Steelers' Mike Tomlin Can Be The Perfect Motivator For Patrick Queen: 'Probably Gonna Gas Him Up'

Humphrey was the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens and has spent his entire seven-year career in Baltimore, four of those as a teammate of Queen. The Ravens' cornerback was talking about Queen's move from Baltimore to Pittsburgh on the Punch Line Podcast with Marlon Humphrey, and it was the Tomlin aspect of it all that intrigued Humphrey, even if he wasn't a fan.

"Let's say you come from another team; he builds you up. Like, let's say you weren't performing or where you need to. You weren't this, you go over there [Pittsburgh], and I don't know what he [Tomlin] says to you, but he's like, 'Yeah, we gonna get it back in blood from them, yeah.' I feel like he and PQ [Patrick Queen] probably the perfect little freaking match, and he just probably gonna gas him up, like, 'Ravens didn't want you. They hated you over there. They hated you over there,' PQ's like, 'Yeah, you right.' "

Queen played for his first four seasons with the Ravens after being drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. During that span, the linebacker competed against the Steelers eight times, and except for a slight splash here and there, Tomlin was able to keep him off the stat sheet. Queen only managed a half sack and one interception in his eight contests against the Steelers, which is more a testament to what Tomlin and the coaching staff in Pittsburgh were able to do rather than any indictment on Queen's abilities.

The Steelers certainly needed someone like Queen after the frustrating 2023 season. Pittsburgh had put together what seemed to be a stable, reliable linebacker group that included Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, and Kwon Alexander. When they were on the field, the plan proved effective, but injuries ensured that any consistency was severely short-lived. Holcomb and Alexander went down with season-ending injuries, and Roberts battled constantly just to be on the field despite injuries of his own.

While there is no guarantee that Queen's $41-million contract will work out the way Pittsburgh hopes it does, the team already feels more comfortable at the position than they did prior to his arrival. The Steelers have invested heavily in the defensive side of the football, and that comes with expectations. All the excitement over bringing Queen onto the squad has to grow into production, and, as Humphrey understands, there are few people more qualified to do so than Tomlin.

Steelers Will Benefit Everywhere From Strength In The Middle

Pittsburgh has one of the best defenders of his generation in TJ Watt, and every single game he has the ability to take it over. However, Watt's dominance can't occur entirely on its own, which means the more cohesive and productive the rest of the defense can be, the better Watt can be for the team. 

While Watt deserved to be the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, he did so in a season where, defensively, the middle of the field was a problem area. If the Steelers are able to use their middle linebackers to shut down their area of the field, Watt will be more free to do what he does best.

Just because Queen is the key piece for the interior linebackers' group doesn't discount the impact needed from Holcomb and Roberts. Injuries may have derailed the initial plan for what 2023's defense would look like, but they are able to build on it now with Queen to take some of the weight. Holcomb will be working back from a brutal knee injury, but with Queen and Roberts eager to shut down opposing offenses, he should have plenty of time to ease himself back if necessary.

What is the most important part of Queen's job on the defense in 2024?