Keisel welcomes challenge
LATROBE — Brett Keisel is less worried about his responsibilities as the Pittsburgh Steelers' new right defensive end than he is about what fans might say when a back runs through his side of the line.
"People are going to say 'Well, if Kimo was there the play would've been different,"' Keisel said. "There is a lot of pressure. But I like pressure."
So far, he's handling it well. Keisel gained 15 pounds to better replace the departed Kimo von Oelhoffen and is drawing raves as training camp reaches the middle of its second week. The consensus is that Keisel brings the same rush he did as a passing-down lineman for the past two years, but that he can also handle two gaps in the Steelers' 3-4 defense.
Left tackle Marvel Smith, who has to block Keisel in practice, raved about the difference he's seen this year.
"He's a lot stronger," said Smith. "I was amazed that he put on all of that weight to get bigger and he still has all the quickness that he had when he was a lot lighter."
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was one of von Oelhoffen's biggest fans. LeBeau coached him in both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, so he's careful when he speaks about Keisel's improvement.
"If nothing else, we're a faster defense with Keisel," LeBeau said.
Last season, the Steelers fielded one of their fastest defenses ever under Bill Cowher.
With Keisel, the former wedge-buster, among the front three, the Steelers now have another edge. All he has to do is stand up as a run stuffer and the Steelers' defense will have been improved.
"He came in with a lot of pressure to perform and to play the position as well as Kimo played it," said fellow lineman Chris Hoke. "And I think Brett's done an unbelievable job of stepping up and playing well in practice and showing he can not only pass rush but play the run."
The Steelers drafted Keisel in the seventh round in 2002, but he didn't take a meaningful defensive snap until 2004. Last season, he made only 13 tackles, but it was a career high by 10. He played his best game against Denver in the AFC Championship game when he sacked Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer twice, among his career-high four tackles, and forced the fumble that Joey Porter recovered to seal the trip to the Super Bowl.
Keisel parlayed his strong finish into a four-year contract that included a $3.29 million signing bonus. He doesn't need to keep his weight down to cover kicks anymore.
