Bills' bid to bolster depth in draft includes Tank

"  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) When it came to adding depth to their revamped defense on thefinal day of the NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills couldn't pass up theopportunity to pick a Tank.That's exactly what they did with their second of twofifth-round picks on Saturday, by selecting Tank Carder, a highlydecorated play-making linebacker out of TCU.Though undersized by NFL linebacker standards at 6-foot-3 and237 pounds, Carder is coming off an accomplished college career inwhich he was a two-time Mountain West Conference defensive playerof the year. He also earned defensive MVP honors in the 2011 RoseBowl.Carder helped key a 21-19 win over Wisconsin by breaking up apotential game-tying two-point conversion with 2 minutes left.''I'm just excited to be at the point I'm at right now and justmake the best of out of every opportunity,'' said Carder, a formerworld and national BMX champion, referring to a past that's ascolorful as his first name. ''I kind of live life in the moment. Idon't dwell on the past.''Bills scout Shawn Heinlen smiled when asked about Carder'sbackground.''Yeah, you're not going to find many like that,'' Heinlen said.''He is a competitor in everything he does.''Selected 147th overall, Carder was the second of two linebackersthe Bills drafted on Saturday after opening the day taking FloridaState's Nigel Bradham with the 105th pick.Buffalo also drafted LSU cornerback Ron Brooks (124th), andadded a pair of offensive linemen: FSU tackle Zebrie Sanders(144th) and Oregon guard/center Mark Asper (178th). The Billsclosed the draft taking Western Michigan kicker John Potter withthe 251st pick.The players the Bills selected over the final four rounds areexpected to compete for backup spots, adding necessary depth to ateam that's raised expectations this offseason after signingdefensive end Mario Williams to a six-year $100 million contract infree agency.They're coming off a 6-10 season in which a rash of injuries andlack of depth were blamed on the team losing eight of its finalnine games to miss the playoffs for a 12th straight year.The latest additions come after the Bills filled key needs inthe first three rounds by selecting South Carolina cornerbackStephon Gilmore with the 10th pick, Georgia tackle Cordy Glenn(41st) and North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham (69th).''We were able to fill everyone (spot) that we set out tofill,'' general manager Buddy Nix said in assessing the draft. ''Wewanted two corners, two tackles, we wanted a wide receiver. Wewanted two linebackers, and we were able to get those guys. We gotbigger. And we got faster. I just hope it was in the rightspots.''Of the six players Buffalo picked Saturday, Carder's selectionraised the most interest.There was his success in BMX racing before he gave up the sportbecause he wanted to try something new. Then, as a 13-year-old,Carder overcame serious injuries sustained in a car crash, in whichthere were questions of whether he would ever walk again.Formally named Ricky Carder Jr., he picked up ''Tank'' at 18months, when a family friend started calling him that because ofCarder's hefty 33-pound frame.And he played like a tank at TCU, where he started his final 39games despite having several operations to repair shoulderinjuries, and breaking a finger last season.''He's a tough guy,'' Nix said. ''He brings that kind oftemperament to us, and you like to add those kind of guys.''Though Carder needs to build strength to play at the NFL level,he's regarded to have good instincts in reading plays, and is faston his feet.Bradham, the FSU linebacker, is a three-year starter and becamethe first Seminoles player to lead the team in tackles for threestraight seasons since Marvin Jones did that from 1990-92. Listedat 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, he's a solid hitter and has shown acapability of dropping back into coverage.Brooks adds depth to the Bills defensive backfield after beingovershadowed at LSU, where he was part of a star-studded defensivesecondary that featured Morris Claiborne, who was selected byDallas with the sixth pick of the draft, and junior TyrannMathieu.''My focus wasn't being one of the guys to get all the publicityand get all the shine,'' Brooks said. ''It's not about me being inthe limelight. I'm just one of those guys. I'm all about winningfor my team.''Brooks did make the most out of his limited playing time,showing he was capable of covering receivers, defending against therun and pressuring quarterbacks. He had 5 1/2 sacks, 12 1/2 tacklesfor losses, three interceptions and five forced fumbles in 53games, including three starts.Sanders, the Florida State offensive lineman, is listed at6-foot-5 and 308 pounds. He started 50 of 53 games, and hasexperience playing both tackle positions.Asper, listed at 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, was a three-yearstarter at Oregon, splitting time at guard and tackle. He was partof an offense that ranked third in the nation in scoring and fifthin rushing last year.Potter completed his four-year career with 333 points, to set aschool record among kickers. The Bills already have a veterankicker in Rian Lindell, but Nix said the team would consider usingPotter on kickoffs because of his strong leg. Potter had 36touchbacks alone last season. He becomes the first kicker the Billshave selected in the draft since picking John Nies in 1990."