When the Steelers signed Patrick Queen this offseason, I’ll be the first to admit—I was super hyped. Queen is a player with all the tools to be the next great inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh’s Steelers. We’ve had some absolute legends in this position, and Queen was supposed to bring that same fire and energy to our defense. But, through two games, if I’m being real, things haven’t exactly popped the way I expected.

Now, don’t get me wrong—Queen isn’t playing badly by any means. But I was hoping to see him jump off the screen a lot more while watching this defense fly around. I know it’s VERY early in the season and he is still adjusting to new coaches, teammates and scheme. So far, he has 6 total tackles, 5 solo, and 1 pass defended. Solid? Sure, I’m not going to complain about any part of our defense when we’ve only given up 16 points in the first 2 games. But when you hear all the hype about this guy flying all over the field and making game-changing plays, these numbers feel a little underwhelming. We’ve also seen him be an absolute stud while in Baltimore, I just haven’t seen that from Queen in the Black and Gold yet.

Former Steeler Chris Hoke said, on “The Steeler’s Extra Point”, “I just don’t think he’s playing good football right now…”. I disagree with this statement. While Queen has his struggles, he’s still a productive player, and it’s not all on him. One thing that’s become clear is that Queen has struggled when offensive linemen get their hands on him. He’s not the type to overpower and shed blocks. Instead, he needs to be kept clean by our D-line so he can do what he does best—fly to the ball and make plays in space. When he’s able to shoot a gap, or scream out to the flat, that’s when we’re going to see the real Patrick Queen. Another part of Queen’s game that may go unnoticed is his ability to cover the middle of the field. There have been plenty of times opposing quarterbacks have had to check to a different pass option due to Queen’s presence and coverage ability.

And let’s not forget—Queen’s résumé speaks for itself: 460 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, and 4 picks in his career. The guy knows how to ball. We just need to give him time to get comfortable and let our defense work as a unit. I’m still extremely confident Queen is going to be a huge asset for us. Once it clicks, oh baby, this defense is going to be scary.

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Stay Blessed and Stay Positive… “Here We Go”