I may be mistaken but Pickett only started playing NT last year when we switched to a 3-4. The rest of his career he was a DT in a 4-3.
"British" wrote:
NFL has oversimplify there labels.
There are three types of DTs, the NT, UT, DT.
~A NT is a run stopper that is plugging two gaps and systems/teams have one.
~A UT (which often isn't used any more as NFL has simply labeled it DT) is a one gap defender who is suppose to shoot the gaps, and get into the back-flied to get the QB or RB or who ever has the ball back there) The UT is about attack attack attack.
~A DT is a tweener position between NT and UT. As they are one gap players that basically reacting letting the offense guy make the first move instead of attacking and making the first move.
It's like Pat and Kevin Williams are both listed as DT. But really Pat is a 4-3 NT plugging two gaps and Kevin is a 4-3 DT shooting the gap.
Pickett has been a NT plugging two gaps his whole time with Ohio State and the Packers. I'm not totally sure what Pickett did with the Rams... I know I've seen him play some UT with the Rams (which doesn't fit his skills at all) but I've also heard he's played some NT. So I guess different coaches he played in different system which asked him to do different things.
Also Jay Ratliff isn't a NT. I know he has the NT label but he's asked to attack attack and attack and get into the other teams back field. Ratliff is a UT that's why he's got all those sacks unlike all the true NTs.
But this is the first year Pickett is going to be playing a true DT position with the Packers. Other years he was asked to play NT.
BTW 3-4 DEs are UT, DT or NT as well... in different systems they are different things.
In the 3-4 Phillips system like the Patriots, Browns and Cheifs the 3-4 DE are like under sized NTs playing two gap basically trying protect the LBers and let them make all the plays and the DL is just trying to stop the offensive blockers.
In the 3-4 zone blitz systems like the Steelers and Packers the 3-4 DE are DTs. Where they are asked to contain the blockers some and get attack the ball some.
Most 3-4 teams don't use UTs as their DL as they're usually very good pass rushers and not good run stoppers and with only 3 DL you need some run stoppers but some of the more creative Defensive Coordinators like say Rex Ryan do get UT because he wants to get guys in the back field and stop plays before they start and is super aggressive.