5 tips for high school nose tackles

five tips on how to be the best nose tackle you can be in high school

Photo Credit: Jasen Leathers
By george chavez

Nose tackle. Noseguard. A rose by any other name. Most coaches refer to the position simply as the ‘nose’.

Nose tackles live in their own little world. Not much is Nose tackle. Noseguard. A rose by any other name. Most coaches refer to the position simply as the ‘nose’.

Nose tackles live in their own little world. Not much is known about them. They are the bread and butter player. They hunker down and dig their heels in and try not to give an inch. That’s what it’s all about. Not giving an inch.

The nosetackle plays right smack dab in the middle of the defensive line. His main job on almost any team is to keep the offensive linemen from reaching and blocking his teams’ linebackers. If the linebackers are making a lot of tackles the nose tackle is doing his job.

The nosetackle works in the trenches. He battles it out with the large offensive linemen he faces. Most nosetackles are smaller in size than their offensive opponents. This is because the nose tackle needs to be agile, mobile, and hostile. He needs to be quick and strong. Not necessarily fast but explosive off the snap of the ball.

The best way to get in shape to be a nose tackle is to do a lot of military press and a lot of squats. Strong shoulders and legs will be key in playing this position to the utmost.

At the snap of the ball explode into the center and grab his shoulder pads. try and swing him one way or the other. try and push him up because if you can get underneath then you can power your way through him. If he tries to block you either right or left fight through the block with a forearm and then a hand shiver. Whatever you do do not lose ground. If there is a double team try and break that up. Mess up their blocking scheme any way you can.

A nosetackle does not get much glory. He does not get many sacks. He may not even get many tackles. But if he does his job right other people on his defense will be free to make the tackles and sacks.

Most of the time a nose tackle is used in a five-three or five-two defense. It is imperative that the nosetackle stop that offensive drive at its point. And that point is right there. right at the point of the nose tackle.

Not many nose tackles have been recorded in football legend. But it is useful to read up on what coaches may teach a nose tackle on their defense. It will also be very helpful to ask the fellow you are replacing to give you some hints and ideas on what works and what doesn’t.

Many of the new defenses have done away with the nose tackle. They have placed this man in as another linebacker. This is to say they will give up the short gain in order to make a turnover more probable or quicker to achieve. This is a shame as the nosetackle invariably gave the linebackers more latitude in play and kept them from getting hurt as much.known about them. They are the bread and butter player. They hunker down and dig their heels in and try not to give an inch. That’s what it’s all about. Not giving an inch.

The nosetackle works in the trenches. He battles it out with the large offensive linemen he faces. Most nosetackles are smaller in size than their offensive opponents. This is because the nose tackle needs to be agile, mobile, and hostile. He needs to be quick and strong. Not neccessarily fast but explosive off the snap of the ball.

The best way to get in shape to be a nose tackle is to do a lot of military press and a lot of squats. Strong shoulders and legs will be key in playing this position to the utmost.