Analyzing why the Pittsburgh Steelers expected signing of Pro Bowl LB Patrick Queen is a perfect fit
Landing a big name free agent is similar to deep-sea fishing. Without the proper resources and experience level, landing a trophy is nearly impossible. And even then, it all comes down to hoping that the catch bites. For the Pittsburgh Steelers that just happened, with the team expected to acquire their trophy via Pro Bowl LB […]
Landing a big name free agent is similar to deep-sea fishing.
Without the proper resources and experience level, landing a trophy is nearly impossible.
And even then, it all comes down to hoping that the catch bites.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers that just happened, with the team expected to acquire their trophy via Pro Bowl LB Patrick Queen:
A Do-It-All Chess Piece
Queen is not your ordinary stacked backer. Typically you have coverage guys, run defenders, or blitzers. But a simple look at his 2023 box score proves he's capable of excelling in all three area's after recording 133 tackles, six pass breakups and 3.5 sacks.
Those numbers would earn Queen his first-ever Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors.
But I'm not a big stats guy. At least not on their own. Instead, I prefer to back up the numbers with the eye test.
How does Queen pass that? With flying colors:
A Move Years In the Making
“When I was on their sideline, my rookie year, Mike Tomlin was looking at me [and] yelling at me, [saying] ‘You’re not a Raven. You’re not a Raven. You’re not supposed to be there. You’re not one of them’, so every time I play them, it’s something personal," Queen said ahead of last year's Week 5 matchup in Pittsburgh.
We know Coach Tomlin is big on pre-game interaction, using those few minutes as soft recruiting pitches ahead of players impending free agency. And sure the two sides didn't like each other as little as three months ago, but now they will team up to conquer the Ravens.
Insurance and Stability
With GM Omar Khan offering a pessimistic timetable for the return of starting LB Cole Holcomb, and other starting LB Elandon Roberts approaching the final year of his deal, Queen gives the team a surefire starter for years to come at only 24 years old.
Final Word
You probably have already seen or are going to see people slighting this move by pointing to Pittsburgh's lack of offensive center or CB depth as more pertinent issues, questioning the Steelers' decision to pay another LB.
But the position had to be addressed when analyzing the words of Omar Khan regarding Cole Holcomb's injury status, not to mention, right or wrong, the Steelers believe in building through complementary football, which starts with good defense, and more specifically good linebacker play.
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