Niner Noise
FanSided

Finding Hidden Gems on 49ers 2016 Roster

By Trevor Irvine

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with teammates during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with teammates during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) blocks San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine (95) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) blocks San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine (95) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Tank Carradine – Outside Linebacker

It is safe to say Tank Carradine has been a virtual “bust” during his career so far. Despite the torn ACL in college, for a guy drafted No. 40 overall in the 2013 draft you would have expected him to have more than his four career sacks.

The Niners overplayed their hand when they asked him to put on 25-30 pounds and become a defensive tackle and expect him to be effective from blitzing from the inside, which was a role he never did at Florida State.

He never adapted to this change and his career numbers reflect this. Though he had a nice plus-75.3 grade (from a zero to 100 scale) per PFF, his coverage grade was a weak plus-60.2. His pass-rush grade was above 70, but when you tie this number in with his four total sacks, his impact was limited at best.

Per Ryan Sakamoto of Ninersfans.com, this is a skill where he is making some improvement this offseason:

The Niners have seen the error in their ways and have had him drop his weight back to around the 260-pound mark and moved him to his more natural position of outside linebacker. This weight loss should improve his mobility and quickness and make him a much bigger threat to get to the opposing QB.

The defense needs him to become a pass-rushing specialist who can get to the eight- to 10-sack mark in 2016 for it to take a step forward in the right direction after the dismal 2015 season, where it could only manage 28 sacks as a group.

If Carradine cannot make it to the next level this season, his legacy as an NFL player will simply state “bust.” His last chance to show his wares is 2016.

Next: Kelvin Taylor