The Steelers made a significant, but also long-term, investment in Patrick Queen, and they see that investment gradually paying off. While he earned a Pro Bowl as an alternate last year, he has continued to grow as a player and as the leader on defense the Steelers need him to be. That was a particular focus not just for him, but for HC Mike Tomlin, the latter speaking on it Tuesday.
“You know, Patrick [Queen] is a heck of a player, but being the defensive quarterback is a new role for him”, he said, via the Steelers’ website, when asked about his role in strengthening communications between the defensive signal calling and DC Teryl Austin. “He didn’t have that responsibility, although he was a significant player for the Ravens. Roquan [Smith] had those responsibilities. It’s my job as a leader to help guys grow where necessary, and certainly I identified that as a space of growth for him”.
The Ravens selected Queen in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but they let him walk last year. That’s because they acquired Roquan Smith via trade, who is one of the best in the business. When Smith walked in the door, he took ownership of the defense, so Queen took a back seat in that regard. Now with the Steelers, he is finding his voice in that role.
“It’s really got nothing to do with playing. It’s about absorbing the informal responsibility that comes with being defensive quarterback”, Tomlin said of Queen’s maturation in that area. “To his credit, he’s not been resistant in any way. He’s embraced the challenges, and I’m pretty transparent in challenging him in that way”.
In 15 games this season, Patrick Queen has 115 tackles, including 7 for loss. He has 1 sack, 5 hits, a forced fumble, and 4 passes defensed. While this is not the most statistically versatile season of his career, he has been steady for the Steelers. And he has made some impact plays, his athleticism evident in key moments.
One such moment came late in the Steelers’ win over the Lions on Sunday. Before the controversy that ended the game, Patrick Queen made a touchdown-saving tackle the play before. The defense showed a heavy blitz, but the blitzer were to read the play and drop if it was a quick pass. Queen broke from his rush quickly to attack a two-on-two screen that, without his intervention, seemed sure to find the end zone.
by the end of his Ravens career, Patrick Queen was already playing at a Pro Bowl level. Coming over to the Steelers, he not only had to learn a new defense, but learn a new role. Not a football role, but a leadership and responsibility role. One that had never belonged to him before, and still at the age of 24 when signed.
Now 26 years old and most of the way through his second season, he is continuing to evolve into the leader the Steelers need from Queen on defense. The unit has played with better communication in recent weeks, and that’s saying something given the moving parts. At least some of that has to be a credit to the guy wearing the green dot.