Patrick Queen Explains How He May’ve Prevented Seattle’s TD Run: ‘I Gotta Assist’

The play that’s acquired probably the most consideration from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 2 loss is Kaleb Johnson’s colossal blunder on a kickoff. Nevertheless, that wasn’t the one purpose why the Steelers misplaced. Sadly, their protection allowed the Seattle Seahawks to drive down the sector and rating one other landing after that. The scoring play was an unpleasant one, with Kenneth Walker III getting unfastened for a 19-yard landing run on Third and objective. That iced the sport, and Patrick Queen thinks he may’ve helped forestall it in hindsight.

“I may very well be a bit of nearer to assist,” Queen mentioned Wednesday through the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette’s Brian Batko on Twitter. “I may very well be in all probability on that hash earlier than the ball snaps. I noticed the tight finish that they often run to on the left aspect, so I used to be making an attempt to get near him, and so they ended up operating open. I believe the largest factor is on that play if I’m on that hash, I may assist.”

It’s clear that Queen was making an attempt to cheat a bit of bit on the play based mostly on the Seahawks’ personnel. He lined up a bit of too far over, and by the point he acknowledged the place the ball provider was going, there was an excessive amount of site visitors for him to get by means of to make a play.

Run protection has arguably been the weakest a part of the Steelers to this point this yr. They’ve allowed a operating again to go over 100 yards in each video games. Their inside linebacker play has been one of many largest causes for such struggles. Queen and Payton Wilson merely haven’t been adequate.

Each of them are high quality gamers, however they’re higher in protection. They’ve had points taking over blockers, permitting opponents to interrupt free on the second degree. This play is simply one other instance of that.

Queen expanded on his ideas on that play, agreeing that it was complicated how the Steelers received crushed so badly.

“On the finish of the day, I needs to be there,” he mentioned. “I gotta assist, particularly being the man within the center. I ought to for certain recover from there and make that play.”

It’s good that Queen acknowledges he made a mistake. The Seahawks sport is over, and there’s no taking that landing off the board. What he can do is be sure that he’s in place to make that play subsequent time. Groups will certainly proceed to check the Steelers’ run protection.

Queen didn’t make a serious mistake, however soccer is a sport of inches. Whereas he wasn’t the one purpose why the Seahawks scored on that play, his play didn’t assist. The Steelers’ protection must be extra bodily, and Queen is meant to be one among their higher gamers. They want extra from him going ahead.