However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. 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. 25 Best Undrafted NFL Players of All Time - AthlonSports.com And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. You have entered an incorrect email address! His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. Also, played some DE. Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. Such is life. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. 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. Pouha has gone from a deputy to the oft-injured Kris Jenkins, to becoming a significant force at the heart of the Jets opportunistic defense. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. He played a total of 200 games and recorded 20.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. 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. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. Take a look at how they. The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. 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. This is where the defensive player lines up head-to-head with the offensive tackle. 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. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. We may reconsider in the future, but for now, we put him with the tackles. Enjoy! But he did the dirty work of a shade tackle in a 4-3 under defense. But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. Best Defensive Tackles of All Time in the NFL - Ranker 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He's pure run-stopper, he's one of the few players to actually go to a Pro Bowl in a season when he had zero sacks. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. 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. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. 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. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. He had unusually large legs and Dolphin locker room lore includes the fact that even the large socks would not fully cover Baumhower's calves when stretched all the way to the top. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. 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. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. Again, these are two completely different positions in the game of football and have entirely different roles in defensive schemes. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. While most nose tackles dont receive a lot of praise from the fans (largely due to their lack of stats), some nose tackles throughout history were so good that you had to recognize them no matter what. He benefits from a strong and talented supporting cast, but everything the Steelers are able to do on defense, is determined by the play of Hampton. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". The Oilers were next who committed to it after getting Curley Culp at mid-season, though they used it some in previous games and years. 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! Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. 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. 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. However, we are going to keep it short. Smears was an exceptional talent. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. 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. Nose Tackle: A Comprehensive Guide to the Football Position 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. 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. A tall nose, like Bob Baumhower, at 6-5 and began his career as an inside designated pass rusher. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. 8. A high-motor, hustle type. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. 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. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time - NFL.com 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. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. The top 25 NFL offensive tackles heading into the 2020 season Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. 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 was a Second-team All-Pro in 1987 and a consensus First-team All-Pro in 1988 and was picked to Paul Zimmerman's (. This type of scheme consists of five players on the defensive line a nose guard, two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. Bullshitter. 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. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. he was a good player, but didn't play enough to really fit in. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. LOL, really curious where you got the film to do an in-depthanalysis of Les Bingaman. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. 13. 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 Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. 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. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. 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. With that said, the nose tackle position is highly respected by their teammates and is most likely going to be the defensive coordinators favorite player when things are going well. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. Top 25 defensive tackles heading into the 2021 NFL Season 10. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. 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. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. What does that make the 5-technique? Plenty of other factors were there, but the move to the 3-4 defense and Culp's play in it were certainly right up there in the reasons why there was a turnaround (they were 3-31 in the previous 34 games prior to Culp's arrival.). 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. Patriots' Vince Wilfork thinks he is the best nost tackle of all time Likely 1988, too, but it was a crowded field in the 1980s for nose tackles. Career stats: 106 games started, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 150 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler. The same argument applies to Barry Cofield of the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the University. 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. He has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. The 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL Pouha is the basis for the Jets swarming rush defense and his stout performances in the middle of the line ensures the schematic flexibilitycharacteristicof Rex Ryan's multiple system. Much like you have the 2i-technique, which lines up on the inside of the offensive guard, you also have the 4i-technique, which lines up on the inside of the offensive tackle opposed to the outside of the tackle. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. One of his best assets is his quick first step, giving him an excellent takeoff at the snap. His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! The Top Five New York Jets Defensive Tackles of All-Time - The Jet Press Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Undrafted Team: Nose Tackle These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. 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. 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.