Teams in pass-heavy NFL more likely to bypass employing nose tackles

Casey Hampton stared down a reporter who was in the midst of a long-winded question about the responsibilities of a nose tackle in the Steelers' 3-4 defense before Hampton had enough.

“Man,” he said at the time, “my job isn't hard. I go left, or I go right.”

How times have changed.

Forget going left or right. NFL nose tackles are becoming a thing of the past, or at least a shell of how they once were viewed: run-stuffing, clogging-the-middle, nonathletic, large men.

“No question, it's a diminishing role in today's NFL,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

The Steelers employed two nose tackles in Hampton and Joel Steed over a span of 21 years from 1992-2012 — other than when Kimo von Oelhoffen played the position in 2000 before they drafted Hampton. That span marked one of the best defensive stretches the Steelers have had.

Steed and Hampton were prototypical nose tackles. They were big and could occupy blocks.

Now the Steelers are like many others around the NFL: They can't afford to have that type of player on the field.

Blame the pass-happy NFL.

“We played over 70 percent of our snaps last year in sub-package football, meaning that the offense had three or more receivers on the field, and we chose to match it in some form or fashion,” Tomlin said.

That means the nose tackle is taken off the field in favor of another defensive back.

“So it's a diminishing role, globally speaking,” Tomlin said.

The Steelers' usage of the nose tackle dipped from 67 percent in Hampton's final season of 2012 to 37 percent in 2014.

Hampton routinely played more than 60 percent of the defensive snaps a game.

Last season, Steve McLendon played a little more than 30 percent of his snaps at nose tackle. Against the San Diego Chargers, the Steelers used a nose tackle on only 13 of 75 snaps.

The position is diminishing but not extinct. Some of the NFL's best defensive minds feel there still is a need for a nose tackle.

“If you know how to feature that player,” said Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who was defensive coordinator for some of the recent dominant Seattle Seahawks teams.

“Are the 35 to 40 percent of the snaps he is going to be in the game, is he going to be the factor in the run game? It is still a factor, but like with all players, how do you feature them?”

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer — a longtime NFL defensive coordinator — also feels there is a role for nose tackles.

“It is when they run the ball,” Zimmer said. “The inside nickel rusher now becomes very important position, and that's what we look for.”

But now that inside player has to be more versatile than ever.

The NFL will hold its annual draft at the end of the month, and many teams officials believe it is irresponsible to use a first-round pick on a nose tackle who will be on the field for a limited number of snaps.

That makes players who can play inside on first and second down but can bounce outside on pass-rushing downs even more valuable.

“It is hard to lobby to take somebody like that who is going to be on the field 30, 40 percent of the time when you can get somebody else that can get after the quarterback on the interior,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “Those guys are at more of a premium right now.”

The Steelers have the 25th pick in the draft and are interested in such a player.

They've met with Baylor's Andrew Billings and visited with Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson. The Steelers have only Daniel McCullers on the roster as an interior defensive lineman, and he is a prototypical nose tackle at 6-foot-7, 348 pounds.

The Steelers are looking for a guy who can spell defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt on nickel pass rushes and clog the middle on run downs.

“So many of them are looking for combo guys now,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said.

“That pure nose (tackle) where all you do is hold down the center maybe has value in certain divisions. Some of those guys have some versatility, even with all that thickness, maybe not huge sack numbers but can play those spots. I think that's what they're looking for.”

Tomlin said the Steelers simply are looking for good players along the defensive line and won't necessarily seek a versatile inside lineman.

“I think sometimes you limit yourself if you're looking for a guy with specific traits,” Tomlin said. “We have to be adjustable and pliable with what and who we have.”

Mark Kaboly is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mkaboly@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MarkKaboly_Trib.