Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. Theyre usually the largest player and go head-to-head with the opposing center. Smears was a very durable nose tackle and had played 149 consecutive matches. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. . An excellent run defender, Soliai needs to refine his technique in order to make more plays behind the line of scrimmage. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. A 5-2 defensive scheme is extremely effective against the run, especially the inside run. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a rusher. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. The 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida, The 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring. 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. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. 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. 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. 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. 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. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. Some of these men are considered to be the best nose tackles to ever play the game, and if you're looking for a specific football player you can look for them by using the "search" function on this list. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. While Ngata fell to the shadows behind the likes of Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, the former Oregon Ducks star was a force to be reckoned . In his first four years he was a top backup for Ted Washington forming an amazing 1-2 punch. The 6"1' 325 pound Hamptonis an immovable force in the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. Defensive tackles rarely line up head-to-head with the center. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. He won the super bowl once and was named all-pro once in 2001. 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. 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 . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. This is different from the 0-technique, which is responsible for the two gaps in between the center and both offensive guards. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. He can sometimes be a little inconsistent against the run and doesn't always bring the same fiery determination to disrupting the ground game. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. Johnson played just eight years but they were mostly good some, some even very great. You have entered an incorrect email address! Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! This is different from defensive ends, which are usually taller (around 65) and slimmer (285 pounds) so they can keep up with offensive tackles. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. This comment has been removed by the author. Enjoy! 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. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. And love seeing Smerlas getting recognized so high. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. As mentioned above, the best feature of a nose tackle is that he sacrifices himself for the greater good of the team. Washington has four first-round picks on its defensive line, and Jonathan Allen might have been the best in 2020. I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. Career stats of Henry Thomas: 6. Check. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. 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. The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. Cofield has not spent enough time anchoring a 3-4 and is plagued by inconsistency. He was solid in all aspects and could have been a terrific 3-technique if asked. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle. Washington had played for several teams in his 17-year-long career. Ranking of the NFL's top ten greatest offensive tackles of all time. He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. Again, these are two completely different positions in the game of football and have entirely different roles in defensive schemes. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. 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. Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. Other than Polamalu there wasnt a better player on those defenses. They line up with a defensive end on both sides of them, but theres a pretty large gap between them since the offensive line is made up of five players. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. 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 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. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. 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. They just don't. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. Also, played some DE. A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive linchpin Kyle Williams didn't make the list. So far, weve mentioned how the 0-technique lines up head-to-head with the center, and the 2-technique lines up head-to-head with the offensive guard. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. 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. Since the 5-technique features an odd number, that means the defensive lineman lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. 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. May 14, 2020. He did that while ascending as one of the greatest nose tackles of all time. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. He played college football for the University. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. 10. When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. See leaders through past seasons Nose tackle is an underappreciated and selfless position in American football. 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. He ended his career with 510 tackles and 35.5 sacks and 57.5 run stuffs. With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? Email us at: It used to take three blockers to stop him. 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. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. 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. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. 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. . 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. 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. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. 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. 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. 25. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and recorded 32.5 sacks. With a little more experience at the position, Sopoaga could beexpected to top a similar list in the near future. With Hampton occluding the middle of an opposing blocking scheme, ball carriers are consistentlyforced sideways. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. 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 made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with.
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