PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – From the jump, and especially in the last couple of weeks, linebacker Patrick Queen is turning into what the Steelers wanted in signing him for three years, $41 million as a free agent before last season.
“He just kind of jumps off the film at you in terms of his speed and violence,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “We need that. That's why we got him. It's good to see that he's really starting to feel comfortable and confident in that regard.”
He already has five tackles for loss compared to six all of last year. He’s matched his sack total from last season and is only two away from his quarterback hits from last year. And it’s not that he was bad in 2024, he was voted to the Pro Bowl with 129 tackles, leading the team. But it’s that splash that is different.
Queen doesn’t put it on himself as much as he feels the defense is getting in sync with players returning from injury and working in impact players like Jalen Ramsey.
“Communication has been high with everybody on the field, the trust level is growing,” Queen told 93.7 The Fan. “Everybody is doing their job, understanding that if we all just do our job, somebody is going to make the play and we’ll all be happy for that. Every single person is believing in doing their job for the next man next to them.”
Just watching them they look more physical, imposing their will on their last three opponents and making the types of plays expected from the highest-paid defense in the NFL. Stats versus Cleveland, Minnesota and New England:
· 17 sacks
· 22 tackles for loss
· 37 quarterback hits
· 6 forced fumbles
· 3 interceptions
And it’s led by the 6’, 232-pound Queen.
“It's a violent game, and so you got play it that way,” Austin said. “We try to play within the rules and play as violently as possible. I think when your green dot guy (Queen) talking to the defense every day is leading that charge it does everything. It's no different than a quarterback. When the quarterback steps in the huddle and the guys believe him and the things he's talking and he's showing it, they're going to do it, come right along with him, and I think our guys are doing it as well.”
Austin said Queen just looks comfortable and with that he’s playing really fast. While Austin believes the former Ravens linebacker has always been confident, he now is with his teammates and in this system.
“He looks like a guy in his second year,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “I challenge second year guys, whether it's second year in the National Football League or second year with the Steelers. Last year was his first year as a defensive quarterback, and so it was reasonable to expect him to be better, and he certainly has been, and I'm excited about where that's going to go. I know particularly in the last couple of weeks, man, he has been a big impact in our unit.”
“I think we're going in the right direction,” Austin said. “I still think we have a lot of good football ahead of us. We are starting to play better, and our guys will tell you that we can play a whole lot better.”
A lot of that is Patrick Queen becoming not only a better communicator, but a force in the middle of the defense.