Isaac Seumalo's anything but the type to announce some sort of leadership status within the Steelers' offensive line. The man's been in the fold barely a couple months and, to boot, bombast isn't part of his repertoire.
But, as I was told in no uncertain terms this week at OTAs on the South Side, he's already having a significant impact beyond the field.
Now, to be clear, this shouldn't surprise anyone. Seumalo, signed out of free agency from Philadelphia in late March to a three-year, $24 million contract, was a leader and so much more in seven seasons with the Eagles. Even after his exit, the truly great Jason Kelce, his longtime center, told reporters out there, "We’re not going to replace Isaac. Me personally, I think he’s probably the smartest player I’ve ever been around. Really, really gifted physically, mentally, across the board. I think the Steelers are getting a steal."
This is who he is: I mentioned that to Seumalo the other day, and he smiled slightly and almost silently replied, "That was nice of him."
See, I like Mason Cole. A lot. I believe he's been far more solid at center than anyone had cause to expect upon arriving a year ago, and I further believe someone, anyone needed to stand up and speak for the offensive line through the 2022 season. He not only accepted that but also embraced it, and that was appreciated by his mates. But there can be a massive difference between facing a flank of microphones and the level of leadership that's needed internally. The steadying presence. The outright accountability.
I've seen some of that from Dan Moore Jr., as well. He's even talked about wanting to be that guy someday. But that player's also got to ... well, he's got to start.
I spent a fair amount of time with Seumalo this week, but I want to stress this didn't come from him in any capacity: He's showing the way, through both word and deed. He's also setting a standard and ensuring that it's followed. Really ensuring, from what I've heard.
Do. Not. Underestimate. This.
MORE STEELERS
• More people are liking what they see in Kenny Pickett's throws than ever. There's strength on the deep throws, sufficient zip on the intermediate ones, and touch on the short ones. They still don't come with picture-perfect spirals, particularly the intermediate ones, but, as Mike Tomczak, one of the Steelers' quarterbacks in 1993-99, would say, "It's a catchable ball. And that matters more than anything."
• It was a joy watching an entire practice with Tomczak, I should share. A 15-year NFL veteran and author of 16,079 career yards and 88 passing touchdowns, it's a humbling experience to listen and learn through every drill, large and small. Nobody, nobody, nobody ever knows the game like those who've played it at the highest level. Oh, and Tomczak's still in the game, now a volunteer quarterbacks coach at Youngstown State University.
• Moving on to yet another quarterback, I was told this by Calvin Austin III: "I really wish more people knew what Mitch Trubisky means to this team, to our offense, as a player and as a leader. I can't ... I can't even find the words for it."
• Expect more screens, as I reported in a column, the other day, but expect a good many of them to go to ... Anthony McFarland? Yeah, remember him? If anyone's noticed that he's back while Benny Snell (as of yet) isn't, I'm told that this is why. Neither of the top two running backs, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, is particularly proficient at catching the ball, but McFarland's been doing it forever. Snell might be the better runner and he's by far the better special teams performer -- and McFarland's going to have to figure out the latter, too -- but this, apparently, is part of the ongoing push toward a more diversified, less predictable offense.
• The two-word response I get from anyone when inquiring about any worries at outside linebacker: Nick Herbig. They really like him.
• Love this rookie class. All of them. Thought the excitement over the NFL Draft was deserved in the moment. It should be something else entirely now. Including how these players are carrying themselves.
PIRATES
• Could both Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez arrive at the same time? Don't rule it out. Say what one will of Ben Cherington's 2023 plan for these two -- and I've said plenty -- but the goal always has been for them to catch simultaneously in Pittsburgh ... while also, of course, spreading out to other positions to keep their bats in the lineup. Cherington himself will acknowledge this is a highly unusual way to make up a lineup, but I've heard it'd been discussed internally as far back as this past winter. Where, rather than considering either the starting catcher, they'd split the load and stay as active as possible.
• The $364 million Mets are in town this week, mired in a six-game losing streak comprised of sweeps by the Blue Jays and Braves, and they're now 30-33. But there won't be any payroll-based gloating over at 115 Federal. Even with their massive disparities in approach -- and resources, I should add -- the respective owners of the franchises, Bob Nutting and Steve Cohen, are known to be friends and regularly in communication.
• If and when AT&T SportsNet completes its seemingly inevitable collapse, Major League Baseball will pay 80% of whatever the Pirates -- or any team in a similar situation -- would've received for the remainder of the season, while also claiming the rights for themselves. Which, by the way, is precisely what I reported back in the spring -- well, not with that exact percentage -- would happen because of how badly Rob Manfred would love to control as many local broadcasting contracts as possible and continue expanding the immensely profitable realm of Major League Baseball's Advanced Media arm.
• Don't say this too loudly, but if all teams made roughly the same amount in TV money, there'd be no hard need for a salary cap.
• I've panned Andy Haines as a hitting coach for months, so it's only fair to share that I've heard nothing but positives for Haines as related to Ke'Bryan Hayes' recent turnaround. It was Haines' idea, going back to May, to try to instill more balance to Hayes' approach. And once he instituted the toe-tap with the left foot on the morning of May 30 upon the team's flight into San Francisco, a tweak aimed at reminding Hayes of the change, enough body weight's shifted back that Hayes can now -- gasp! -- pull the ball with regularity. Hayes is 14 for 29 with two home runs and seven RBIs in the past week alone. "I feel so much stronger," as he'd tell me. Good for both of them.
• Mitch Keller will be fine. Remember where this was read first, all right?
PENGUINS
• For more reasons than I can count, from more sources than I can count, I'm not expecting Tristan Jarry back in Pittsburgh for the 2023-24 NHL season. I'll leave that right there.
• Kyle Dubas will set up his new position as president of hockey operations in such a way that he's the de facto general manager and that he's ... well, presiding over all hockey operations. All of them. And unlike his predecessors, he'll operate on a seven-year contract that'll give him more security than anyone in the organization, even Mike Sullivan, which will alter that positional dynamic, as well. None of us can know if it'll be change for the better, but I can state definitively, based on what I've learned so far, that it'll very much change.
• The situation between Fenway Sports Group and Mario Lemieux, which I've previously described as involving how all parties handled a disgruntled minority partner, will work itself out. For real. As FSG's Dave Beeston stated upon the recent firings of the previous front office, the current ownership very much wants Mario involved. Here's hoping that happens this summer.
• Beeston, the son of Paul Beeston, former president of the Blue Jays from 1989-2002, has impressed a lot of folks in local hockey circles.
• The Panthers, following last night's Game 3 win in the Stanley Cup Final, are now three shy of their first championship. And this only because the Penguins couldn't beat a Chicago team that was actively attempting to lose a game on that bizarre night at PPG Paints Arena. (Please, please, please don't make me divulge what I heard about the Blackhawks on that same night on the elevator ride down to the locker rooms.) End result on three different fronts: Florida's in the Final, the longest active playoff streak in professional sports was snapped and, oh, by the way, the Blackhawks still wound up winning the NHL's draft lottery to land Connor Bedard.
Most seismic regular-season game in league history?
• Thanks so much for reading Insider. And no, seriously, I'm not elaborating on Jarry or the Blackhawks. I just enjoy the teasing.
