I have read a lot of articles from the experts on Craig Steltz. I realize they aren't high on him. Most say he's good off the line, but lacks speed in coverage of faster receivers.
I've heard he will be a dependable and reliable player, but he will never be a game breaker.
I did like Chris Low from ESPN.com's comments about Steltz being a strong safety and having a kamikaze style of play. He runs like a receiver and hits like a linebacker.
I also realize a lot of fans thought he was just another wasted pick. Other fans compare him to either Doug Plank or Gary Fencik. He reminds me of John Lynch, with his style of play, and my wife says he reminds her of Gary Fencik.
But I disagree with the naysayer's. You got a 6'1", 204lb, hardworking, blue-collar type player. He worked hard to be drafted by the Chicago Bears. He can play either strong or free safety, or special teams, and will fit in nicely with the Bears' cover-two system. His playing style is a cross between Charles "Peanut" Tillman and Brian Urlacher.
This kid is amazing, and what I really love the most is how hard he plays late in games. LSU won a couple of games last year because of Steltz's late, key hits.
Now, LSU is always tremendously deep with their secondary positions. They usually have eight quality guys on their roster.
Coming into his senior year, Steltz wasn't even on the coaching staff's radar to start. Yet, through his hard work, he earned his starting position.
They also are one of the few colleges who require their safeties to learn how to play both strong and free positions.
You can't judge how good Steltz is by his one year as a starter at LSU. For his first three years there, he was stuck behind perennial All-American safety LaRon Landry.
Steltz made the best of the situation by learning from LaRon. He patiently waited for his chance to play and worked hard practicing like he started. For two years, he took advantage of playing in both nickel and in sub packages.
But watching LSU's games, he is simply amazing. You know he's coming, and he still became famous for hitting the receivers with everything he had. The next play he might plant a running back at the line.
In 2007, Steltz finally got to start and was able to put together an amazing season. A key player on their defense, his stellar play helped LSU win the BCS Championship Game.
Here are his 2007 stats from LSUsports.net:
GS UT AT TT TFL SACKS INT PBU QBH FR FF
14 66 35 101 5-20 1-8 6-153 7 0 1-0 3
These are pretty impressive, and it's too bad he didn't start earlier in his career. He was awarded as first-team All-American, first-team All-SEC, Captain for the Tigers (one of five), and a Thorpe Award Finalist.
I know it's college, and Steltz hasn't played a down in the NFL yet. But every year, there always are guys you see, watch, and know who are going to be good in the NFL.
With the Bears using the cover-two system, I can easily see Steltz becoming a starter as a rookie. Now if they use the Tampa-2, they can retool it to fit the Bears' D, and put Steltz in the same position Tampa used John Lynch for.
I just feel in my gut this guys going to be a Pro Bowler. He will become a fan favorite here in the Windy City. He's patient, will work hard, and will listen and learn. Then, when he gets it, he'll take full advantage of becoming a permanent starter.
I asked a couple of Auburn guys at work about him, and both said Steltz would have been a three-year starter at Auburn. He was just stuck behind a really great safety in Landry.
I also asked a LSU grad at work about Steltz. She was excited he was drafted and said he was a fan favorite and all-around great guy. She mentioned to me how LSU always reloads and replaces players with ease. But she said its guys like Steltz who you can't replace.
They just bring so much to the game and have the drive and the heart to make themselves go the extra step to stand out. Plus, she mentioned that a few on the coaching staff wished they started Steltz sooner.
Lastly, when I told her I was writing about Craig Steltz on BR, she said, "Just let them know: he's going to win over Bear Nation, the same way he did the LSU Tigers Nation."
Don't be surprised when you see a lot of LSU's purple and yellow in the stands cheering for him.
comments (31) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
Good article.
But as you alluded to, it's a lot easier to play back there when your front line is constantly putting pressure on the quarterback and your two corners are both top-level performers.
