Steelers' Bell Turns To 'Footwork King' To Improve His Game
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- After missing a quarter of last season with a nagging foot injury, Pittsburgh Steelers' running back Le'Veon Bell decided to work on his footwork this past off-season.
He lost 12 pounds in an attempt to get quicker, and then he did something he had never done before. He hired a personal trainer whose specialty was feet.
WEB EXTRA: Video Of Bell's Footwork Workout:
"This past summer, I wanted to get better," said Bell. "I felt like my rookie season, I wasn't as quick as I wanted to be. I was still pretty quick, but i wasn't at the next level where I wanted to be."
He heard about the work being done by the man who calls himself "the footwork king," Rasheed Whitfield.
He worked on unique moves that tested his mind and his feet at the same time; so that, in time, it would just come naturally.
"Doing the drills, when you do it so much and bring it to the field, it just comes second nature," Bell said. "You know, your feet go where you want them to go and you don't even think about it."
And it has shown this season, where Bell has made people miss, and as they say, broken some ankles along the way.
"It was one of the most hardest workouts, the most challenging workout I have ever had," he said. "I was in Miami the whole month. Working with him for two straight weeks, and it got my feet where I wanted them to be and it helped me during the season."
To the point where one of the greatest running backs of all time, LaDainian Tomlinson gave him the highest of praise
"Le'Veon Bell, let me just say this; right now, I would take Le'Veon Bell over any running back in the league right now," said Tomlinson.
"I would never expect that, you know, a guy I used to admire in football - running the ball, catching the ball," said Bell of the praise. "He thinks I'm one of the best runners in the NFL. It's just a humbling experience. I'm just glad he said it and I'm trying to prove him right."
To this point he has. Bell is one of the top all-purpose players in the NF, despite not returning kicks.
He will break the franchise record for most receptions from a running back, which was owned by John L. Williams in 1994.
He's also on pace to race to first on the all-time Steelers list for combined rushing and receiving yards in a single season. Barry foster currently holds the mark of 2,034 in 1992.
Bell told KDKA's Bob Pompeani that he is always looking for ways to improve.
Pompeani: "You know, the Steelers have had a history of guys who have used every method possible to get better. Lynn Swann went into ballet. Hines Ward did to and won 'Dancing With The Stars.' Have you ever thought about using ballet to improve your balance?"
Bell: "My mom had mentioned it to me because Walter Payton used to do it, and I'm like, 'Walter Payton used to do ballet?' She said yes, and tried to convince me, but I went to one ballet class, didn't like it and that was the end of it."
But there is no end to the potential this guy has, in only this, his second season in the NFL.
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