Eagles Glimpse Offensive Line's Future

The most obvious question asked of Eagles rookie left tackle Andre Dillard is how much Jason Peters has helped his development.

The not so obvious question is how has Isaac Seumalo helped Dillard adjust to life in the National Football League? Seumalo is, after all, the player who lines up next to Dillard at left guard.

The answer is Seumalo has helped immensely.

“He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life,” said Dillard. “He doesn’t say a whole lot, but the things he says mean something. He carries weight with his words, for sure. Playing next to him, who’s played every position across the offensive line and tight end, he’s just such a reliable guy. You can always count on him to know what he’s doing and to be a good teammate.”

Seumalo and Dillard have become friends away from the field. They, along with other teammates, share a beer, take in a Sixers or Phillies game on television or in person, or just hang out together. It’s that time away that Seumalo said is so important and something rookies need to have.

“The biggest thing is understanding the season is a marathon so you have to mentally put everything into one week then kind of flush it all kind of refresh for about 24 hours and get ready another week,” said Seumalo. “I think the mental part is the biggest thing for such a young guy, for rookies.

“The season is long and long and long and just goes on and on and on. It’s super repetitive. You do the same stuff every day, so it’s important for guys to rest, kind of get away, go hang out. It’s hard for rookies because you’re so locked in to, ‘I have to get better, coaches are on me, the spotlight is on me.’ You have to try to balance your life out.”

Dillard, who turned 24 on Oct. 3, and Seumalo, who turned 26 on Oct. 29, are the future of the left side of the Eagles’ line.

For the past three-and-a-half games they have been the present, but when Peters returns from a knee injury that has sidelined him for that time, he will return to the starting lineup.

“I've been really impressed with Andre,” said head coach Doug Pederson on Monday. “Gosh, he had another good game (Sunday against the Chicago Bears) with these two pass rushers, Khalil (Mack) and Leonard (Floyd), he played well. I do think when JP is healthy and comes back, I still think it's JP's position moving forward.”

Peters, 37, is winding down a Hall of Fame career and has been the Eagles’ starting left tackle since being acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills in 2009 and has been a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler in that span.

Those are some mighty big shoes for Dillard to step into once his time comes.

It will help to have Seumalo next to him.

Seumalo, drafted in the third round of the same draft that delivered quarterback Carson Wentz back in 2016, signed a contract extension in the offseason that is guaranteed through 2020 but could run for as far out as 2024.

With the exception of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week Two, Seumalo has played well this season.

“Both those guys have really, for the three and a half games they have been together now, really have gelled and have kind of been on the same page,” said Pederson. “There's a lot of communication … You see them blocking schemes and different things, combo blocks and all that. Stuff that it kind of takes some time to develop, and you see a little chemistry with those two and that's possibly the future there at that left side.”

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