He did not focus on personal achievements, which is one of the reasons that his stats are not filled with rich numbers. 17. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. Then he was signed by the Buffalo Bills, but it was with Minnesota Vikings where he shined and reached his full potential. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time - NFL.com NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. His 10 kick blocks rank top 10 among all NFL players. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. NFL players are large in size. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 interior defensive linemen ahead of the Check. 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. That. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". Paul Soliai is one of the finest 2-gappers in the league. Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. 25 Best Undrafted NFL Players of All Time - AthlonSports.com 4-3 duo Terrence Knighton and Brandon Mebane do not appear on the list due to the same inconsistency. What does it need to be a good nose tackle? When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. Alexander Boris Johnsons Net Worth vs Jeremy Bernard Corbyns Net Worth: Who is richer? He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. 10. 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. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season However, we are going to keep it short. 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. Pro Football Network analyst Matt Valdovinos ranks the top 25 offensive tackles in the NFL. But on a serious note I would say wilfork or Hampton, with big Ted slightly behind those guys. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. 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 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. Best Defensive Tackles of All Time in the NFL - Ranker Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. This article features the ten best nose tackles of all time in the NFL who set examples of how to contribute from the back. Gary Dunn/NT - 1976-1987. 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. He ended his career with 510 tackles and 35.5 sacks and 57.5 run stuffs. He would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. Ted Washington always amazed me. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. Top 5 Canes: DTs - State of The U There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. Any coach that wants to find success with a 3-4 defensive scheme needs a dominant nose tackle. Defensive tackles rarely line up head-to-head with the center. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. 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. These Are Unarguably The 10 Greatest Defensive Tackles Of All Time 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. Wilfork frequently drew. Bullshitter. Email us at: Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. 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. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. Tier 2: Elite 2. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. Houston Texans starter Shaun Cody has adapted well to the rigours of Wade Phillips' 1-gap 3-4. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. 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. 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). 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. 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. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. This comment has been removed by the author. 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. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. Early on it was mostly the more experimental AFC teams, including the perfect Dolphins, and was part of why the AFC dominated the NFC in the 70's. 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. 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! We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. However, his play for the Titans down the stretch was . In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. A NT will either be head on v a centre or on the strongside A gap, either way a NTs job is to absorb a double team and not allow either of the OL trying to move him to get downfield. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. Tim Krumrie was a very active-type nose tackle, all hustle all the time. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. Art Shell, 1968-1982. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. As it turned out, Carter found his position and Alzado went on to be an excellent 3-4 end. May 18, 2022 9:45 am ET. After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. Casey Hampton Jr. (born September 3, 1977), nicknamed "Big Snack," is a former American football nose tackle who played twelve seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, The Best Miami Football Players of All Time, The Greatest Out of Shape Athletes in Sports. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. 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. Take a look at how they stack up. Nose Tackle: A Comprehensive Guide to the Football Position 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 . Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. He was a First-team All-Pro in 1986-88 and was Second-team in 1985 when he had 7 sacks (he had 6.5 in 1988) and was a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion. Dominant against the run, Wilfork commands attention from multiple blockers. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. 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. 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. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. Since the 5-technique features an odd number, that means the defensive lineman lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. Joel Steed will come . as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV), First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988). Top 25 defensive tackles heading into the 2021 NFL Season 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. He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. 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. 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. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. Ranking the NFL's 10 Best Nose Tackles - Bleacher Report Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. Ngata, from 2008-14 received post-season honors every season, three of those years he was a First-team All-Pro and the others Second-team or Pro Bowl or All-AFC, showing remarkable consistency. Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. What does that make the 5-technique? Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Louis Rams, 1976-1995 Voted to seven Pro Bowls First player to play 20 seasons for one team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, St. Louis Rams, 1997-2008; Chicago Bears, 2009 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Started 154 consecutive games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1967-1979 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Two-time Super Bowl champion Started in six NFC Championship Games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 1936-1946 Three-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Yanks, 1951; Cleveland Browns, 1954-1962 Voted to six Pro Bowls Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 2007-2016 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times Has started all 160 games he has played in the NFL, Green Bay Packers, 1956-1970; Dallas Cowboys, 1971 Started on eight NFL championship teams Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1968-1981; Los Angeles Rams, 1982 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times First O-lineman to be selected No.