Brett Keisel was among the many former Steelers gamers who hung out at coaching camp final week, and the go to introduced again so many nice reminiscences. One of many extra underrated Steelers of his era and a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion, Keisel beloved a lot about tenting at Saint Vincent Faculty in Latrobe.
Bonding with teammates. Attending to know their households after they would go to camp. Fishing in one among close by Ligonier’s many streams when he had time to commerce the grind of soccer for the solitude of the woods.
One factor he doesn’t miss about camp: the practices that run scorching, and never simply due to the climate.
“It’s so enjoyable to be again there and so good to go there understanding you’re not going to should go on the market and smash individuals once more,” Keisel advised Steelers Depot Tuesday earlier than a talking engagement at Grandview Golf Membership simply exterior of Pittsburgh. “My physique nearly begins to have PTSD [getting] off that Irwin (turnpike) exit. It’s good taking place there and being like ‘Ha ha, you guys should undergo it now.’”
To say Keisel went by it throughout his first Steelers coaching camp is an understatement.
He arrived in Latrobe because the 242nd decide of the 2002 NFL Draft. As he playfully famous to former Steelers director of soccer operations/GM Kevin Colbert, who additionally attended the annual lunch honoring Pittsburgh-area highschool soccer teaching legends, he was the second of two Pittsburgh seventh-round picks that yr.
After enjoying as a rush defensive finish at BYU, Keisel needed to discover ways to play as a 3-4 finish within the Steelers’ protection. Which, to a rookie whose head was already spinning, generally appeared as international as making an attempt to write down backwards.
Keisel mentioned he knew he would battle to make the crew. And veteran defensive position coach John Mitchell had an attention-grabbing method of framing that sooner or later, as Keisel shared throughout lunch.
“Ninety-nine,” Mitchell mentioned, calling him by his jersey quantity, “are you aware the place Walmart is in Latrobe?”
Keisel mentioned certain, and requested Mitchell if he wanted one thing picked up from there.
“You’re going to wish to select your self up one thing,” Mitchell advised him. “Like a job utility as a result of it’s going to be powerful so that you can make this crew.”
Alrighty, then.
And Mitchell, who was nothing if not a taskmaster, seemingly put Keisel on blast each rattling day. He would pause the tape throughout a movie evaluation of apply to level out Keisel taking this step flawed or doing that flawed.
Lastly, Keisel approached among the different defensive linemen and requested, “What’s the cope with this man?”
“Effectively, Bear Bryant coached him, and he was the primary Black participant at Alabama,” second-year nostril sort out Casey Hampton advised him. “Been by somewhat little bit of tough stuff.”
That helped Keisel acquire a greater understanding of Mitchell. He additionally resolved to cease worrying a lot about Mitchell’s nitpicking and do one thing each apply to face out to the coaches.
“For me, that was kickoffs, punt return [coverage],” Keisel mentioned. “John Fiala was our crew captain on particular groups, and I used to be like, ‘That’s who I’m going after.’ Any time I had an opportunity to canine him, that’s what I used to be making an attempt to do. I confirmed sufficient performs, I assume, to face out and make the crew though Mitch mentioned I used to be going to get reduce day-after-day.”
In some ways, Keisel is the final word instance to fringe-roster gamers who’re in Steelers camp proper now. He fought his method onto the 53-man roster by way of particular groups, established himself as a core particular teamer, and have become a full-time starter in 2006.
Keisel retired following the 2014 season, after serving as a key cog on some nice Steelers defenses, together with a generational one in 2008, making a Professional Bowl, and turning into a fan favourite.
Oh, and he holds something however sick will towards Mitchell, who retired in 2023. His powerful love formed Keisel’s rise from late-round draft decide to one of many higher 3-4 NFL defensive ends for nearly a decade.
“He was top-of-the-line influences for me,” Keisel mentioned.
