Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. 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. Washington had played for several teams in his 17-year-long career. His 10 kick blocks rank top 10 among all NFL players. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! Take a look at how they stack. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. 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. 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. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. So he ended up playing for three-techniques likeJovan Haye and Tony Williams, though he got to play some three-technique himself for a few years in the early 2000s when Fred Robbins manned the nose. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. A 5-2 defensive scheme is extremely effective against the run, especially the inside run. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The 6"1' 325 pound Hamptonis an immovable force in the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. Patriots all-time 53-man roster: 'Dynasty Era' players dominate, but They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. Instead of going head-to-head with the center, theyll line up on the outside shoulder of the center, either on the left or right. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. 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. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. . But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. View Current Leaderboard. Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Smears was a very durable nose tackle and had played 149 consecutive matches. His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. It's tough to find true nose tackles. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Defensive tackles rarely line up head-to-head with the center. Other than Polamalu there wasnt a better player on those defenses. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. 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). His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. Also, played some DE. Its generally reserved for the defensive end and theyre responsible for both the B-gap (in-between the guard and tackle) and C-gap (on the outside of the tackle). Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. Wilfork frequently drew. 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. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. 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. Some NFL players are just physical freaks in terms of taking a pounding and lasting and lasting. Fat Pat Williams is top 10 material bias aside. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. Hank Thomas is one of the more underrated players in recent NFL history in our view, right up there with Eugene Robinson, LeRoy Butler, Larry Brooks, and others. 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. Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. The best decision that Rob Ryan made when he took over stewardship of the Cowboys defense, was to leave Ratliff over the center, and defy the calls to move him to end. Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. A Complete Overview. Raiders All-Time Top Five: Tackles - Sports Illustrated Las Vegas Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) - Pro-Football-Reference.com Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. He used his size to his advantage and made the lives of the blockers impossible. Email us at: This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). The 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare. 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. However, we are going to keep it short. The Pittsburgh run defense has been at or near the top of the league standings throughout Hamton's decade long tenure over the center. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. edit* Hampton was a beast don't know how I didn't think of him! Ted Washington is another. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. From his 121 games, he recorded 121 sacks. Tier 2: Elite 2. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL defensive tackles of all time NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. 18 in NFL Network's Top 100 Players list in 2017 Has started all 105 career games played, Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers, 1960-1969; Oakland Raiders 1971 Voted to eight AFL all-star games, First Team All-AFL eight times Appeared in five AFL title games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1986-1992; Denver Broncos, 1993-1997 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Made 169 consecutive starts Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995-2001 Voted to five Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Drafted with the Jaguars' first-ever pick, New Orleans Saints, 1993-2001; Kansas City Chiefs 2002-2005 Voted to 11 Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One of 13 players to be named to multiple all-decades team (90s and 2000s) Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1953-1965 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times One-time NFL champion Named NFL's Lineman of Year, 1956 Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Philadelphia Eagles, 1964-1968; Los Angeles Rams, 1969-1970; Oakland Raiders, 1971-1973 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro five times Selected to All-Decade Team of the 1960s Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Los Angeles/St. Who are the Top 10 greatest Nose Tackles of all time? : r/nfl - reddit We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. 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. 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. 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 had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". Pro Bowl: 6 times (1969, 1971, 19751978), Defensive Player of the Year: 1 time (1975). Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. This list includes some nose tackles who operate in versions of a 4-3 frontthatrely on a powerful presence over the center. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He would also play left end on occasion, usually when Lyle Alzado was taking a series off or if he missed a game or two. "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. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. That. 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. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? The most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. Then in 1986-87 he was still the starter but played less in passing situations and recorded just one sack in 1987 and five in 1988. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. John Randle Awards: 7 Pro Bowler, 6 All-Pro, 1997 NFL sacks leader, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Championships: None 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. We also mentioned how the 1-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the center and the 3-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. If you can do that, then your coach will always have a spot for you on the defense. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time - NFL.com Smears also played and started the most number of matches as a nose tackle. He was All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro once and an All-AFC pick twice and voted to four Pro Bowls. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. 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. He did not focus on personal achievements, which is one of the reasons that his stats are not filled with rich numbers. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season 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. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. 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 way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. 2022 NFL interior defender rankings and tiers - PFF The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and recorded 32.5 sacks. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. 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. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". NY Jets: Selecting the greatest all-time defensive line - The Jet Press Pro Football Journal: The Best Nose Tackles in NFL History - Blogger 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. He was the straw that stirred the drink for the 2x Champion defenses for the Steelers in the 2000s. 25. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! With a player like Raji over the center, Dom Capers can utilise every page of his zone blitz playbook.

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