Center Nick Easton traded to 49ers (traded to MIN) | Page 5

Phoenix49ers · 2015-09-05T09:14:51-07:00

Not yet official but it seems likely. A rookie center from Harvard, he was one of the highest rated rookies in the preseason. Adam Caplan- #Ravens are in process of trading UDFA C Nick Easton to #49ers, source said Jeff Deeney &rlm;@PFF_Jeff 50s50 seconds ago New #49ers center Nick Easton led all centers in the preseason with a +9.1 overall grade including +7.7 run blocking. Nick Easton, C, Ravens (6.7) One of the things you learn watching preseason is just how bad backup offensive line play is league-wide. When you get down to the second and third teams, the O-line is regularly getting destroyed by the D-line, so when somebody stands out from that crowd it can be significant. Easton has been the highest-graded rookie center so far in preseason, by some distance. He may not have been facing first-team defenders, but he has graded positively against the run every game, and has allowed just one hurry over 123 snaps.

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:09 AM

#61

Kolohe
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Originally posted by fan49:
Easton earned a plus-9.1 grade from Pro Football Focus during the preseason. apparently best center in preseason... How much can we trust a grade during preseason? I dont know but if it puts a better lineman on the starting line than devy, Im for it

We shall see how much credibility PFF has once Easton starts at Center.

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:09 AM

#62

Gore_21
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Posts: 12,685

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Not the biggest guy around, played at Harvard, nothing really jumped out at you about him, limited athleticism, not really a good fit for a man blocking system.

a little kilgore like? we certainly have seen plenty of successful centers who are undersized and not physically gifted... especially in zone blocking.

I'll get way ahead of myself and say it sure would be nice having Kilgore competing at LG/RG next year and not needing him at C. I think Martin would be better off at C too so wouldn't mind one of those 2 working out and using Kilgore at LG/RG.

[ Edited by Gore_21 on Sep 5, 2015 at 10:09 AM ]

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:09 AM

#63

Kolohe
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Posts: 67,003

Originally posted by WerschingMachine:
This could mean either Wright or Bellore get cut. That would give them another comp pick back to make up for the one they traded away.

You can't get comp picks by cutting your own players.

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:10 AM

#64

DeUh
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Posts: 4,006

Nick Easton (C) played 155 snaps this Preseason and has allowed 0 sacks, 0 hits and 1 hurry.

[ Edited by DeUh on Sep 5, 2015 at 10:17 AM ]

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:10 AM

#65

Gore_21
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Posts: 12,685

Originally posted by WerschingMachine:
This could mean either Wright or Bellore get cut. That would give them another comp pick back to make up for the one they traded away.

I was wondering about that... isn't it past the dead line or do trades/pickups still count?

DeUh, that's an awesome stat. are the ravens really that loaded they didnt want to develop him? probably figure why not turn an udfa into a 7th or 6th like we did with carrier udfa to 5..

[ Edited by Gore_21 on Sep 5, 2015 at 10:11 AM ]

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:10 AM

#66

jreff22
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So I thought PFF grades for OL weren't accurate...

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:10 AM

#67

captveg
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Originally posted by susweel:
A young man who played college football at an acclaimed university such as Harvard most assuredly must have other aspirations other than pounding his head into another human beings head. In other words I expect his career to be relatively short. However as others have stated before me "he can't be any worse than what we already have".

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:11 AM

#68

NCommand
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Posts: 123,365

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Found this comment on Niners Nation, thought it was a pretty good one. My guess would be is that Martin is eventually destined for guard along with Thomas with this guy fighting with Kilgore for the starting spot at C, which would indicate a plan to move more fully towards a zone blocking scheme.

Commitment to Zone Blocking... You absolutely need a guy like this at center to run a ZBS at a high level. A smaller smarter player like Chris Myers whose speed of recognition and quickness and good use of angles lets him combo and get to the second level. Martin is more of a gap scheme center, who makes a better ZBS guard. Probably not a move that pays immediate dividends but a step in the right direction to better match personnel with scheme.

OK Phoenix you got me that was me who made this comment. Sorry about that, the knowledge just kicks in sometimes.

Plus the release of Looney is yet another example of moving away from power with a full transition into ZBS personnel fits!

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:11 AM

#69

NCommand
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Originally posted by jreff22:
So I thought PFF grades for OL weren't accurate...

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:11 AM

#70

Phoenix49ers
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Originally posted by Kolohe:
We shall see how much credibility PFF has once Easton starts at Center.

Its not just PFF, their numbers have been all over the place but Easton genuinely has played well, good against the run and the pass. A nice prospect to develop.

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:13 AM

#71

dtg_9er
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Posts: 33,204

Originally posted by Gore_21:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Not the biggest guy around, played at Harvard, nothing really jumped out at you about him, limited athleticism, not really a good fit for a man blocking system.

a little kilgore like? we certainly have seen plenty of successful centers who are undersized and not physically gifted... especially in zone blocking.

I'll get way ahead of myself and say it sure would be nice having Kilgore competing at LG/RG next year and not needing him at C. I think Martin would be better off at C too so wouldn't mind one of those 2 working out and using Kilgore at LG/RG.

Intelligence, grit, tenacity and quickness over sheer power...a lot of ZBS guys are less formidable looking than they actually play in the scheme.

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:13 AM

#72

Phoenix49ers
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Posts: 132,179

Originally posted by jreff22:
So I thought PFF grades for OL weren't accurate...

Don't have to look at PFF, Easton was one of the best performing rookies in the preseason.

Just talked to a few teams about C Nick Easton: Tape was very good from preseason, rarely made mistakes. Solid developmental player.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 5, 2015

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:13 AM

#73

Kolohe
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Posts: 67,003

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
We shall see how much credibility PFF has once Easton starts at Center.

Its not just PFF, their numbers have been all over the place but Easton genuinely has played well, good against the run and the pass. A nice prospect to develop.

I was watching the Ravens vs Atlanta game, I couldn't really get a good view on him, anyone know how he did in that game?

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:14 AM

#74

Phoenix49ers
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Posts: 132,179

Originally posted by Gore_21:
I was wondering about that... isn't it past the dead line or do trades/pickups still count?

DeUh, that's an awesome stat. are the ravens really that loaded they didnt want to develop him? probably figure why not turn an udfa into a 7th or 6th like we did with carrier udfa to 5..

They've got an outstanding starting center and a solid backup as well, its one of their deeper positions and they weren't going to be able to sneak Easton to the PS.

[ Edited by Phoenix49ers on Sep 5, 2015 at 10:14 AM ]

Sep 5, 2015 at 10:16 AM

#75

fan49
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Posts: 6,293

Originally posted by jreff22:

looks pretty good to me