best nose tackles of all time
Again, these are two completely different positions in the game of football and have entirely different roles in defensive schemes. A high-motor, hustle type. Take a look at how they stack up. Till 1949, The Browns were playing in the AAFC, and then the team joined the NFL. While Ngata fell to the shadows behind the likes of Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, the former Oregon Ducks star was a force to be reckoned . No nose tackle has been First-team All-Pro more or gone to more Pro Bowls than Smerlas. 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. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. WithToeaina in the lineup, there is often more space for destructive duo Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to exploit. Press J to jump to the feed. Still, only a few of them are as large as Ted Washington. The goal of this website is to provide you with content that will help you get a leg up on the competition, whether thats in the realm of coaching or on the field itself. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. He got the do the grunt work for the guys that replaced John Randle and Warren Sapp. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. 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. They silently contribute and help their team to win. 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. 10. 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. 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). Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. He made an unusually high number of tackles for players in his position and at times could get some rush. LOL, really curious where you got the film to do an in-depthanalysis of Les Bingaman. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. 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. Hell, I bet JJ Watt would be the best nose in the league if they lined him up there. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? Ratliff is one of the most dominant players in the league and is the key to the Cowboys multiple 3-4 scheme. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. By Matthew Valdovinos. He can sometimes be a little inconsistent against the run and doesn't always bring the same fiery determination to disrupting the ground game. 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. He was drafted into the NFL in 2004 by the New England Patriots. Pro Bowl: 6 times (1969, 1971, 19751978), Defensive Player of the Year: 1 time (1975). He played a total of 179 and recorded 68.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So he ended up playing for three-techniques likeJovan Haye and Tony Williams, though he got to play some three-technique himself for a few years in the early 2000s when Fred Robbins manned the nose. Here is a ranking ofthe 10 best nose tackles in the game today. But he did the dirty work of a shade tackle in a 4-3 under defense. Said Buchsbaum, "As good as Ball is, he'd be better if he controlled his weight. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? 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. An excellent run defender, Soliai needs to refine his technique in order to make more plays behind the line of scrimmage. That. Matt Toeainais the most unheralded member of the Chicago Bears tough defense. Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. Gary Dunn/NT - 1976-1987. Excellent article, John T! In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. 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 (. Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. Randle signed with the Vikings and went on to become one of the best defensive tackles of the 1990s and definitely the mouthiest. 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. His pro career started as remaining undrafted and ended as one of the best nose tackles of all time! If theres a tight end on the play, a 6-technique lines up head-to-head with the tight end. NFL, one of the most exciting sports leagues in the world, is the gathering place of all American football legends. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Raji's versatility is the foundation of Green Bay's defensive scheme. Smerlas was among the first bigger nose tackles, weighing about 290 (though often listed as less) and he also was among the first to crowd the center. Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. He would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. Kendall Wright looked like the perfect slot receiver for a lot of the year. 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. 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. 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. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? 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." And for a nose, he was very durable. 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 nose tackle has to occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. Jamal Williams was the monster in the middle. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . He debuted in 1968 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". 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. However, here are ten players who were not just great nose tackles but also great defensive backs of all time. 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! Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. Taylor Lewan gets a lot of attention for his off-field attention-seeking antics. What does it need to be a good nose tackle? And love seeing Smerlas getting recognized so high. This player is mostly responsible for filling the two gaps on either side of the center in-between each guard also known as the A-gaps. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. Maas was "Big, mean, strong, and nasty" according to Buchsbaum who also though Maas would have been an excellent 4-3 tackle. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. The over six ft tall was like a mad bull himself. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. Take a look at how they stack. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. This list below has a variety of items in it, from Casey Hampton to Jim Burt. But the tenacious and resourcefulfourth-year prois a significant member of the Bears defensive line rotation. The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. Theyre responsible for taking up space and making it hard for the center and guards to make room for the running back. . Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. The most common requirement of a nose tackle is to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the rest of the defense. 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. The Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? 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. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. This makes it hard for the running back to find a hole through either of the two B-gaps (in-between the guard and tackle). 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. If its a 2-technique, the player must line up head-to-head with the guard. Tom LaMarre. His 10 kick blocks rank top 10 among all NFL players. Another big man, around 330-350 (390?) 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. He was a true 2 gap run stuffer. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "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. They just don't. And in that role, he recorded 24 sacks in 1985-86. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. 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 However, we are going to keep it short. For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. See leaders through past seasons 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. The quintessential 2-gap artist, Hampton is the cornerstone of the Steelers ferocious run defense. This site is owned and operated by Coaching Kidz. 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. Vince Wilfork is one of the smartest and most versatile defensive players in the game. 