Watch out for Ravens RB Curtis Steele

by Bruce Raffel on May 10, 2010 2:01 PM EDT in Xfinity Sponsored Posts

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Undrafted rookie running back Curtis Steele (Memphis) has a huge hill to climb if he wants to make the final roster of the Baltimore Ravens. Buried deep on the team's depth chart behind Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, LeRon McClain, Jalen Parmele and Matt Lawrence, Steele faces long odds but is not overwhelmed by the daunting task.

Speaking with him in the team's locker room at their practice facility after the final session of their three-day Mini-Camp, I asked him how it feels to be in this position. Unfortuantely, I accidently erased the tape of the conversation but remember the gist of it. Steele basically said he relishes the opportunity and will continue to do what he has always done and that is prove himself each and every time he has a chance. He said the pace of the game even in this first practice is noticably faster and more up-tempo than the college game.

When I told him about my theory that the skill position guys in the NFL with dreadlocks are all good, he laughed and couldn't name anyone with dreads in the league that wasn't good to disprove my theory. He said he was thinking of cutting them off for a new look, but now will keep them to, as I told him, "get noticed."

Steele is one of the smaller backs on our roster, 6'0" and 190 pounds, but is fast, shifty with good hands out of the backfield and could be a dangerous runner in the open field. Sporting those dreads, he reminds me a bit of Tennessee Titan Chris Johnson as he cuts and darts through defenders in practice.

Keep an eye on Steele as the OTA's get underway starting next week.

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With a name like Steele...

You know he’s good. Get it?… Steele (rs)?… Is this thing on?

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."
-Arthur Ashe

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 10, 2010 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

Yea…….um. What?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

testing,…1,2,3…

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on May 10, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

My old neighbor actually just graduated from Memphis and had alot of great things to say about Steele. He also compared Steele to CJ. Gonna be tough to make this squad, he is going to have to show some Special Teams ability. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind him beating out Parmale. I am not sold on him as much as everyone else is. Let’s see what this guy can do in the ever so important preseason.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2010 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

Malor, serious question(s)

how much gas does Willis McGahee have left in the tank?

don’t the Ravens view McClain as a Full Back now?

i see this kid making the team.

"The Steelers drafted guys who were bigger, stronger and faster than I, but they never found one who could take my job away from me." Jack Lambert

by WARDANE33 on May 10, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I would think that we all see McGahee as a starting back in this league. He is only 28 years old (you probably thought he was in his 30’s by now right?) For so many teams, I could definitely see Willis starting. He is a power back and has some great east west movement. The best stiff arm in the league as well. If god forbid Rice ever went down, I do not think this offense would take a step back whatsoever with Willis as the #1. If given 250 carries, he can definitely put up 1,000 yards.

McClain is our fullback right now. But he is not your average fullback either. The guy is a great ball carrier. He will still see his carries this year for sure and is our goal-line back.

Alot of people fail to realize that over the last 3 seasons, our top 3 ball carriers have all made the pro-bowl. How many teams even in the history of the NFL have had 3 pro-bowl ball carriers? Pair that with our WR and TE, this team has no reason to not be a top 5 offense in the NFL.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 10, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Parmele did a great job

on kickoff returns and is fast but a decent size guy, tough to bring down when running at you at full speed. However, a guy with Steel’s speed sounds good, especially if he can return kicks!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on May 10, 2010 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Alot of people fail to realize that over the last 3 seasons, our top 3 ball carriers have all made the pro-bowl. How many teams even in the history of the NFL have had 3 pro-bowl ball carriers? Pair that with our WR and TE, this team has no reason to not be a top 5 offense in the NFL.

Excellent point.

Boldin is a Pro-Bowler and Mason probably should have been within the last three seasons. Birk is a Pro Bowler, and I think that we have at least two other offensive lineman on the verge of their first Pro Bowl. You can just feel the momentum building already.

by BAL_Hawk on May 10, 2010 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Denver

I think back in the late ’90’s, early 2000’s, it seemed like Denver had three different pro-bowl RB’s in there at various times.

by vlad755 on May 11, 2010 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

They weren’t pro-bowlers, but were good RB. We have 3 guys who have gone over the last 3 years and could still make it.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 11, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that you may be on to something. I can’t think of a single team that had three Pro-Bowl running backs at the same time.

by BAL_Hawk on May 11, 2010 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

this officially makes us the greatest human beings of all time.

" Surgeon General's Warning: Do not stare directly at Al Davis. Do not think about Al Davis. Do not make any sudden movements when near Al Davis."
--Simmons
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden

by jackmca on May 11, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

The Redskins do now...

Of course, they were Pro-Bowlers years ago, but they have three.

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."
-Arthur Ashe

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 11, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

They are looking at Westbrook as well. Whose next, Jamal Lewis?

by DT711 on May 11, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I kinda meant players that could still potentially make the Pro Bowl.

McGahee, Rice and McClain are all under 30 and each could still make the Pro Bowl.

by BAL_Hawk on May 11, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Not only that… but all of them made the Pro Bowl with their current team.

by BAL_Hawk on May 11, 2010 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly. Has that ever happened in the history of the NFL? I highly doubt it. Should tell alot of people just how good our RB are. Definitely the best group in the league.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 11, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

There are alot of storylines on this current team. You can already hear the writers talking during a SB run.

by BAL_Hawk on May 11, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not saying the Vikings have better Running backs, but I am curious how good Toby Gerhart and AP together are gonna be.

by BmoreBlitz on May 12, 2010 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Gerhart's gonna be a one-cut power back like a bigger Ryan Grant

and AP will obviously be AP, just HANG ON TO THE DAMN BALL.

Obviously a good running game though.

by jackmca on May 12, 2010 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Imagine if they still had Chester Taylor.

by BAL_Hawk on May 12, 2010 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

i see McClain as a awsome utility back

Well considering hes one of the better lead blockers and hes proved he can carry the ball like a work horse i say we view him as both and pay him as which ever he wants cause at least our best lead blocker can run the ball if our other runing backs catch the injury bug and i see the steele dude proly making it on special teams good hands+fast fairly decent at finding lanes so yea good pick up for us :D

by shangs_assassin on May 10, 2010 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

the :D at the end means his jaw is dropped as he is gasping for air after that Faulknerian run-on sentence.

by jackmca on May 10, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

But McClain is just not a pass receiver

compared to Willis and Ray, Jr. Don’t forget, the Ravens are trying to convert that LB from Boston COllege (McLaughlin) into a FB as well as Edgar Jones, if he’s not already in another position by now.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on May 10, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

…after that Faulknerian run-on sentence.

Only Al Davis would be so evil as to contaminate a sports blog with stream of consciousness.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 15, 2010 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions

update from Brazil.

9 to 10 gunshots fired within 1km of my house. that’s not that many though… plus nobody screaming afterwards so i have to think they were just goofing off…

by jackmca on May 10, 2010 6:45 PM EDT reply actions