It's hard not to root for a hard-working kid, but I think a Pro-Bowl prediction might be over the top. I'm definitely anxious to see if Steltz can compete in the league.
from 2 months ago
i think steltz is a very good player but what suprised me (although i'm a little biased) is that his northern counterpart jamie silva didn't even get drafted....yes silva had awful combine numbers but he always had...thats why boston college was his only division 1-a offer...yet he was an all-american safety who had a knack for finding the ball...he can play tough against the run and make plays...maybe he isn't your "prototypical" player with lots of "upside" but he is a guy who just knows how to play football and it seems like there just aren't enough of those guys getting a real shot
from 2 months ago
Tim,
In deference to your point of it being easier to play db when you have a pressuring line in front of you, Steltz' forte (no pun intended) is bone-crushing, ball-separating hits.
Did you know Steltz was the strongest player on LSU's team last year as was his brother Kevin before him? Must be in the density of muscles of the family's genes.
Let me offer a term for Bear fans to get familiar with when watching Steltz's career: CRUNK! Whether its a breakaway back through the line against UF or ending the game against 'bama on a CRUNK of their receiver or when he (and these are funny) CRUNKS a receiver on a long pattern to see the receiver fly through the air in frozen stunned state of balllessness. If you look carefully you'll see the receiver's eyes rolled up in this head. It's hilarious! At the very least, air will go out of their lungs.
We're gonna miss him a lot but that's mitigated by the fact that many of think CS and the Bears are a perfect fit.
Think: violent collisions. Think: CRUNK!
2 months ago
Thanks for the comments. Tim, I figured writing about him would be over the top. I did put in the Pro-Bowl prediction on purpose and glad you caught it. Figure playing with "Peanut", Vasher and Brown will rub off him, make it easier for him and wanted people to realize just what I thought of the guy.
Also feel at any other school. Would have been a 3 year starter and if he didn't get the stinger in the BCS Championship game. Would have been a late first round or early second round pick.
2 months ago
He was the starter from the day Laron Landry left for the NFL. That is a big piece of misinformation right now.
2 months ago
Steltz, while not the most athletic player, should be able to make the transition smoothly to the Bears' Cover 2 scheme. He is a smart player who has a nose for the ball. He should work in well with the defense should Brandown McGowan become injured or just not perform. No doubt he will be a good special teams player.
I'm looking forward to watching the Bears kick some tail this year!
2 months ago
Craig is playing safety but has trouble in coverage. That is a very bad combination. You say you understand the critics criticizing his game skills, but then you tout his work ethic, smarts, and how hard he plays in games. But, that was never the question on him. Even the critics love those things about him. The problem is, that doesn't get it done in the pros. I love the kid, everyone does, and you've got to have people like that on your team, but its a little overboard to say he will be a pro bowler.
from 2 months ago
Alex read the third comment, that explains about the pro-bowl comment.
from 2 months ago
You can put him with the best corners in the league, have him start for four years at the best college, but in the end you'd get the same result. He has a certain talent level, and no matter what you try to do or who you put him with, he can't get any faster or instinctive.
from 2 months ago
You can coach speed. And players do get faster. Craig Steltz is a predator! Geaux Bears!
from 2 months ago
Hey just got to wait and see. I'm a fan of the SEC, I did watch every televised LSU game, to watch Steltz play and like what I saw, think he's NFL material.
After the Ced-r-ic debauchery, you can't really value what the experts think. I could be here for hours listing all the players through the last ten years that went under the radar by them.
from 2 months ago
Plus let "Peanut" and Vasher mentor him, they are after all the best pair in the NFC and can't forget Manning as well.
2 months ago
Good article, well written. Just a couple of places where I, as the reader, was looking for a bit more. You don't mention what round he was selected in. I'm assuming it was one of the later rounds. Also, I'm sure only the die-hard football fanatics know what all these stats mean:
GS UT AT TT TFL SACKS INT PBU QBH FR FF
I'm guessing GS= Games Started, not sure what UT is; AT is Attempted Tackles? TT is Total Tackles? Don't know what TFL refers to. The next two are self-explanatory but PBU? FR? FF?
