31:
66:. Defensive tackles are typically the largest and strongest of the defensive players. Depending on a team's defensive scheme, a defensive tackle may be called upon to fill several different roles. These may include merely holding the point of attack by refusing to be moved, or penetrating a certain gap between offensive linemen to break up a play in the opponent's backfield. If a defensive tackle reads a pass play, his primary responsibility is to pursue the
235:
center about six to eighteen inches off the ball. In a reading 50 defense, the nose tackle's key is to read the offensive center to the ball. In run away, the nose tackle's job is to shed the blocker and pursue down the line of scrimmage, taking an angle of pursuit. The primary responsibility of the nose tackle in this scheme is to absorb multiple blockers so that other players in the defensive front can attack ball carriers and rush the quarterback.
263:) who specializes in penetrating through the line with his quickness as his bigger counterpart occupies blockers, aiming to sack the quarterback or tackle the rusher (often the running back) for a loss of yards. The 3-tech often lines up against the "weak side" of the offensive line, and therefore faces fewer double-teams. Notable examples of prototypical 3-tech tackles in the NFL include
219:, have a nose tackle in the 4–3 defense, who lines up against the opposing center and very likely the weak-side or pulling guard. In a 4–3 defense, nose tackles are rather quick and supposed to "shoot the 'A gap' and beat the center and very likely the weak-side or pulling guard into the backfield." Height is not as important, and their weight is closer to 300 pounds (136 kg).
153:
172:". They are usually the heaviest players on the roster, with weights ranging from 320 to 350 pounds (145 to 159 kg). Height is critical, as they are supposed to get "under" the offensive line; ideal 3–4 nose tackles are no taller than 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m). Recent examples of such nose tackles include
234:
replaced the middle guard. The nose tackle is also used in a 50 read defense. In this defense there is a nose tackle, two defensive tackles, and two outside linebackers who can play on the line of scrimmage or off the line of scrimmage in a two-point stance. The nose tackle lines up head up on the
291:. Donald and Oliver, in particular, have pushed the limits on how small a 3-tech can be, both weighing just 285 lbs. Their smaller statures have drawn criticism, but Donald and Oliver often make up for this using their athleticism. Donald has made ten
128:
before the play begins in the "0-technique" position. In this position, frequently taking on the center and at least one if not both of the guards, the nose tackle is considered to be the most physically demanding position in
259:), but can sometimes fill in as the nose tackle in a 3–4 defense. Compared to the 0 or 1-tech who is more similar to the nose tackle, the 3-tech is often a leaner, more agile defensive lineman (but still larger than the
296:
509:
549:
479:
226:. Effective against most plays of the day, but with a weakness to the inside short pass, the 5–2 was phased out of the professional game in the late 1950s. In the
317:
133:. In five-linemen situations, such as a goal-line formation, the nose tackle is the innermost lineman, flanked on either side by a defensive tackle or
542:
448:
394:
827:
373:
833:
70:, or simply knock the pass down at the line if it is within arm's reach. Other responsibilities of the defensive tackle may be to pursue the
860:
535:
501:
340:
200:, each of whom was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall and has won Super Bowl rings. Current notable examples of nose tackles include
741:
610:
63:
276:
35:
749:
120:. In the 3–4 defensive scheme the sole defensive tackle is referred to as the nose tackle. The nose tackle aligns across the
837:
822:
471:
288:
745:
727:
719:
707:
30:
715:
623:
605:
598:
558:
391:
807:
769:
695:
654:
618:
169:
125:
614:
165:
59:
82:, there is no nose tackle. Instead there are a left and a right defensive tackle. Some teams, especially in the
222:
The terms "nose guard" or "middle guard" were more commonly used with the five-man defensive line of the older
216:
83:
325:
164:
Typical 3–4 nose tackles are "big wide bodies who can hold the point of attack and force double teams by the
799:
669:
440:
527:
255:
is often featured in a formation with four defensive linemen (such as the traditional 4–3 or the 4–2–5
677:
658:
645:
197:
787:
765:
761:
711:
566:
562:
401:
350:
345:
231:
149:
is looking for "a nose tackle who relies on quickness to penetrate and move along the front."
