Nick Eason brings simplicity, hand-to-hand combat to defensive tackles

Nick Eason is big on winning battles with your hands.CLEMSON – Nick Eason came to Clemson with a wealth of ideas about how to make the Tigers’ talented defensive line better, but his experience told him that sometimes simpler is better.

Eason has a combined 17 years as a player and coach in the NFL, and he learned a lot of lessons along the way. During his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007-2010, the Steelers won a Super Bowl and the defense was a perennial top-five unit in several categories. Why? Simplicity.

“We became creatures of habit,” Eason said. “When I look back, I can say what was the best time of my career that I played the best technique, and it was in Pittsburgh. And we…