WalterFootball.com - Detailed NFL Mock Drafts, Player Prospect Rankings, and One of the Largest Mock Draft Databases on the Web

Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary

Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine

By Tank Carder, as told to Charlie Campbell - @draftcampbell

WalterFootball.com is proud to introduce our 2012 NFL Draft Diary with TCU linebacker Tank Carder. Throughout the draft process, Tank will be sharing his experience with the readers of WalterFootball.com. Tank will hit on the East-West Shrine Game experience, team interviews, the NFL Scouting Combine, his pro day, pre-draft visits, and of course, his draft day experience.

Carder was the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of they Year the past two seasons. He also was the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP in TCU's win over Wisconsin at the end of the 2010 season.

Carder totaled 228 tackles with 25 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, 19 passes broken up and four interceptions with three returned for touchdowns in his collegiate career. Carder is a hard-nosed football player who should have an interesting draft experience in 2012.

WalterFootball.com would like to thank Tank Carder for his participation. We would also like to thank Tank's agent, Kelli Masters of KMM Sports, for helping to facilitate Tank's draft diary. Carder and Masters are readers of this Web site, so it was a natural fit to approach them about having Tank's draft diary here. We are thrilled to have Tank share his journey with all of you. Now, let's let Tank take over.

The NFL Scouting Combine was a great experience. You've been training for seven or eight weeks for one day. It is one day to show your physical talent and you have to go out there and show what you've got. You spend time talking to teams as well. I felt like I was prepared more than I could ever be entering the Combine. I was definitely nervous, but it was a confidant nervous.

I hit my goal in the 40-yard dash on the hand count at 4.56. I didn't really like my official time that I had I gotten, but what can you do? They add to everybody's times with the official. Everybody's official time is worse than their hand time, so that's how it goes. Overall, I was definitely satisfied with my performance. I stuck with my time and sat on all my times at the Pro Day. I didn't run the 40 or anything, so I stuck with all my times except my vertical jump.

In the field position drills I was definitely happy. I felt like I executed well on that. I was fast and flying around pretty well. I felt like I was quick and my feet were good, so I was confidant about my position drills at the Combine. I felt good about my overall outcome from that.

At the Combine, I didn't have any official meetings, but I had tons of unofficial meetings with NFL coaches. I met with the linebacker coaches and defensive coordinators that where there at the unofficial meeting room. It was really interesting talking a lot of football.

I didn't get any of the crazy questions from teams that you sometimes hear about. I didn't have any official meetings with teams so I guess they broke those out in the official meeting rooms, but I didn't get any. Mine was all football and talking football with the coaches. I did a lot of official meetings at the East-West Shrine Game, so that was one of the reasons I didn't go into the official meetings. At the Combine, all the early entry guys come and the teams haven't been able to meet with them yet. Myself and a lot of the seniors were able to meet with teams at an All-Star game. It was fun and interesting talking football with the coaches and coordinators.

Tank Carder - listed in Round 3 of our 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

The coach from the Cowboys, Matt Eberflus, was really interesting. I spoke with him a lot. Glenn Pires, the coach from the Falcons, him as well. Everybody I spoke with was real enthusiastic and it just pumped me up having those in depth conversations about football. It was really interesting. You can see the different kind of coaches you talk to and how different it is going from college to the NFL. It was an interesting experience all around.

I talked to a lot of teams, and some teams that run the 3-4, but for the most part I feel like I will be going to a 4-3 scheme. A lot of the teams that I've spoken with and a lot of the people I've talked to have said that I'm a 4-3 middle or outside linebacker. I feel I can play where they want to put me. I can adapt. Overall I feel I'll land in a 4-3 scheme.

Coming from college and playing in a 4-2 defense it was totally different than a 4-3 or a 3-4. We occasionally went to a 4-3, but for the most part we were a 4-2-5 defense, so that was different. Given the variety in my responsibilities as one of those two linebackers, I know that I can adapt to whatever scheme I go to in the NFL.

I've put on weight since the end of the college season and I really don't want to go over 240 at this point. That being said, if a team were to draft me and tell me to put on weight I definitely would. I can move around from different spots and did that at TCU, 3-4 or a 4-3, either way I just want to go play some ball.

Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: Home
Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: Pro Day Workout - 4/3
Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: 2012 NFL Scouting Combine - 3/28
Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: Combine Training II - 2/23
Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: Combine Training - 2/2
Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: East-West Shrine Recap - 1/26
Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary: East-West Shrine Game - 1/20

tom johnson 02-04-2012 06:45 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.151 (total posts: 1)

hope you become a buffalo bill

Johnnyallstar 02-02-2012 03:46 pm xxx.xxx.xxx88.9 (total posts: 1)

I love the new feature Walt, hope we can see more next year.

Really good read Tank, hope you can keep calm and focused preparing for the combine. I'm sure you'll do just fine. Good luck bud.

connie rachunek sweeny, texas 02-02-2012 12:09 pm xxx.xxx.xxx1.33 (total posts: 1)

Congratulations on all your hard work, I love you so much and so proud for you!!!!

Tank fan 01-26-2012 10:21 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.203 (total posts: 2)

Sorry Tank, 4 of those thumbs down was me. I didn't understand what the symbols were until it was too late. I thought it was a link to open or something. So I clicked on a few to see what it was. Boo on me. Good luck man!!!

AJ 01-26-2012 03:50 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.186 (total posts: 2)

Thanks for taking the time to do this. You've made me a fan for sure.

David Gmerek 01-25-2012 08:00 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.164 (total posts: 1)

Best of LUCK on draft day.
David & Glenda Gmerek

Samuel N. 01-25-2012 11:22 am xxx.xxx.xxx.203 (total posts: 2)

Good luck in your journey Tank. You possess rare talents young man. I have followed your career and watched you grow and mature during your college experience. The first time I watched you play was beside Darrell Washington and you made that pick 6 at the Utah game in Ft. Worth 3 years ago. Your level of play is like none other. Even though you were injured and hurting all 3 seasons, you still maintained an elite level of dedication to contribute to the Horned Frogs amazing successes! I shutter to think of the records you could have broken if you weren't hurt. Everything about you makes you a first round pick to any NFL team in my opinion. You are one of very few that will go down in TCU history as one of the greatest and MOST memorable Horned Frog!!

Cris Lowe 01-22-2012 11:08 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.34 (total posts: 1)

Wish the Falcons had less needs/more picks so we could draft Tank. He seems like the type who could be a fan favorite, and by doing the diary is showing that he cares about fans. Keep it up Tank, Il be rooting for you, and Im sure alot of other people from this site will be too.

Tiffany Temple 01-21-2012 05:36 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.206 (total posts: 1)

Your a machine! I'm so excited to see what life brings you next! Keep up your determination and hard work...see ya on the flip side!!

Terry Ullom 01-20-2012 09:52 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.195 (total posts: 1)

I have enjoyed watching you grow into the player you are and also the person you have become. You have always had that drive to be the best and are a special athlete. Sweeny boy.

Geoff 01-20-2012 02:37 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.44 (total posts: 1)

118

Tank, TCU is going to miss you! You were a great leader and I have no doubt you will thrive at the next level.

- 01-20-2012 11:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx92.4 (total posts: 1)

comment censored by SOPA

Jon Taylor 01-20-2012 08:26 am xxx.xxx.xxx.190 (total posts: 1)

Wow. You managed to get Carder to do this. I like the guy even more now. I see Carder as a Daryl Washington type ILB in the 3-4 and would love the Cardinals to pair them up together next year.

Good luck Tank you'll do great wherever you end up and great job Walt this site gets better by the day.

Todd Marinovich's Trip 01-20-2012 05:38 am xxx.xxx.xxx.226 (total posts: 1)

Another AWESOME new feature!

Also, well done Tank. Loved watching you in college (no homo, mind). A real tackling machine. I think you are going to be a success in NFL.

AJ 01-20-2012 04:15 am xxx.xxx.xxx.186 (total posts: 2)

Thanks for doing this, I hope the Rams draft you!

Pages: 1 23

2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 21

2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21

Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3

NFL Picks - Feb. 3

Tank Carder 2012 NFL Draft Diary

Leave a comment