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. A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. May 4, 2021 8:47 AM EDT. His 47.5 sacks and 779 tackles put him easily among the best who have ever played. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. He did play some 3-4 end in his career and was always effective as a defensive tackle in the Chiefs 4-man lines when they went to nickel, he would routinely turn in 5, 6, or 7-sack seasons. Theyre largely responsible for the C-gap, which is the space on the outside of the tackle, but they might try and confuse the tackle by starting outside and making a move inside. Likely 1988, too, but it was a crowded field in the 1980s for nose tackles. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The 6"1' 325 pound Hamptonis an immovable force in the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. Fat Pat Williams is top 10 material bias aside. At the time he was drafted, he was the most athletic defensive tackle of all-time. 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. He loves to watch web series, and movies and write on celebrity gossip or trendy movie news. He had a high of 85 tackles in 1978, 68 in 1979, and 67 in 1980. Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Last year (1989) he was 20 points overweight and he was double-teamed on almost every play had nine sacks and 73 tackles". From his 121 games, he recorded 121 sacks. 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 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. 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. Career stats: 106 games started, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 150 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler. 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. Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. He was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler (all when playing as 1/2 of the "Williams Wall" in Minnesota. Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. 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 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. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. 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. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Its where the defender lines up head-to-head with the offensive center. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. Unlike a nose tackle, a defensive ends main responsibility is to control the outside of the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. 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. A 4-technique lines up head-to-head with the tackle. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Packers stalwart B.J. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He frequently drives blockers backwards and is a consistent threat to penetrate the line of scrimmage. 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. In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. The 34 was very popular in the 70's and 80's. That fact that Bob Dee, who has No. This is where the defensive player lines up head-to-head with the offensive tackle. started his career with the Detroit Lions in 1987 and later played in three more teams, including Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. But Ball did it. He was solid in all aspects and could have been a terrific 3-technique if asked. 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. Smears also played and started the most number of matches as a nose tackle. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. Bill Wills is one such example, he was undrafted in the 1946 draft! It used to take three blockers to stop him. 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. 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.). all the guys ahead of him were better than he was. He's a shade tackle that played all three downs and never needed to be replaced by a designated pass rusher like so many nose tackles, which accounts for his high sack total, in fact, no nose/shade tackle is even close and from film review, he was as good versus the run as any of them. To be fair, Williams was a Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and then First-team in 2005 and 2006. Upon arriving in Houston, the Oilers fortunes changed, going from the bottom of the AFC to among the better teams from 1975 through 1980. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. 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. Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. Not only that, but theyre offensive linemans specifically the center and guards worst nightmare. In his first four years he was a top backup for Ted Washington forming an amazing 1-2 punch. Nobody is better at absorbing double teams than Hampton. Tier 2: Elite 2. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. 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). 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. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. 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. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. 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. Smears was a very durable nose tackle and had played 149 consecutive matches. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". My name is Steven and I love everything sports! 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Career stats of Henry Thomas: 6. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. The six-time pro bowler is also an AFL and Super Bowl champion. Then in 1986-87 he was still the starter but played less in passing situations and recorded just one sack in 1987 and five in 1988. Ted Washington always amazed me. Since the 5-technique features an odd number, that means the defensive lineman lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! Defensive tackles are mostly the silent killer of a team. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. 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. 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. + Indicates Hall of Famer. Check. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. 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. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. View Current Leaderboard. At 6-1 330 (350?) I realize he was mostly a part-time player but I thought Pete Kugler for the 49ers played alot of quality snaps. So I discount guys like Ngata who may have played in the middle of a 3 man line on occasions but were never 2 gap players. I like Davis' chances of having a productive rookie season behind Payne and the rest of this defensive line. 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. Ranking of the NFL's top ten greatest offensive tackles of all time. Take a look at the best portraits from the 2023 NFL Combine! But his place went to a division rival who doesn't benefit from quite as strong a supporting cast around him. Just because a NT doesn't 2 gap doesn't mean he's not a true NT, that's all down to preference of scheme by the coach. The players Hey there! He was the straw that stirred the drink for the 2x Champion defenses for the Steelers in the 2000s. Hank Thomas is one of the more underrated players in recent NFL history in our view, right up there with Eugene Robinson, LeRoy Butler, Larry Brooks, and others. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. 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. Vea is the best nose tackle in the NFL and the main reason that the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. This list includes the tackle's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. 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. edit* Hampton was a beast don't know how I didn't think of him! The 0-technique is generally played in the 3-4 defensive scheme, which is why its largely a nose tackle technique. They line up with a defensive end on both sides of them, but theres a pretty large gap between them since the offensive line is made up of five players. 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. The same argument applies to Barry Cofield of the Washington Redskins. 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)