Curly Clip is, undoubtedly, the flag bearer for the best nose tackles of all time. First-team All-Pro: 5 times (1980, 1981, 82, 83, 88). But he is not experienced enough at the position to warrant a place on the list. Jerry Ball was shaped like his name. You can guess from his career highlights how much we could write about him. But his lightning-quick first step, long arms and aggressive hands technique, allow Ratliff to challenge and overcome blockers. 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. While a 3-technique refers to the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, theres also something called the 2i-technique. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. 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. He was not quite the size of Ted Washington, but he was more than the 315 pounds he was listed at, though. The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. 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. May 18, 2022 9:45 am ET. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. List of the most famous (American) football nose tackles in the history of the sport, listed by popularity with photos of the players when available. He has played a total of 200 games and recorded 29 sacks and two interceptions. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. Jump Around This Article Click to show. He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. 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. One of the least glamorous positions in the NFL is Nose Tackle, but they are still a critical position in the NFL so who are the greats? A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive linchpin Kyle Williams didn't make the list. Coming out of Georgia, Wynn was clearly a great athlete and an accomplished player, but he was far from the prototype in terms of height and length for offensive tackles in the NFL. 1 Joe Greene 3,939 votes Charles Edward Greene (born September 5, 1946), better known as "Mean" Joe Greene, is a former American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football .more #1208 of 1,316 The Best Athletes Of All Time #11 of 25 Old Athletes You Didn't Realize Are Still Alive #1 of 146 As they continue to learn the What Is a Secondary in Football? Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). 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. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. 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. 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. Here are the top 25 offensive tackles for the 2021 NFL season. He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs. A 4-technique lines up head-to-head with the tackle. 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. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? After his stellar 1980 season, coaches from opposing teams would fly to Buffalo to watch how Smerlas played in the middle of the Bill defense and exported the style to their own 3-4 teams. Admittedly, in this period, it was less characterized by the dominating nose tackle and more by the fearsome outside linebacker, such as Lawrence Taylor. But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. When on form, Antonio Garay is capable of regularly collapsing the pocket. The San Francisco 49ers signed him in the 1991 NFL draft, where he was overall 25th. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. During his stay in Kansas, Culp shined as a defensive nose tackle. 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." 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. Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. edit* Hampton was a beast don't know how I didn't think of him! 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. Its popularity declined throughout the 90's, bottoming out in 2001 when only the Steelers were running a 34. He spent his last six seasons as a backup/rotational nose for the Raiders, then the Jets. It all depends on the game situation. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. Williams would rush into the offense and occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. 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. And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. 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. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. 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. 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. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Ranking of the NFL's top ten greatest offensive tackles of all time. He recorded 137.5 sacks over his 14-year career and was. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. This is because the 4-3 defensive scheme has two inside linebackers that can fill those two gaps if needed. 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. Email us at: It's tough to find true nose tackles. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. In the Bears under front,Toeaina is required to take on the center and occupy the interior, creating one on one matchups for pass rushing defensive ends and the 3-technique tackle. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. 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 allows the safeties to stay deep and maintain the integrity of Chicago's preferred Tampa-2 coverage scheme. He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. 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. 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 View Current Leaderboard. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. Bullshitter. The Dolphins defensive anchor is steadily building a reputation as one of the most difficult to handle nose tackles in the game. We've been a complete joke at NT since he left. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. Its generally reserved for the defensive end and theyre responsible for both the B-gap (in-between the guard and tackle) and C-gap (on the outside of the tackle). New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. He was All-Pro in 1990 then made a Pro Bowl in 1995. Take a look at how they. Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - Really, on a game-to-game basis, Hamilton was the NFL's first modern nose tackle. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. 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. . That fact that Bob Dee, who has No. Joel Steed will come . In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. 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 coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. 11. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. Fat Pat Williams is top 10 material bias aside. . 25. Thomas played in 213 games, started 199 of them, totaled 864 tackles including 93.5 sacks and 95.0 run stuffs, totals that rival players like Warren Sapp and Bryant Young, two of the 1990s All-Decade selections. These players are often the most recognized players in the locker room especially among the defensive coordinators for helping clear up space for the rest of the team. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. 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 played college football for the University. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. Probably the most technically sound nose tackle on this list, Wilfork's leverage and footwork are outstanding. Theyre usually the largest player and go head-to-head with the opposing center. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. 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. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. However, we are going to keep it short. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. Alexander Boris Johnsons Net Worth vs Jeremy Bernard Corbyns Net Worth: Who is richer? 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! 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. Isaiah Wynn is an interesting player. 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) Enjoy! Balls retired from the game in 1999, leaving behind a dominant legacy. + Indicates Hall of Famer. A Complete Overview. Maas was "Big, mean, strong, and nasty" according to Buchsbaum who also though Maas would have been an excellent 4-3 tackle. Casey Hampton Jr. (born September 3, 1977), nicknamed "Big Snack," is a former American football nose tackle who played twelve seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, The Best Miami Football Players of All Time, The Greatest Out of Shape Athletes in Sports. It used to take three blockers to stop him. Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was announced as this year's inductee into the team's Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Defensive tackles are mostly the silent killer of a team. Lets take a look at some of those specific nose tackles: Its unclear if well ever see any nose tackles in the future that live up to the names listed above, but theres no doubt that these players are some of the least-recognized superstars of their time. And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. The way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. NFL, one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world, is the gathering place of all American football legends. A Complete Overview, What Is a Sack in Football? 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. Like Bill Wills, Pat Williams was also undrafted in 1997. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? Another big man, around 330-350 (390?) Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. 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. But Garay's brute force makes him formidable at the point of attack. 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. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. His 61 tackles for loss or no gain against the run over that span rank third among defensive linemen, behind only Brandon Graham and Jadeveon Clowney. The Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. Two slots for the Pro Bowl and at times 25 of the teams in the NFL playing a 3-4 defense. 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. Upon arriving in Houston, the Oilers fortunes changed, going from the bottom of the AFC to among the better teams from 1975 through 1980. pounds, Wilfork was the anchor of the Patriots defensive line for more than a decade making First-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro four times and five Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons and earned himself two rings. Enter Wade Phillips who installed a 3-4 and Williams as the nose andvoila, he's in the Pro Bowl for the next three years. 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. The same argument applies to Barry Cofield of the Washington Redskins. The next time you see a nose tackle playing well, make sure you tip your hat to them! Such is life. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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.). You have entered an incorrect email address! Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. You simply cant run a 3-4 defensive scheme without one. 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 . Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. The next year, Taylor was released, and this became the season Wilfork made his name known by recording 54 tackles in only 16 games. Lorenzo Neal as a fullback is one. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. 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? I think he was part of at least three of their championships, though undersized. He was First-team All-Pro twice and a Second-teamer three other seasons and went to five Pro Bowls as a nose tackle (tied with Fred Smerlas for the most-ever by a 3-4 nose). Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. 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. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 8. Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. Being five times first-pro and the five-times pro bowler is a rare achievement in the NFL for a nose tackle. Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. Press J to jump to the feed. 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.
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