Hi Brian,
On 'Generic settings', Essential has a setting 'layout' that when unset has the 'content' -> 'blocks' -> 'blocks' layout. When set it has the older 'blocks' -> 'content' -> 'blocks' layout.
I've recently created a milestone for myself for Essential M2.9: https://github.com/gjb2048/moodle-theme_essential/milestones/Moodle%202.9%20version - the initial deadline I've given myself is the end of September.
Cheers,
Gareth