130:
121:
117:
55:
39:
591:
579:
227:
223:
212:
157:
146:
142:
79:
272:
201:
189:
815:
732:
583:
256:
193:
185:
177:
94:"Nose guard" redirects here. For the historical gridiron football nose protector, see
854:
783:
636:
472:"Defensive Line Techniques - The 2017 Prototypes — NFL Analysis — Pro Football Focus"
398:
280:
268:
260:
181:
173:
134:
702:
691:
673:
392:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_42_228/ai_n6249316/?tag=content;col1
284:
99:
441:"Defensive Prototypes: 3-Technique — PFF News & Analysis — Pro Football Focus"
215:, the nose tackle is one of two defensive tackles. Some teams, especially in the
17:
665:
650:
640:
628:
264:
71:
67:
737:
683:
138:
95:
75:
791:
502:"NFL players analyze 'ridiculous' Aaron Donald: 'Best player in the league'"
795:
753:
292:
205:
152:
58:
that typically lines up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the
811:
723:
86:(NFL), have a nose tackle in this scheme, but most of them do not.
773:
151:
29:
531:
62:; however, he may also line up opposite one of the offensive
145:
demands "a massive man who can clog up the middle," while a
374:"In deep pool of D-line talent, schemes will dictate picks"
414:
Riddell
Presents: The Gridiron's Greatest Linebackers
188:. Rather uncommon are taller nose tackles, such as
192:who is 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), and
543:
8:
427:The New Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football
575:
550:
536:
528:
116:) is a defensive alignment position for a
368:
366:
364:
362:
360:
308:
98:. For the medieval face protector, see
451:from the original on November 17, 2017
7:
512:from the original on April 28, 2019
482:from the original on April 28, 2019
470:Whitefield, Brett (July 14, 2017).
339:Dillon, Dennis (October 11, 2004).
25:
316:Rush, Nathan (February 8, 2008).
439:Renner, Michael (June 4, 2015).
416:, Sports Publishing, 2003, p. 36
318:"NFL Draft — Defensive Tackles"
297:AP Defensive Player of the Year
429:, HarperCollins, 1984, p. 128.
390:Dixon, D., (October 18, 2004)
1:
156:A lone nose tackle in a base
27:Position in American football
861:American football positions
74:or drop into coverage in a
877:
341:"Getting their nose dirty"
93:
821:
736:
731:
682:
664:
597:
595:
590:
588:
578:
573:
295:and was thrice named the
78:scheme. In a traditional
476:www.profootballfocus.com
445:www.profootballfocus.com
217:National Football League
84:National Football League
161:
43:
328:on February 14, 2010.
155:
33:
353:on August 29, 2009.
124:from the offense's
54:) is a position in
38:(in blue) with the
659:Kickoff specialist
245:3-technique tackle
239:3-technique tackle
162:
44:
848:
847:
843:
842:
831:
708:Halfback/Tailback
567:Canadian football
563:American football
508:. June 26, 2018.
425:Zimmerman, Paul,
402:The Sporting News
346:The Sporting News
232:middle linebacker
131:gridiron football
122:line of scrimmage
118:defensive lineman
56:American football
40:Minnesota Vikings
34:Defensive tackle
18:Defensive tackles
16:(Redirected from
868:
825:
576:
552:
545:
538:
529:
522:
521:
519:
517:
498:
492:
491:
489:
487:
467:
461:
460:
458:
456:
436:
430:
423:
417:
412:Rand, Jonathan,
410:
404:
388:
382:
381:
380:. March 6, 2013.
