Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). Plus he played the position until 39 years old; amazing longevity for a position where you're fighting off double teams from other 300 lb men your whole career. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? Kyle Williams and Others Who Missed the Cut 1 of 11 A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Raji possesses a more diverse and dynamic skill set than Pouha. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. Johnson played just eight years but they were mostly good some, some even very great. profootballjournal@gmail.com. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. 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 loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. Here are the top 25 offensive tackles for the 2021 NFL season. 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? Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. Besides, he had been a part of the 49ers three super bowl winning teams and a three-time first-team all-pro and three-time pro bowler. It's tough to find true nose tackles. We may reconsider in the future, but for now, we put him with the tackles. It used to take three blockers to stop him. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. Charlie Johnson had a short career in the NFL, but he still managed to cement his preposition among the best nose tackles of all time in NFL history. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. 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. 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. Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. Pouha is blessed with tremendous strengthand possesses deceptive speed when working down the line. Akiem Hicks is one of the best run defenders in the NFL today. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". Press J to jump to the feed. Ranking of the NFL's top ten greatest offensive tackles of all time. he was a good player, but didn't play enough to really fit in. "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. Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. 2022 The News Titan - All Rights Reserved, The 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL, The 10 Best Defensive Ends of All Time in the NFL. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. The Best New York Jets of All Time Fred Smerlas Tackle and Nose tackle from Waltham, Massachusetts Age: 65 Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is a former American football defensive lineman who was a 5-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, .more 280 Alameda Ta'amu Paul Soliai is one of the finest 2-gappers in the league. Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Defensive techniques serve two major purposes they tell the defenders where they need to line up for that specific play and they tell the defenders what their role is when on the field. The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974. 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. However, we are going to keep it short. This allows the defensive ends to cover the outside of the offensive line and frees up the middle linebackers to find the quarterback or running back. For the 3-technique, the defensive player is asked to line up on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. 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. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. The Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? Taylor Lewan gets a lot of attention for his off-field attention-seeking antics. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. I think Wilfork has to be up there too but Wilfork has been used in more than 1 tech for a lot of his time on the Pats but that just shows what a good skill set he had. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. Enjoy! This is because the nose tackle position is one of the most physically demanding positions in all of football. For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. 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 . At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? The last time Donald recorded a PFF run-defense or pass-rush grade lower than 85.0 was during his rookie season in 2014. 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. Hell, I bet JJ Watt would be the best nose in the league if they lined him up there. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. 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. The third-year pro has the power, leverage and quickness to threaten the pocket on every play. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. With that in mind, he shared some final thoughts on his playing career. 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). 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. Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. 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. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. Theyre usually the largest player and go head-to-head with the opposing center. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. Al Amin Sagor is simply a movie freak who is passionate about writing entertainment content. 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. All-Time Tackles Leaders. But the tenacious and resourcefulfourth-year prois a significant member of the Bears defensive line rotation. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. But Garay's brute force makes him formidable at the point of attack. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. 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. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. He has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. Joel Steed will come . Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. He got the do the grunt work for the guys that replaced John Randle and Warren Sapp. An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. This is because four linebackers can either drop back and guard the middle of the field or play at the line of scrimmage against the run. 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. This is about where we'd put Klecko if we had put him on this list, having been a guy who truly played three positions about equally in terms of years, we chose to put him with the 4-3 tackles even though his best two single seasons were as a 4-3 end and a 3-4 nose. Danny Jaillet. 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. Packers stalwart B.J. 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. LOL, really curious where you got the film to do an in-depthanalysis of Les Bingaman. Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots. A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Dominant against the run, Wilfork commands attention from multiple blockers. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. 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. After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. . 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. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. And love seeing Smerlas getting recognized so high. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. 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. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. 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. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. 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. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. 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. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". 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. They silently contribute and help their team to win.