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The Houston Texans' Vince Wilfork isn't afraid to bare all. Ironically, the work he does on the field is rarely noticed and not fully appreciated.

Nose tackle is the most thankless job in football. Those big boys up front must battle two or three blockers, be held on every play and receive little to none of the glory if the defense succeeds. Yet a great nose tackle can change the complexion of a game without recording a tackle.

Some may argue it's a part-time position in today's pass-happy league, but there are only so many men big enough, strong enough, athletic enough and smart enough out there.

These guys are anomalies. Players like Wilfork, at 325-plus pounds, are mountains in the middle of the defense and nearly impossible to move.

For nearly a decade, he served as the prototype. His days as the game's standard-bearer at nose tackle have passed, but he's given way to a talented group of interior defenders with the capability of dominating games.

Five stand above the rest...