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. 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. Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. See leaders through past seasons The Ultimate Guide, What Is the Neutral Zone in Football? started his career with the Detroit Lions in 1987 and later played in three more teams, including Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. 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. The same argument applies to Barry Cofield of the Washington Redskins. From his 121 games, he recorded 121 sacks. However, his play for the Titans down the stretch was . He did that while ascending as one of the greatest nose tackles of all time. However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. 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 was a 'move' guy, not a power guy and he could rush the passer very well in addition to playing his two-gap responsibilities. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. 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. Take a look at how they stack up. A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? 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. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. Wilfork is widely considered one of the best nose tackles to play the game of football. Washington has four first-round picks on its defensive line, and Jonathan Allen might have been the best in 2020. This is different from the 0-technique, which is responsible for the two gaps in between the center and both offensive guards. Concerns about his every down durability have persisted in recent seasons, but Ratliff is still the best pure athlete to play nose tackle in the NFL. Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. All-Time Tackles Leaders. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. Ted Washington was another great nose tackle, dude was massive! With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. Ted Washington always amazed me. The Pittsburgh run defense has been at or near the top of the league standings throughout Hamton's decade long tenure over the center. NFL players are large in size. 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 . He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. Klecko was a fan favorite and defensive stand out for the Jets through the 1980's. Arriving at the Jets after playing his college ball at Temple University, Klecko quickly had an impact on the . His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! This list includes some nose tackles who operate in versions of a 4-3 frontthatrely on a powerful presence over the center. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. As they continue to learn the What Is a Secondary in Football? By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. Admittedly, in this period, it was less characterized by the dominating nose tackle and more by the fearsome outside linebacker, such as Lawrence Taylor. Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. Ted Washington's the best I've seen play. WhenToeaina is over the center, the Bears run defense is more stout. Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. We also mentioned how the 1-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the center and the 3-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive guard. 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. Jake Matthews, Atlanta Falcons. Washington had played for several teams in his 17-year-long career. But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. 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. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. one bid wonders has more information on college football bowl game. 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. 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 tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. 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. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games. 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. Here is a ranking ofthe 10 best nose tackles in the game today. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. 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! 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. 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. 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. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. 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." From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Obviously, its popularity has recovered quite a bit to now when almost half the league is using one again. 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 would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. Houston Texans starter Shaun Cody has adapted well to the rigours of Wade Phillips' 1-gap 3-4. 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. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. An excellent run defender, Soliai needs to refine his technique in order to make more plays behind the line of scrimmage. His tremendous upper body strength and relentless motor help Sopoaga to constantly move the pocket. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. He was a true 2 gap run stuffer. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. He was drafted into the NFL in 1987 and remained active till 2000. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). 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. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. Smears also played and started the most number of matches as a nose tackle. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The change of league did not have much impact on the team as the team continued to dominate, and in 19450, they became the NFL champion. 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. Danny Jaillet. 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. I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. 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. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. Team (s): Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions & Philadelphia Eagles. 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. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. Jamal Williams was the monster in the middle. I'm assuming that we're talking about a true NT as in 2 gap players. This type of scheme consists of five players on the defensive line a nose guard, two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. We may reconsider in the future, but for now, we put him with the tackles. What does that make the 5-technique? STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. 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. The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. 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. The ball was so dominant that the opposition had to make a change in their alignment to bring their best player in the middle to face the pressure Ball created. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers Tuitt is the second Steelers player to find his way into the top 12, coming off another strong showing in 2020. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. As it turned out, Carter found his position and Alzado went on to be an excellent 3-4 end. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. The Steelers have had some of the best nose tackles of all time and when that position is thought of, often the Steelers come to mind. View Current Leaderboard. 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. 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. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. Paul Soliai is one of the finest 2-gappers in the league. 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. He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". 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. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. Highest single-season PFF grades since 2017 Donald's peers are the NFL's all-time greats on defense the Reggie Whites and Lawrence Taylors of the world rather than anyone else currently playing. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. When on form, Antonio Garay is capable of regularly collapsing the pocket. He'd done yeoman's work, playing the run, coming out of the game on likely passing downs, but never getting a sniff of Hawaii and the Pro Bowl. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! That fact that Bob Dee, who has No. he was a good player, but didn't play enough to really fit in. The 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida, The 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. Kyle Williams and Others Who Missed the Cut 1 of 11 A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive. And with Carter, he'd have his moments getting to the passer. They silently contribute and help their team to win. Pro Football Network analyst Matt Valdovinos ranks the top 25 offensive tackles in the NFL. "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. Career stats: 106 games started, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 150 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. And love seeing Smerlas getting recognized so high. 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). Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! 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. By Matthew Valdovinos. Rogers started his career hot, playing shade most often in a 40 defense, and was playing lots of plays (36.5 run stuffs in his first four seasons) and then went to his "All-Pro-type" years from 2004-08 when he was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler. 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. If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. He played both ways early in his career but his primary position was right over the center in 5-man lines. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. He got the do the grunt work for the guys that replaced John Randle and Warren Sapp. 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. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. Although used in very specific situations in the NFL, the 5-2 defensive scheme was largely phased out of pro football in the 1950s and eventually college football in the 1980s. Pro Bowl: 6 times (1969, 1971, 19751978), Defensive Player of the Year: 1 time (1975). He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. Jump Around This Article Click to show. Super Bowl champion: 2 times (XXXIX, XLIX). Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. John, in your opinion, and others on this site, would you put Smerlas, Krumrie or Henry Thomas in the HOF ? Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. 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.