Meaning & use
a nose tackle
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableAmericansport
In American football, a defensive lineman who plays directly across from the center and usually takes on double teams.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a nose tackle' or 'nose tackles' for more than one.
Patterns
- play nose tackle
- line up as a nose tackle
- a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense
The nose tackle drew two blockers, which freed the linebacker to make the tackle.
He was a nose tackle in college before moving to defensive end in the pros.
The coach moved the nose tackle to the outside to stop the run.
Word forms
| plural | nose tackles |
|---|
Common combinations
- play nose tackle
- He played nose tackle for three seasons before switching positions.
- line up as a nose tackle
- She lined up as a nose tackle on the goal line.
- a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense
- A nose tackle in a 3-4 defense often faces double teams.
- starting nose tackle
- The starting nose tackle missed the game with an injury.
Synonyms and how they differ
- defensive tackle
- A broader term for any interior defensive lineman; a nose tackle is a specific type who lines up over the center.
- nose guard
- An older or less common term for the same position, especially in older football writing.
Word family
Commonly confused: a nose tackle or defensive end?
a nose tackle vs defensive end
A defensive end lines up on the outside edge of the line, while a nose tackle lines up in the middle, over the center.
Practice
Which player lines up directly over the center in American football?
Choose one answer.
A nose tackle is a defensive lineman who plays directly across from the center. A cornerback covers receivers, a wide receiver catches passes, and a running back carries the ball, so none of those line up over the center.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a nose tackle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.