If this youth movement along the offensive line is going to take shape, then that group needs someone to teach them the tricks of the trade.
Beginning his second season as a Steeler, Isaac Seumalo is just that. The guard has been there and done that in the NFL and was the team's best linemen in his first year since signing as a free agent via the Eagles. At 30 years old, Seumalo is the elder statesman of the offensive line. In all likelihood he will have rookies Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier starting alongside him with rookie Mason McCormick waiting in the wings.
"They've been awesome," Seumalo said after Tuesday's OTA practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "They're coachable, obviously super talented. They've come in and all they want to do is learn and get better and that's great because that's what we're all here to do."
Seumalo started in all 17 games last season. He proved to be an efficient run blocker while finishing as one of the better guards in the NFL as a pass blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, Seumalo ranked 12th out of 79 NFL guards in 2023. In 2022, he finished 10th out of 77 guards in their grading.
Though that number is not a complete indicator of Seumalo's productivity, it's noteworthy from a consistency standpoint. Even though the Steelers shifted their quarterbacks room around and went through Matt Canada and the Eddie Faulkner-Mike Sullivan connection at offensive coordinator, Seumalo was still able to produce.
Fautanu is not new to a process of learning from a veteran. He did not play in any games in his redshirt 2019 season at Washington and sat behind a pair of senior tackles. That observation experience helped him work into the starting lineup in 2020. He gets to apply those same methods into learning from guys like Seumalo.
"For me, it's just watching what he does daily, the little things to make sure that he's keeping up with his body, making sure he's ready to go for practice," Fautanu said. "A guy that's been in the league so long, they pick up little things to do every single day whether that's rolling out in the morning or doing certain things. So, I'm just watching him, whether he knows it or not, making sure that I pick up on the little things to carry into my daily routine."
Whether they involve the routines on the field or off the field, Seumalo seems to have those down to a science. He played in all 17 games last season for the second consecutive year. In his six NFL seasons prior to the 2022 season, he had not accomplished that. Seumalo also smoothly transitioned from being a right guard in Philadelphia to playing full-time on the left side in Pittsburgh.
"It's great to have guys like that, Isaac specifically," Frazier said. "It's pretty cool to watch him and how good he is and pick up on how he works, how he practices and asking him things. He's obviously played a lot of football, seen a lot of things and is a great veteran. ... You can tell it's a different speed that he plays with. I just try to watch him and learn as much as I can."
Broderick Jones and Fautanu's spots in the starting lineup come Week 1 are still to be determined. Frazier is the presumptive starting center while McCormick is likely going to be a swing guard as a reserve, with Nate Herbig moving to center. The offensive line has gone through a massive makeover since Andy Weidl joined the front office in 2022, and Seumalo was the blue-chip addition among a room of first-round tackles and interior guys with potential.
"Just seeing how he works every single day and the intentionality of how he does it has been great to learn from," McCormick said. "I think there's definitely more to think about this level in terms of your assignment, your footwork, how you want to get different things done and Isaac does it at a super high level and he explains it in a really good way. It's been great to learn from him."
Seumalo said he tries to help the rookies where he can, but he wants them to earn their own keep as Steelers. He has been a part of a Super Bowl champion team, and he knows a good offense when he sees one. Ushering in three rookies at the same time can be a challenge for any position group, but Seumalo has been a resource to help accelerate that growth.
"I'll help here and there, but it's been great having them here. All three of the rookies, they're going to help our team a lot," Seumalo said.
