Steelers' Charlie Batch Very Critical Of Patrick Queen: "I'm Kind Of Baffled"

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million deal, the excitement was palpable. Many believed that adding an All-Pro talent like Queen to a defense already loaded with playmakers such as TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick would make the unit dominant, with Queen making an immediate impact.

However, through the first five games, Queen hasn’t lived up to the hype. While he hasn’t been a bad player, when you sign a contract of that magnitude, high expectations follow, and so far, he hasn’t fully met them.

Queen has been a consistent presence on the field, playing every down and racking up tackles, but he hasn’t made the big, game-changing plays many anticipated. He also doesn’t appear to be the same player he was in Baltimore in 2023. Former Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch recently expressed his disappointment with Queen’s performance during an appearance on the Randy Baumann & the DVE Morning Show.

"For me, l'm kind of baffled because as great as he played last year, you want to feed off of that energy that he's bringing to the table," Batch said. "And right now, it's just not happening on a consistent level. Doesn't mean he can't get there, but [it's] where you are at this particular point."

Batch understands Queen’s slow start, attributing it to the challenge of adjusting to a new defense. Transitioning from one organization to another and being expected to make an immediate impact is no easy task, especially on a defense as stacked as Pittsburgh's. 

Sometimes, even when you’re making plays, they can go unnoticed because of the sheer talent around you. Batch went on to share more of his thoughts on Queen’s early struggles.

"I think that's something that maybe he's just trying to get a feel for," Batch said. "'How do I play alongside [Elandon] Roberts?' Anticipating what the next guy is doing. Maybe that's taking a little bit of time. Only he can answer that question."

When the Steelers signed Queen, many Ravens fans seemed unfazed. Steeler Nation dismissed this as jealousy, believing the rival fanbase was bitter over losing a player they drafted who blossomed into an All-Pro before their eyes. However, Ravens fans were quick to point out that Queen only elevated his play after being paired with Roquan Smith.

Now, some Steelers fans may be wondering if there was at least a hint of truth to that. Though it’s only been five games, and Queen has certainly been playing hard, the splash plays have yet to come. So far, Queen has totaled 30 combined tackles, 17 of them solo, but just one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.

Steelers' Patrick Queen Has Had A Rough Start In Pittsburgh

Steelers fans had understandably high expectations for Queen’s impact. Five games into the season, while he’s played nearly every defensive snap and racked up tackles, his performance grades from Pro Football Focus tell a different story. As a pass rusher, Queen has excelled with a strong grade of 80.2, ranking fifth among linebackers in the league.

However, his other grades are concerning. He has a 57.2 coverage grade and a 37.3 run defense grade, placing him near the bottom among linebackers in that category. Overall, Queen’s grade stands at 49.5, which is far from ideal for a player the Steelers invested heavily in during free agency.

There’s still plenty of time for Queen to turn things around and make a significant impact, but so far, Steelers fans haven’t been overly impressed. It remains to be seen whether he can elevate his game and become the difference-maker this defense needs.

#SteelerNation