Obviously, times have changed since 1963, but Buck's legacy lives on as one of the greatest defensive tackles ever. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. 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 ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. 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. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. 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. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. But on a serious note I would say wilfork or Hampton, with big Ted slightly behind those guys. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. 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. Hell, I bet JJ Watt would be the best nose in the league if they lined him up there. 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.). [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. 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. A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? You have entered an incorrect email address! The way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. They rank up there with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Red Sox, and all the other teams to win several championships since the turn of the century. Well.it's more that it goes through cycles. But Ball did it. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Washington has four first-round picks on its defensive line, and Jonathan Allen might have been the best in 2020. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. Cofield has not spent enough time anchoring a 3-4 and is plagued by inconsistency. Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. There have been many legendary nose tackles in the NFL and NCAA, and you'll find all of them on this list below. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. They need to have a big body, but they also need to have some speed and strength to make them quicker and stronger than a center and offensive guard. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. 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. He. 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List. He was solid in all aspects and could have been a terrific 3-technique if asked. With a little more experience at the position, Sopoaga could beexpected to top a similar list in the near future. A 5-2 defensive scheme is extremely effective against the run, especially the inside run. May 14, 2020. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. They silently contribute and help their team to win. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. Such is life. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. . This comment has been removed by the author. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Also, played some DE. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. Super Bowl champion: 2 times (XXXIX, XLIX). The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. It all depends on the game situation. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since the 5-technique features an odd number, that means the defensive lineman lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. View Current Leaderboard. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. 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 one season he filled in for an injured 3-tech (Keith Millard) he did will, recording 8.5 sacks and 7.5 stuffs and 82 tackles. They try to take up as much space as possible down the middle of the line of scrimmage, which often means taking on the center and one or both of the offensive guards. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. I created this website to share my passion with all of you. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. 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. 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. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. John Banaszak: Born in rival city Cleveland, Ohio, John Banaszak played in Pittsburgh's final three Super Bowls of the 1970s starting in Super Bowls XIII and XIV. Michael Carter Career Highlights: Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV) First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988) Pro Bowl: 3 times (1985, 1987, 1988) The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a rusher. They just don't. 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. All-Time Tackles Leaders. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. 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. Ted Washington always amazed me. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. 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 All-Pro in 1990 then made a Pro Bowl in 1995. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. Thomas was a solid defensive nose and could have been a terrific 3-technique. He had a high of 85 tackles in 1978, 68 in 1979, and 67 in 1980. 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. See leaders through past seasons He was a Dr. Z favorite as well. He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). 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. Tier 2: Elite 2. 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. Of course, thats not the case with any odd-numbered technique. As they continue to learn the What Is a Secondary in Football? Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights " The Freak" Fletcher Cox Team: Philadelphia Eagles They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. His penetration causes havoc in the running game and makes hima credible danger to the quarterback. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. If you can do that, then your coach will always have a spot for you on the defense. Said Buchsbaum, "As good as Ball is, he'd be better if he controlled his weight. Bullshitter. 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 (. 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. 1 overall Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seattle Seahawks, 1997-2009 Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Bengals, 1980-1992 Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro nine times Started 184 of 185 NFL games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 1996-2007 One-time NFL champion Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Started 176 of 177 NFL games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1958, 1959 Two-time NFL champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro eight times (five times at OT, three times at OG) Called by Woody Hayes "the best offensive lineman I've ever coached." 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. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. Like all 4-3 nose tackles, Pekoregularly operates in a shaded alignment over the center. CoachingKidz.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position.