Critic Of Steelers' Patrick Queen Gets Honest About Old Comments

The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the past two weeks watching one of their most criticized defenders make a pretty convincing case for forgiveness. He's playing faster, hitting harder and getting to the quarterback. One former linebacker is even happy to celebrate the turnaround, although anybody expecting an apology from him is in for a disappointment.

Vince Williams isn't interested in pretending the criticism of Patrick Queen was unfair simply because Queen has started looking like the player Pittsburgh thought it signed. The former Steelers linebacker was among those who questioned his effort after the October 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Now, Williams is praising his improved play, with one rather memorable warning attached.

After Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss in Cleveland, Williams accused Queen of making “business decisions” on the field, suggesting he was protecting himself instead of attacking plays. Queen finished that game with five tackles, but the larger defensive breakdowns were difficult to ignore. Four days earlier, he had piled up 13 tackles against Cincinnati. The talent had never disappeared; the inconsistency was what made the Cleveland performance so frustrating.

That criticism stung because Queen arrived from the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 with a very solid résumé and considerable expectations. He wasn't signed merely to lead the team in tackles after a running back had already gained seven yards.

During the November 2 episode of Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio, Williams addressed the turnaround without pretending his earlier assessment had expired.

“I’m so happy for him, because a lot of the criticism that he was facing was warranted. I don’t want to backtrack and make it seem like we overreacted. No, it was warranted. He was not playing very well. But now he is, and I think the role has shifted from what they’re asking him to do with things that fit more inside of his wheelhouse,” Williams said.

There's no attempt to rewrite history there. Williams can acknowledge Queen's progress while believing the questions about his effort were justified. That's more credible than praising him as if everyone simply misunderstood what happened in Cleveland.

And lately Queen has answered. He recorded 10 tackles and a sack against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, then followed with 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a pass defended and a forced fumble in the 27-6 revenge win over Cleveland. Pittsburgh named him its Player of the Week.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy has explained that Pittsburgh began giving Queen more ownership in planning meetings and releasing him on additional pressures. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham has embraced the linebacker's ability to attack, giving opposing protections another name to identify before the snap. Williams' point about the role fitting Queen better is supported by an actual adjustment, not just a player suddenly deciding to try harder.

Inside linebacker remains a complicated assignment, especially when Queen wears the green dot and relays Graham's calls. He has to process formations, identify run fits and make coverage adjustments while communicating what the defense is doing. Sending him after the passer adds another responsibility for the players behind him. It's a useful weapon only when everyone knows who is replacing him in coverage.

That's also why Payton Wilson has become so important. His range and growing comfort with the defensive calls can give Graham the flexibility to pressure from the middle without leaving a vacant runway behind the blitz. TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward have helped the defensive front control the line of scrimmage, creating better opportunities for Queen to attack gaps and finish plays.

But Williams wasn't content to hand out compliments and move on. He thinks the version of Queen showing up now is closer to what Pittsburgh expected all along, and he doesn't want two excellent weeks to become an excuse for a victory lap.

“Don’t rest on your laurels, don’t start stroking yourself, licking yourself all over and feeling happy about all this. Because you’re capable of much more than this,” Williams said.

That is an unusually colorful way to remind somebody that October's problems don't disappear after one impressive November game. The underlying message is sensible. Queen has the athletic ability to threaten a quarterback, the experience to direct the defense and enough talent around him to avoid playing hero ball. Producing at this level should be the expectation, not a special occasion.

Steelers Need Queen To Make His Critics Run Out Of All Material

The Steelers return from their bye against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 15, and that matchup will test whether the new responsibilities hold up against a quicker passing attack. A quarterback like Joe Burrow can identify an abandoned underneath zone before a blitz reaches him. Queen has to know when to attack, when to disguise his intentions and when the defense needs him protecting the middle.

Williams' earlier accusation shouldn't be treated as an undisputed diagnosis of Queen's motivation. Only Queen knows what went through his head during those bad reps. But the criticism of the performance was fair, and the recent improvement deserves equal recognition. Pittsburgh is getting faster decisions and more disruption from a player who had too often been an easy target for frustrated fans.

Queen's three-year contract also expires after this season, so his resurgence could influence whether Pittsburgh sees him as a long-term answer. Two impressive November games won't settle that decision.

Queen doesn't have to convince Williams to withdraw anything. If he keeps playing this way, the old criticism will start sounding less relevant with every snap. The best response to being called out isn't winning a debate about October. It's making sure nobody has a reason to bring it up again.

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