Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . 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. It all depends on the game situation. Akiem Hicks is one of the best run defenders in the NFL today. Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. 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. 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. As mentioned above, the best feature of a nose tackle is that he sacrifices himself for the greater good of the team. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. His 10 kick blocks rank top 10 among all NFL players. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! It frequently took 2 or 3 linemen to block him, freeing up teammates to double-cover or blitz. Top 10 Defensive Tackles in NFL 2021 Rankings From his 121 games, he recorded 121 sacks. 15 Greatest New England Patriots of All Time - Sportscasting Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). In his first four years he was a top backup for Ted Washington forming an amazing 1-2 punch. Top 10 NFL Strong Safeties of All Time Rankings 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. 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. 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. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. He got the do the grunt work for the guys that replaced John Randle and Warren Sapp. Obviously, times have changed since 1963, but Buck's legacy lives on as one of the greatest defensive tackles ever. 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? See leaders through past seasons Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). You can guess from his career highlights how much we could write about him. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. 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. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. But his place went to a division rival who doesn't benefit from quite as strong a supporting cast around him. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. 25. Washington has four first-round picks on its defensive line, and Jonathan Allen might have been the best in 2020. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. 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. This article features the ten best nose tackles of all time in the NFL who set examples of how to contribute from the back. Smerlas was among the first bigger nose tackles, weighing about 290 (though often listed as less) and he also was among the first to crowd the center. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. And for a nose, he was very durable. 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. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981) is a former American football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. But Ball did it. They silently contribute and help their team to win. The 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida, The 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. 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. 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. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. The Ultimate Guide, What Is the Neutral Zone in Football? He has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. 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. 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. Well.it's more that it goes through cycles. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. 2022 NFL interior defender rankings and tiers - PFF Bills, in his career, became a total of a three-time pro bowler and a four times all-pro. 13. This comment has been removed by the author. 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. But the tenacious and resourcefulfourth-year prois a significant member of the Bears defensive line rotation. Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. He spent his last six seasons as a backup/rotational nose for the Raiders, then the Jets. Burt also helped the 49ers in their Super Bowl seasons as a rotation nose tackle. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! When you line up in a 3-technique, youre only responsible for the gap between the offensive guard and offensive tackle also known as the B-gap. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. This is different from defensive ends, which are usually taller (around 65) and slimmer (285 pounds) so they can keep up with offensive tackles. He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. A 5-2 defensive scheme is extremely effective against the run, especially the inside run. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. Interior Defender Rankings: The 32 best DIs entering the 2021 NFL - PFF The 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. 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 I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. You have to keep in mind that offensive linemen are big players and that the nose tackle is almost always double-teamed. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. 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. A Complete Overview. But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. 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. His penetration causes havoc in the running game and makes hima credible danger to the quarterback. 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. He is one of the "Jewel" of The News Titan. 25 Best Undrafted NFL Players of All Time - AthlonSports.com That fact that Bob Dee, who has No. Bill Pickel in an interesting player. Wilfork frequently drew. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. Here are the top 25 offensive tackles for the 2021 NFL season. 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. 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 can sometimes be a little inconsistent against the run and doesn't always bring the same fiery determination to disrupting the ground game. all the guys ahead of him were better than he was. 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 . A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive linchpin Kyle Williams didn't make the list. 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. 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. 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. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. Peko plays with intensity, but his technique is smart and precise. It reached peak popularity with the Bill Parcells style in the mid 80's. The players Hey there! Ranking the NFL's 10 Best Nose Tackles - Bleacher Report Tier 2: Elite 2. Top 10 Defensive Tackles in NFL 2022 Rankings He ended his career with just 20.5 sacks but the main reason he was on the field was to stop the run and that he did, evidenced by his 90 run stuffs in his career (five times he had 9.0 or more). Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? You have entered an incorrect email address! His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. 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. 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. + Indicates Hall of Famer. Instead, they line up head-to-head with the offensive guards. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. He was All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro once and an All-AFC pick twice and voted to four Pro Bowls. He would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. This is where the defensive player lines up head-to-head with the offensive tackle. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. The NFL's Top Ten Greatest Offensive Tackles of all Time 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. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. 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 . 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. 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. But on a serious note I would say wilfork or Hampton, with big Ted slightly behind those guys. They just don't. He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. 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. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. Houston Texans starter Shaun Cody has adapted well to the rigours of Wade Phillips' 1-gap 3-4. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. From Culp to Jerry Ball, everyone featured in this article has played major roles in their teams success, which established them as the best defensive nose tackles of all time in the NFL. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. Theyre largely responsible for the C-gap, which is the space on the outside of the tackle, but they might try and confuse the tackle by starting outside and making a move inside. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games.