370:
355:
354:
349:. Archived from
336:
330:
329:
324:. Archived from
313:
141:, a traditional
60:offensive guards
48:defensive tackle
21:
876:
875:
871:
870:
869:
867:
866:
865:
851:
850:
849:
844:
569:
556:
526:
525:
515:
513:
500:
499:
495:
485:
483:
469:
468:
464:
454:
452:
438:
437:
433:
424:
420:
411:
407:
389:
385:
372:
371:
358:
338:
337:
333:
315:
314:
310:
305:
273:Tyrone Crawford
241:
202:Dexter Lawrence
198:Ma'ake Kemoeatu
190:Bobby Brown III
137:. According to
103:
92:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
874:
872:
864:
863:
853:
852:
846:
845:
841:
840:
819:
818:
805:
802:
781:
777:
776:
759:
756:
735:
730:
716:Change of pace
705:
699:
698:
689:
686:
681:
662:
661:
648:
643:
626:
621:
608:
602:
601:
596:
594:
589:
587:
584:Skill position
574:
571:
570:
557:
555:
554:
547:
540:
532:
524:
523:
493:
462:
431:
418:
405:
397:2012-07-08 at
383:
356:
331:
307:
306:
304:
301:
261:defensive ends
257:Nickel defense
240:
237:
230:, the upright
194:Ted Washington
186:Damon Harrison
178:Jamal Williams
91:
88:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
873:
862:
859:
858:
856:
839:
835:
829:
824:
820:
817:
813:
809:
806:
803:
801:
797:
793:
789:
785:
784:Wide receiver
782:
779:
778:
775:
771:
767:
766:Kick returner
763:
762:Punt returner
760:
757:
755:
751:
747:
743:
739:
734:
729:
725:
721:
717:
713:
712:Triple-threat
709:
706:
704:
703:Running backs
701:
700:
697:
693:
690:
687:
685:
679:
675:
671:
667:
663:
660:
656:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
638:
634:
630:
627:
625:
622:
620:
616:
612:
609:
607:
604:
603:
600:
599:Special teams
593:
585:
581:
577:
572:
568:
564:
560:
553:
548:
546:
541:
539:
534:
533:
530:
511:
507:
503:
497:
494:
481:
477:
473:
466:
463:
450:
446:
442:
435:
432:
428:
422:
419:
415:
409:
406:
403:
400:
399:archive.today
396:
393:
387:
384:
379:
378:CBSSports.com
375:
369:
367:
365:
363:
361:
357:
352:
348:
347:
342:
335:
332:
327:
323:
322:Athlon Sports
319:
312:
309:
302:
300:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
281:Ndamukong Suh
278:
277:Kyle Williams
274:
270:
269:Sharrif Floyd
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
238:
236:
233:
229:
225:
220:
218:
214:
209:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
182:Vince Wilfork
179:
175:
174:Gilbert Brown
171:
167:
159:
154:
150:
148:
144:
140:
136:
135:defensive end
132:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
101:
97:
89:
87:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
41:
37:
32:
19:
834:Nomenclature
692:Long snapper
674:Game manager
632:
514:. Retrieved
505:
496:
484:. Retrieved
475:
465:
453:. Retrieved
444:
434:
426:
421:
413:
408:
386:
377:
351:the original
344:
334:
326:the original
321:
311:
285:Aaron Donald
252:
248:
244:
242:
221:
213:4–3 defenses
210:
163:
114:middle guard
113:
109:
105:
104:
100:Nasal helmet
51:
47:
45:
36:Pat Williams
670:Dual-threat
666:Quarterback
651:Placekicker
641:Edge rusher
629:Nose tackle
265:Geno Atkins
253:undertackle
228:4–3 defense
224:5–2 defense
158:3–4 defense
147:4–3 defense
143:3–4 defense
106:Nose tackle
90:Nose tackle
80:4–3 defense
72:screen pass
68:quarterback
823:Formations
780:Receivers
758:Returning
750:Nickelback
738:Cornerback
684:Linebacker
303:References
139:Pat Kirwan
110:nose guard
96:Nose armor
76:zone blitz
804:Tackling
792:Tight end
688:Snapping
559:Positions
516:April 28,
506:Rams Wire
486:April 28,
455:April 28,
293:Pro Bowls
289:Ed Oliver
160:formation
855:Category
838:Strategy
796:Slotback
788:Eligible
754:Dimeback
746:Halfback
728:Wingback
720:Fullback
510:Archived
480:Archived
449:Archived
395:Archived
211:In some
206:Vita Vea
816:Utility
646:Kicking
624:Linemen
606:Linemen
592:Defense
580:Offense
64:tackles
42:in 2009
812:Upback
808:Gunner
770:Jammer
742:Safety
724:H-back
696:Holder
678:System
655:Punter
633:Tackle
619:Center
611:Tackle
287:, and
249:3-tech
247:(also
184:, and
170:center
126:center
108:(also
774:Upman
733:Backs
615:Guard
251:) or
166:guard
828:List
565:and
518:2019
488:2019
457:2019
204:and
196:and
168:and
800:End
790:),
718:),
637:End
561:in
112:or
857::
836:—
832:—
814:,
810:,
798:,
794:,
772:,
768:,
764:,
752:,
748:,
744:,
740:,
726:,
722:,
714:,
694:,
680:)
676:,
672:,
657:,
653:,
639:,
635:,
631:,
617:,
613:,
586:)
504:.
478:.
474:.
447:.
443:.
376:.
359:^
343:.
320:.
299:.
283:,
279:,
275:,
271:,
267:,
243:A
208:.
180:,
176:,
52:DT
46:A
830:)
826:(
786:(
710:(
668:(
582:(
551:e
544:t
537:v
520:.
490:.
459:.
102:.
50:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.