NFL champion Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1940s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 2006-2014; Detroit Lions, 2015-Present One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Started 160 of 162 NFL games Has 29.5 sacks, 491 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in 11 NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens, 2013-Present One of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in NFL today Became highest-paid nose tackle in the NFl by signing a five-year, $54 million deal with Ravens in March Has 4.5 sacks and 101 tackles in 55 career games, Cincinnati Bengals, 1983-1994 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time Recorded 34.5 sacks and 1,017 career tackles Missed only four games (out of 192) in 12-year career, Detroit Lions, 1958-1970 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1960s All-Decade Team Missed only one game in 12-year career, New England Patriots, 2001-2008; Oakland Raiders, 2009-2012 Three-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Logged 57.5 sacks and recorded 496 career tackles, Minnesota Vikings, 1985-1990; Green Bay Packers, 1992; Seattle Seahawks, 1992; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1989 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Holds NFL record for most sacks by DT in single season (18) Three double-digit sack seasons Recorded 58 career sacks, Houston Oilers, 1985-1995; Dallas Cowboys, 1996 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL-record three fumble recoveries in single game Recorded 76.5 sacks, 861 tackles, and 19 forced fumbles in 12-year NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1950-1963 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls (1957 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro once NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team Recorded 23 fumble recoveries and at time of retirement was the all-time career safeties leader with three Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Francisco 49ers, 1950-1963 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team 49ers' first-ever draft pick Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1950; New York Yanks, 1951; Dallas Texans, 1952; Baltimore Colts, 1953-1961 Two-time NFLchampion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 1957-1958; Green Bay Packers, 1959-1969 Two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls (1961 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro five times 21 career fumble recoveries Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears 1979-1990 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Made All-Pro as both defensive end and defensive tackle Officially credited with 57 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Jets, 1977-1987; Indianapolis Colts, 1989 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1981 AFC Player of the Year Started 145 of 155 NFL games 24 career sacks, 9 fumble recoveries in 10 NFL seasons Anthony Munoz called Klecko "the strongest guy I ever faced. For the first half of his career, he played all downs, playing left tackle in the Bills sub defensive packages, something not all nose tackles could do. I realize he was mostly a part-time player but I thought Pete Kugler for the 49ers played alot of quality snaps. It's tough to find true nose tackles. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Paul Soliai is one of the finest 2-gappers in the league. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. 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. Email us at: Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. This comment has been removed by the author. When on form, Antonio Garay is capable of regularly collapsing the pocket. Williams would rush into the offense and occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. 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. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. But was a Pro Bowler in 1986, but was certainly worthy of selection in 1984 and 1985 as well. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! If youre a football player, you must understand what a defensive technique is. NFL, one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world, is the gathering place of all American football legends. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different.