I just soaked in a bunch of footage of Easley. I understand that people are hesitant about his injuries but I encourage those people to go watch him play for a bit. He is a freaking stud. Impressions:
1) Yes he is explosive, extremely explosive at that, but it's not just the explosion but rather his economy of movement that makes him effective so getting upfield. He's at the pads or swimming before the lineman fully gets out of his stance with zero wasted movement. He's 6'2 and short armed so the fact that he swims so much was a surprise to me. It's effective though. I'll get into why in a bit.
2) He played all over the line. He played the 1, the 3, the 7, and took a handful of snaps at the wide 9...and he did all well. He beat tackles, got under them and either came across, ripped to the outside, or effectively bulled the tackle to get the quarterback off the spot. He was too fast for guards, and surprisingly held his own with really good leverage and pad level while peeking. He got off blocks inside very, very well.
3) He scrapes like a linebacker when it flows to his side but also doesn't give up the cutback on zone plays where he is the backside end. He sees the field very well for a lineman.
4) This is the key to his game in my mind; hand technique. Tying into why he's effective with his swim and excellent shedding for the run, his hands are active, fast, and violent. Guys just don't get their hands on his pads. Wax on, wax off young man.
I understand that health is a concern but his tape is as good as you're gonna get. Reminds me a bit of John Randle.
