NFList

Washington, Hand rank as NFL’s top run stuffers

By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
As published in print Oct. 15, 2001

Saints DT Norman Hand

Everyone wants pass rushers, but a great run-stuffing defensive tackle can make everyone around him better and make an offense one-dimensional. With this in mind, we asked NFL insiders to name the defensive tackle who is the toughest to dislodge and run against. Responses were made anonymously.

1. Ted Washington / Bears — "He is a huge, massive, powerful man who can play with leverage, but he also is overweight and must be rested a lot."

2. Norman Hand / Saints — "A moose. He makes everyone else on that line better and lets them go after the quarterback."

3. Tim Bowens / Dolphins — "Massive and very powerful with much better instincts versus the run than the pass."

4. Pat Williams / Bills — "There was no drop-off when Washington went out last year and Williams came in."

5. Tony Siragusa / Ravens — "You just can’t move him, and he is 10 tons of bulk inside and a mean SOB who likes to squash people."

6. Sam Adams / Ravens — "Even better than Siragusa when he plays hard and plays within the system because he is a lot quicker off the ball and can get into the blocker faster."

7. Daryl Gardener / Dolphins — "When he bends his knees and plays low, forget it. He is impossible to handle."

8. Jason Ferguson / Jets — "His loss really hurt the Jets’ inside run defense and the production of (MLB) Marvin Jones."

9. Gilbert Brown / Packers — "Lacks range, but he is a real load at the point of attack."

10. Jamal Williams / Chargers — "He was one of the really good young players in the league and was a real force versus the run before he got hurt."

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