Ravens DC Don Martindale is confident that Patrick Queen can have an immediate impact
When a prospect is selected in the first round of the draft, he is expected to come in right away as a plug and play starter that pays immediate dividends early on in his career as a difference-maker on his respective side of the ball. For Baltimore Ravens’ rookie inside linebacker Patrick Queen, the expectations are sky high and for good reason.
He was selected with the 28th overall pick out of LSU to bring speed, stabilization and playmaking ability to the middle of their defense that finished in the top five in 2019 but used a rotation of veterans and former undrafted free agents to offset the loss of four-time Pro Bowler CJ Mosely who departed in free agency last March.
Even though he was only a one-year starter in college, and he didn’t begin his junior season as a starter, he was an integral member of the Tigers defense that helped Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick Joe Burrow win the program’s fourth national and first in over a decade title since 2007 season. He possesses all of the physical tools and mental acumen to become a day one difference maker according to coaches, scout, and media pundits.
Despite not having been able to physically take the field as a Raven due to the restrictions and mandates of the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic, defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale believes that Queen is up to the tall task and that he’ll be able to handle whatever is asked for him to do in his complex 3-4 hybrid system.
“It’s going to be a challenge for him because of the practice time that he’s missed,” said Martindale on a conference call with reporters last month via the team’s official website. “But I know that just by speaking with him and being in meeting with him, I think this kid can handle it.”
Martindale said that the Ravens are lucky to have drafted such an intelligent and driven player and that he believes that he will rise to the challenge. He also knows that there might be some early growing pains along the way but that as long as he gives his all on every play and doesn’t consistently repeat the same errors, even the occasional mistake or misstep can be forgiven and learned from.
“Will it be perfect, no, but we don’t expect that coming out as a rookie,” said Martindale. “He doesn’t repeat errors. You can see that in games. If there’s something that he did wrong, you can fix it within a game when you’re studying his college tape.
“I can’t wait to get him going and if you’re going to make a mistake, make it a 100 mile per hour mistake. We can live with that.”
Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh told reporters back in May that Queen will be getting predominately trained to play the MIKE linebacker position which means he’ll be an every-down player and stay on the field even in sub-packages and obvious passing situations. This fits his skillset well since he is a speedy sideline to sideline tackling machine that also plays well in coverage and especially in zone where he can use his great instincts and feel for the passing game to roam the middle of the field at the intermediate level and even down the field in one on one coverage with running backs and tight ends.
Queen can contribute to the pass rush as a blitzer off the edge or up the middle on blitzes but his ability to move well in space will serve him well in an AFC North division ripe with talented playmakers and Pro Bowlers at both of the aforementioned positions that he’ll be dealing with in coverage.
In Pittsburgh the Steelers have Pro bowl running back James Connor and added Pro Bowl tight end Eric Ebron in free agency and drafted wide receiver/tight end hybrid Chase Claypool in the second round. In Cleveland, the Browns boast dangerous tandems at both positions with Pro Bowlers Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb in the backfield and former first-round pick David Njoku and 2020 free agent acquisition Austin Hooper who has made back to back Pro Bowls. In Cincinnati, the Bengals have Joe Mixon and few lesser-known commodities Drew Sample and CJ Uzomah at tight end that could still pose a threat as pass catchers.
Not having a rookie minicamp or any other organized team activities (OTAs) has created an even steeper learning curve than most first-year players face heading into their rookie seasons but Queen has the confidence of Martindale and the rest of the coaching staff as well as the front office that he can come in and contribute right away as an immediate impact player. He could form quite the formidable tandem inside with fellow rookie Malik Harrison who was selected in the third round out of Ohio State if they can both hit the ground running.
