Raiders turn to 49ers castoff Tank Carradine while Khalil Mack is holding out

NAPA - Instead of the Raiders’ best player digging his hand in the grass the first week of training camp opposite Bruce Irvin on the defensive line, it’s been a veteran defensive end cast off by the other Bay Area team after an injury-riddled 2017.

Tank Carradine played only eight games for San Francisco last year because of a high ankle sprain, and the big man never truly found the right fit in four seasons with the 49ers.

Now in a new home, and in a prominent role substituting for Khalil Mack while he holds out, Carradine hopes the stars are finally aligning to rejuvenate his career.

“Can’t wait to have (Mack) back, but it’s been cool. I’m able to get the defense down and help some of the younger guys pick up some stuff,” Carradine said Friday. “I’m excited that they’re giving me the opportunity to be able to get down there and get on the guards and get some 1-on-1, be able to get to the quarterback. That’s something that the 49ers didn’t really give me an opportunity to do. I’m excited that they’re giving me an opportunity to do that. I just gotta show what I do inside rushing.”

Take a look at Tank and you see why that’s his name. He stands 6 feet, 4 inches and weighs 270 pounds. If you need a physical specimen to fill in for your best player, Carradine is probably the guy for the job. Left guard Kelechi Osemele likes what he’s seen of Carradine’s bull rush, and that could be a problem for opposing tight ends this season.

“Tank’s a physical player in there. Over the tight ends, tough to block for a tight end,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “He’s picked it up. He’s smart. He’s understanding our defense, all the different blitzes and the coverages and fronts that we’re running. He’s been a real good surprise for us.”

Carradine played in only ?44 games for the 49ers from 2014-18 and started just eight. He played some outside linebacker, some defensive end and only tallied 5.5 sacks with 54 tackles and a lone forced fumble. Carradine felt he finally found the right scheme in 2017, but that’s when the injury bug hit.

Then the 49ers decided not to bring Carradine back, and Jon Gruden swooped in with an enticing phone call like he did with so many other veteran free agents this offseason.

“I felt like my time kind of ran out (in San Francisco). I felt like everything went along good. I didn’t have the success I wanted. I felt like I was in different schemes and couldn’t find the right scheme that actually fit me,” Carradine said. “And then when I actually found a scheme that actually fit me, I ended up getting hurt and missing (eight) games last year with a high ankle sprain. I couldn’t really have that full season to show what I do. But so far I’m here, I’m excited to be with the Raiders and excited to come out here and play with these guys.”

Carradine won’t stay on the first team once No. 52 returns, but he should have a significant role along with Arden Key behind Mack and Irvin this season. Carradine perked up when asked if Guenther’s defense allows him and others to get after the quarterback, something the 2017 Raiders struggled mightily to do under Ken Norton Jr. to start the season.

The idea of rushing inside excites Carradine, and his big body pummeling guards could free up space for Mack or Irvin. A 49er outcast coming off an injury may not have been a signing that appealed to Raiders fans, but Carradine is here to show he has plenty left in the tank regardless of where he falls on the depth chart.

“Whatever role they give me, I’m gonna play the role and do my best help the team win, help the younger guys out,” Carradine said. “Can’t wait till Khalil comes back, excited to play with him and be out there with him and Bruce.”