Steelers Isaac Seumalo And Extraordinary College Coach Nick Saban Share This 1 Remarkable Tool For Their Success

The Pittsburgh Steelers offseason has been one that fans and analysts alike have raved about. One of the best signings came in the form of an offensive lineman from the Philadelphia Eagles, Isaac Seumalo.

Seumalo is a formidable presence on the line at 6’3” and roughly 300 pounds. But it is not just his physical presence that has had an impact, it is also his mental game. 

Recently Seumalo’s former teammate and partner on the offensive line spoke up about his many talents. Jason Kelce, a highly respected center, told the media how impressed he has been by Seumalo and how hard it will be for the Eagles to fill his cleats. 

“He’s one of the best guards in the NFL, and I think he has been. I think he’s one of the most consistent players I’ve ever been around. So we’re not going to replace Isaac.” 

During his seven seasons in the NFL, Seumalo has battled early on to earn his starting role and also against injuries. Recently, he appeared on an episode of House of Yinzer and spoke about how adversity helped to shape him and make him a better player. 

The show’s hosts, LeeAnn Lowman and Allison Koehler, asked Seumalo about his “welcome to the NFL moment.” He told them that the moment tied into the adversity he experienced and helped him learn to be stronger in all areas. 

Steelers Seumalo Uses All Available Resources To Improve

Seumalo said his “welcome to the NFL moment” came during his second season, unlike most players. 

“I think it kind of waited to my second year, in that second game, when I ended up getting benched, for a good reason. I didn’t play well, it was not a good feeling.” 

He admits that the 2017 season was a tough one. Seumalo, a third-round pick in 2016, had been given the starting job and lost it. He acknowledges now that was on him, you have to do more than earn it, you have to keep it. He didn’t get through that tough time all on his own. In addition to having support from his family and teammates, he enlisted help from a person who doesn’t get a lot of credit from outsiders. 

“There’s another guy that I really have to give a lot of credit to, Dr. Lonny Rosen, he was a sports psychologist with the Eagles and he does a lot of consulting for other teams.” 

While he might not be a household name, Dr. Lionel “Lonny” Rosen is a major contributor to the evolution of football. He’s a psychologist that has changed the way coaches and players approach football. Rosen is credited with helping the famed University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban, evolve his coaching style. This has resulted in Saban winning more College Football National Championships than any other coach. 

Saban and Rosen met when Saban was coaching at Michigan State in the 1990s. He taught the coach and his players that what is critical is to focus on the next play and then the play after that and so on. This is more effective than focusing on a whole game. 

Rosen also gained some notoriety when he helped Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson through one of the darkest periods of his life. Johnson who had been battling injuries and depression had decided to give up on football during the middle of the season. Rosen, worked with Johnson to develop a plan to address his concerns.

“I’ve been talking to him for the past four or five years and he has changed my whole kind of approach and mental attitude about the game which really kind of manifested physically as well," Seumalo said. 

Seumalo says one of the biggest keys he learned is to be consistent. Like that old Bruce Lee saying about practice. 

“I fear not the man that has practiced 10,000 kicks but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” 

While many kids fantasize about being able to play professional sports, it is not easy nor is it as simple as just having talent. You not only have to be among the best in the world at your position, but you also have to be able to be mistake-free over and over again against others who are the best at their position to succeed.

That kind of pressure takes a toll, you have to be able to forget quickly about any mistakes you make. Seumalo said that he is a better player today because of the bumps in the road he experienced but that doesn't mean he doesn't wish he learned it all the easy way.