2 months ago
Thanks, Bob.
Picked 4th Round, 21st pick and 122 overall.
GS- games started
UT- unassisted tackles
AT- assisted tackles
TT- total tackles
TFL- totals for loss
Sacks & INT- easy ones to figure out
PBU- pass break ups
QBH- Quarterback hurries?
FR- fumble recoveries
FF- forced fumbles
2 months ago
LSU faithful here,Steltz WILL NOT hurt you guys in coverage.Really wished my Saints could have gotten him!
2 months ago
LSU lifelong diehard here...two things are COMPLETELY wrong. One, every person involved with LSU football knew Steltz was going to be the starting strong safety at LSU. Two, Steltz did NOT sit behind Landry for three years. Landry played free safety at LSU. Steltz backed up Jesse Daniels for three years. Need to correct that in your blog.
2 months ago
Let me tell you bears fans you got one HELL of a football player.
Stelz has some ability, but wins with his mind and is never out of place.
has a knak of making big plays and is a true gamer.
2 months ago
Steltz was on the coaches radar at LSU a long time before his senior season. He played as our 6th/5th defensive back his sophomore season and made an impact immediately. He played his junior year as our 5th DB but started a lot of our games our played significant minutes because of an injury to jesse daniels. He was definitely expected to start and be successful last season and did'nt dissappoint. His stats were partly inflated because Micheal Henig threw him 3 of the easiest picks I've ever seen in our first game at miss st, but he still played a great season. He brings great versatility to the field, and can come up and bring pressure or provide run support when asked upon. He's got average NFL cover range, but he makes up for it because he reads opposing offenses extremely well. My favorite part of Steltz's game is his toughness, the dude is not afraid to lay the wood on anyone and really looks to destroy opposing WR's whenever the opportunity is presented. You bear fans should be exctatic to get a player like steltz in the third round.
2 months ago
Good article...
He very well could be the best pick. The dude looks like he is going to be a stud, and might even starting on Week 1. But, I think Matt Forte has a good chance to be the best player they drafted too. He is doing great right now in workouts.
2 months ago
This draft class has potential to be great, from top to bottom. I really liked the Stetlz pick, especially in the 4th round. Great article.
2 months ago
Great steltz article it was good
from 2 months ago
Thanks, Jake appreciate it and like your site Bearsbacker.com.
2 months ago
Steltz will be legit in the NFL. Nice write
2 months ago
Steltz will punish the ball carrier. He has both the physical and mental skills and is a quality individual.
One play from being an early 2nd round pick. Will help the Bears in the playoffs. Will become a team leader by example
2 months ago
LSU fan here,
i really liked steltz. his weakness was his coverage but he is a ball hawker and pretty good at reading the QB and has excellent hands for a SS.
dude unloads on people. you want this guy on your team, not the other way around.
he's gonna be a good one, but not a great one.
2 months ago
#2 Shane Longest, look him up
2 months ago
I know nothing of Steltz. Have read more insight from you guys than any local Chicago paper. I dont care if hes a future pro-bowl player. I just hope for someone better than Archuleta. Mike Brown keeps getting injured so we need someone who doesnt get burned and most important... make a tackle.
from 2 months ago
Raj, your going to love Steltz. Obviously the Bears did their homework right with picking him and they cut Archuleta a couple of days after the draft.
2 months ago
Though he's not very fast, his high football IQ makes up for that against most receivers. He will rarely make a step in the wrong direction. As many have mentioned, he is a great hitter. Receivers will learn to not go across the middle against him.
2 months ago
When you're hot , you're hot SM.
from 2 months ago
Thanks appreciate it, L. J. . Loved writing this article, this guys going to be awesome and glad for the response on it.
write a new comment