Top 5 Defensive Tackles In The NFL (2009 Edition)

Top 5 Defensive Tackles In The NFL (2009 Edition)
M.D. Wright
11.1.09

To be clear up front, I'm considering guys who play Nose Tackle in a 3-4 alignment in with the rest of the standard Defensive Tackles in a 4-3 look.

1. JAY RATLIFF.



This guy is an absolute MANE. I've seen him do things that I've never seen DTs do. I've seen him in a zone blitz scheme drop DEEP into coverage and be covering a receiver in the end zone. I've seen him run down many runs from RBs, WRs and TEs. He stuffs the run and is almost unblockable one on one. He's the most disruptive guy I've seen at DT this year by a smidge over...

2. DARNELL DOCKETT.



Darnell Dockett FROM?!?! He led Florida State and the ACC in stops for loss when he was in college, so what he's doing now is no surprise. The thing is, people don't know, because the Cards are rarely on national TV. I watch the Cards about 2 out of every 3 games they play. Dockett absolutely OWNED Chris Snee and Shaun O'Hara when they played the New York Giants in Week 7. There were times he was double-teamed and beat both guys to make a play in the backfield. All shades of what he did at FSU.

3. VINCE WILFORK.



I hate the Patriots, but watch this guy. Look how mammoth he is (pause). How does he move that quickly? How does he factor so disruptively in both the run and pass defense? If you love defense like I do, you've got to love watching Vince Wilfork man the "A" gap every week. He takes on double teams like they're nothing.

4. KEVIN WILLIAMS.



Still underrated by some, by some strange factor or another. He is svelte compared to most DTs and he moves like it. He gets great leverage in the "B" gap and, combining with Pat Williams, he provides a massive push from the Vikings' defensive front four.

5. KRIS JENKINS.



Was having a great 2009 before tearing up his knee again. He anchored the Jets defense much like he had the Panthers' defense for years prior to coming to New York last season. In Rex Ryan's defense, Jenkins has two-gap responsibility and freed up the Jet linebackers to make plays all over the field.

Honorable Mention: Pat Williams, Fred Robbins, Albert Haynesworth, Cullen Jenkins, John Henderson, Marcus Stroud.