Craig Steltz Running with the Ones - Bears Camp

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Nice to see him doing well. Maybe this is his breakout year in the NFL.


Steltz, Wright Running with the Ones
by John M. Crist of BearReport.com, August 1, 2010 at 8:56pm ET

Craig Steltz Profile

It seems like the Bears have tried almost anyone and everyone at either safety position since the departed Mike Brown started to fall apart on a yearly basis, and coach Lovie Smith was emphatic all offseason long that his defense needed to get improved play from the safeties in 2010.

But even though he was a fourth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of LSU, a school that has produced some quality safeties recently, Craig Steltz has only started two games in two seasons.

Talking to reporters following Sunday's training camp workout in Bourbonnais, coach Lovie Smith said Steltz has probably deserved more of an opportunity than he has gotten so far in his Bears career.

"I think we need to just continue to give Craig opportunities," admitted Smith. "He's probably one of the guys around here that can say he hasn't really had a chance to really prove what he can do on the field. Normally, if you stay around and continue to make plays, you'll do that. He's done it. He did it all throughout the offseason."

Now that starting free safety Chris Harris is out for an undetermined period of time with a back injury, not only did Steltz finally getting some time with the first-team D Sunday, but so did rookie Major Wright.

"When guys like Chris Harris go down," Smith said, "it gives a player like Craig, a player like Major Wright an opportunity, and I've noticed both of those guys."