When coach Mike Pettine, defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil and linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach arrived from Cleveland the early months of 2014, they sat down and watched film of the Browns defense: What players were they exactly inheriting?
When the trio came together to compare notes, all three circled a name of a thumping linebacker who made some noise when he got snaps. That name? Tank Carder.
The problem for Carder was that a year ago during OTAs and training camp, he was dealing with both a shoulder and foot injury. While Karlos Dansby, Craig Robertson and Chris Kirksey were establishing roles within the defense, Carder was forced to take mental reps off to the side.