Rookie Trent Brown slimming down, looking good at 49ers OTAs

I wrote more words about San Francisco 49ers rookie Trent Brown's bigness than I originally intended to when I set out to write his 90-in-90 post this offseason. I still recommend you give it a look, but if you don't, I can sum up real quick: he's a giant. A large boulder with arms. If you pushed him down a street in San Francisco he'd level half a block. He could devour Joe Staley and Anthony Davis, and still be able to down half an Alex Boone if he were feeling a bit peckish.

On top of that, he's also a very good player. I like what I saw of Brown on tape, most notably his ability to utilize leverage. As a general rule, the taller an offensive lineman is, the tougher it is for him to utilize leverage properly. Size is a good thing to have, but the inability to properly utilize that size is a surefire way to get tipped over onto your back before you realize the play has started. That's not a problem with Brown.

Still, he's a rookie and my expectations for him might be a little bit unrealistic. It would be accurate to say I'm on the Trenton Brown hype train (there is seriously room on here for everyone, join the fun), which is why I was really excited to see the positive buzz about him in this article from Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Brown, a rookie taken in the seventh round of this year's draft, was the starting right tackle at times during organized team activities. That's because starter Anthony Davis is not participating in these OTAs, while Erik Pears, the presumed swing tackle, is filling in at right guard because Alex Boone is also not participating. So Brown was drafted into duty at the right tackle spot and according to Barrows, he doesn't look like a rookie.

Barrows says that Brown "looks the part" of a starting right tackle, and noted that he fared well in one-on-one pass-rush drills. Of course, those drills are very limited contact, but as Barrows notes, it's a good gauge for a lineman's athleticism. One of the biggest concerns with someone of Brown's size is how well he can move. Barrows notes that Brown looks quicker the more weight he loses.

Brown is down into the 350-pound range, though he was once approaching 390 at his heaviest. So he's slimming down and benefiting from it. He's benefiting so much that he only lost one of the pass-rushing drills ... to Aldon Smith, one of the best player's on San Francisco's roster.

I'm really excited to see what we can make of Brown going forward. I think he has starting potential, and while that creates a "problem" when it comes to the fact that the 49ers already have a starter at both tackle spots, it's a good problem to have. Brown has a long way to go, but for now I'm very excited. The hype train is accepting passengers.