“Please! I love being on this defense”: When Brett Keisel walked into Dick LeBeau’s office

Editor’s Note: The only problem with writing a book with Dick LeBeau about the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers defense and his life is that not everything is included. What follows is a behind-the-scenes story.

Dick LeBeau remembers the meeting as one where he simply explained how his defense fits together. Brett Keisel remembers it as a reminder of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It happened during the 2007 season, when the Steelers were allowing the fewest yards in the NFL (266.4 per game) and the second fewest points (16.8 per game). Keisel was on the rise, writing the next chapter of an unusual career.

He was signed by the Steelers as the second of two seventh-round picks in the 2002 NFL Draft. The 242nd pick of that draft fought his way into the team with his play on the special teams – and stayed there.

Keisel, a lean, athletic end, became part of the defensive line rotation in 2005. He moved into the starting lineup the next year, starting all 16 games and recording five and a half sacks.

The following season, frustration set in. Keisel felt miscast as a defensive end whose primary role was to keep blockers busy. He liked LeBeau, but thought he could do more.

One morning he was talking to LeBeau about his open-door policy. He was sitting in LeBeau’s office when LeBeau came in and said, “What’s up, big boy? How are you?”

Not so good, said Keisel.

“Oh dear,” said LeBeau as he sat down at his desk. “What’s bothering you?”

Keisel said he believes he can do more. How will he ever make the Pro Bowl and get a big contract if he doesn’t also pressure the pass and get into coverage?

Whatever catharsis Keisel felt vanished when LeBeau asked him urgently if he was finished.

“I wanted to crawl out of his office immediately,” Keisel said, laughing.

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound player felt like he was shrinking when it was LeBeau’s turn. He asked Keisel where the Steelers had ranked in defensive categories recently (answer: either first or at the top of the NFL) and what the Steelers had accomplished in 2005 (answer: won their first Super Bowl since 1979).

Here’s how Keisel remembers part of LeBeau’s counterargument:

“I’ve got to get something straight with you. I make decisions about our defense so we can be No. 1, so we can be the best defense we can be. If you think I make decisions for James (Harrison) or Troy (Polamalu) or anybody else so they can make all the plays and be All-Pro, you’re a fool. You’re a great guy up front. You force people to take two guys to block you. That’s a weapon. Maybe you don’t want to be that weapon anymore. Maybe I should find somebody else for that job.”

Keisel got down on his knees after LeBeau was finished – literally.

“Coach, I can’t wait to practice double coverage in practice today,” Keisel said. “Please! I love being on this defense.”

LeBeau had obviously made his point clear.

“I know you do, but remember, it’s about all of us,” he told Keisel. “When I make a decision or make a play that I think the defense can win, it’s about the entire defense. So when someone else makes a play, we all make a play.”

They certainly did some of those in 2008.