Getting their nose dirty: a nose tackle is a human shock absorber. He gets pounded on every play and hammered from every angle. It's a high-pain, no-glory job—and essential to the success of the 3-4 defense

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 2004 by Dennis Dillon

Typically, the 3-4 NFL teams wind up attending the same workouts and bringing in the same players for interviews before the draft. A nose tackle candidate will come from New England to Baltimore, which then will send him on to Pittsburgh. "It happens every April," says DeCosta. "It's the darndest thing."

Last year, Oregon's Junior Siavii and Hawaii's Isaac Sopoaga were the two players DeCosta thought could play nose tackle in the NFL. Each was drafted by a 4-3 team--Siavii by the Chiefs and Sopoaga by the 49ers.

As for this year, DeCosta says, "I haven't seen anybody yet who I think can play it."

It must mean most lathers are getting along with their sons.

RELATED ARTICLE: Similar but different.

The nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme and the nose in a 4-3 are similar but different breeds. The 3-4 nose is a two-gap player who lines up head-on against the center and whose primary role is to clog the middle by tying up interior blockers, allowing the linebackers to make plays. The 4-3 nose usually is offset from the center and has more freedom to penetrate upfield and be a playmaker. But like his 3-4 counterpart, he is responsible for controlling the inside and stopping the run.

An AFC pro personnel director rates the league's top 3-4 nose tackles:

1 Casey Hampton, Steelers. "Is a physical, stout, point-of-attack player. Has exceptional quickness, playing speed and range for a man his size. Is tough to block when he lines up in a cocked position because he has an excellent burst off the snap. Is disruptive when he penetrates gaps. If an offense wants to run the ball, it has to scheme for him."

2 Ted Washington, Raiders. "Huge and almost immovable at the point of attack. Can eat up double-teams and allows the inside linebackers to run free. Doesn't possess much range or pass-rush ability but is rarely off his feet. Makes it tough for teams to run between the tackles because he takes up so much space."

3 Kelly Gregg, Ravens. "One of the more underrated players in the league. Isn't real flashy but is a high-motor guy who gives 100 percent on every snap. His strength, quickness and overall athletic ability are only average, but he'll win on Sundays because he'll outwork the guy across from him."

The same pro personnel director ranks the 4-3 tackles who also could play the nose in a 3-4:

1 Anthony McFarland, Buccaneers. "Has an excellent combination of strength and athletic ability. Is a two-dimensional tackle who can stay in and take on double-teams but also shows excellent quickness and speed to make plays out near the numbers. Nobody talks much about it, but he was big part of Warren Sapp being the player he was in Tampa Bay."

2 Orpheus Roye, Browns. "Is almost 6-4, a little taller than a prototypical 3-4 nose man but plays with outstanding leverage at the point of attack. Is a solid pass rusher who shows excellent hand quickness to counter blocks. Gets talked about the least but is Cleveland's best D-lineman."

3 Sam Adams, Bills. "A massive tackle with excellent physical strength. Isn't real pretty or technique conscious but can clog up the middle. Won't have a lot of tackles at the end of the day but eats up blocks and allows Buffalo's linebackers to run free and make plays."--D.D.