Ravens ILB Patrick Queen named to Defensive All-Rookie Team
The Baltimore Ravens used their first-round pick in this past April’s draft on former LSU standout inside linebacker Patrick Queen to add a playmaking element to the position that was missing last year following the departure of four-time Pro Bowler CJ Mosely in free agency.
Queen has hit the ground running in his first year in the league and is one of the leading candidates to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Hall of Fame player evaluator Gil Brandt is a senior analyst for NFL.com has been so impressed with his multiple games where he has produced several impactful splash plays and turnovers that he earned a spot on his Defensive All-Rookie Team.
“He’s also made several big plays, most recently a huge fourth-down sack of Gardner Minshew in Baltimore’s blowout win over Jacksonville,” Brandt wrote.
The team has a rich tradition of strong defense and they have historically been especially stout in their front seven and specifically at inside linebacker where they have drafted and developed well.
“Baltimore has drafted precisely three inside linebackers in the first round: Ray Lewis, C.J. Mosley — and Queen. That tells you just how high the bar was set for Queen,” wrote Brandt.
In his first 14 career games, he leads the team in total tackles with 98 and has recorded three sacks, eight quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and a touchdown.
Queen flies from sideline to sideline like he has been shot out of a cannon when he is making plays around, at and behind the line of scrimmage, however, an area of his game that he has struggled with at times during his rookie season has been in pass coverage which is where Brandt wrote that he’d like to see him be more “consistent” in.
While he hasn’t struggled nearly as much in man-to-man, understanding and sticking with zone coverage responsibilities are one of the toughest parts of the transition for young off-ball linebackers to make when they get to the professional level.
Since they are so used to the ‘see ball, get ball’ mentality, it can take some time before they gain a better grasp of the passing patterns and concepts that are developing behind him but once Queen is able to get a better handle on it, he’ll be able to take his game to the next level and utilize his outstanding athleticism to consistently make instinctive plays in pass coverage as well.
