Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. Smears was an exceptional talent. He's a shade tackle that played all three downs and never needed to be replaced by a designated pass rusher like so many nose tackles, which accounts for his high sack total, in fact, no nose/shade tackle is even close and from film review, he was as good versus the run as any of them. Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. This allows the safeties to stay deep and maintain the integrity of Chicago's preferred Tampa-2 coverage scheme. 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. He got the do the grunt work for the guys that replaced John Randle and Warren Sapp. Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. But his place went to a division rival who doesn't benefit from quite as strong a supporting cast around him. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? What does it need to be a good nose tackle? An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. As mentioned above, the best feature of a nose tackle is that he sacrifices himself for the greater good of the team. Sugar Bear Hamilton began his career as a defensive end in 1973 but when the Patriots moved to a 3-4 defensive full-time in 1974 he was the middle guard. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. As with any list there is room for debate here and there but he's ranked about right.Let me guess, you are a Steeler's fan? With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. Washington has four first-round picks on its defensive line, and Jonathan Allen might have been the best in 2020. You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. You have entered an incorrect email address! Here are the top 25 offensive tackles for the 2021 NFL season. 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. Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. They dont always receive large contracts, they generally dont run up the stat sheet, and theyre most likely not going to be a fans favorite player on the field at least not like a quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. 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. Packers stalwart B.J. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. Joel Steed will come . Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. 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. It all depends on the game situation. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. Since nose tackles are largely responsible for clogging up the middle of the line of scrimmage, its almost required that they have a big body thats difficult to block. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. 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. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. 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. He was the straw that stirred the drink for the 2x Champion defenses for the Steelers in the 2000s. 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. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. 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. The quintessential 2-gap artist, Hampton is the cornerstone of the Steelers ferocious run defense. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. When you think of the Steelers' 3-4, you think of a couple names: it starts with Casey Hampton, the best true nose tackle the team has ever had. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. edit* Hampton was a beast don't know how I didn't think of him! 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. His tremendous upper body strength and relentless motor help Sopoaga to constantly move the pocket. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. 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. Though he played as a run stuffer in the later part of his career, he is mostly known for his role as a nose tackle. 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. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. 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. In his first four years he was a top backup for Ted Washington forming an amazing 1-2 punch. 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. Career stats of Henry Thomas: 6. Kyle Williams and Others Who Missed the Cut 1 of 11 A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. One name that might get overlooked among some of the best defensive tackles all-time is the former Baltimore Ravens great Haloti Ngata. 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. 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 made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. Likely 1988, too, but it was a crowded field in the 1980s for nose tackles. Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. 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 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. 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. But on a serious note I would say wilfork or Hampton, with big Ted slightly behind those guys. Ranking of the NFL's top ten greatest offensive tackles of all time. He did that while ascending as one of the greatest nose tackles of all time. His penetration causes havoc in the running game and makes hima credible danger to the quarterback. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. Soliai excels at drawing and occupying double teams. He used his size to his advantage and made the lives of the blockers impossible. [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. 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. 10. The Dolphins defensive anchor is steadily building a reputation as one of the most difficult to handle nose tackles in the game. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. He was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler (all when playing as 1/2 of the "Williams Wall" in Minnesota. By Matthew Valdovinos. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. 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. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle.