'Super Special to Watch': Payton Wilson impressed by Patrick Queen 'controlling the entire defense'

LB Patrick Queen was the star of the Pittsburgh Steelers' free agency campaign. It's not often that you can steal a promising young player away from your biggest rival, but when the opportunity arises (especially in an emergency situation), you have to pounce. And that's exactly what the Steelers did when they signed Queen to a three-year contract after his time with the Baltimore Ravens ended.

But Queen had some ups and downs early in the season. There were communication problems in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts, for which Queen took responsibility.

But for rookie LB Payton Wilson, Queen was an indispensable teammate and leader of the Steelers defense.

“He's obviously one of the better linebackers in the game, more athletic,” Wilson said on SiriusXM Radio's “Sunday Standouts” after the Steelers' 37-15 win over the New York Jets. “But what people don’t see outside the building is how smart he is. Through the tips he gives me on every single play, he controls the entire defense. It’s just really special to see.”

Wilson isn't the only one praising Queen's performance and leadership on the field, either. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin spoke about Queen before the Jets game, emphasizing how he's adjusting to playing faster up the field while also leading the defense.

And the Steelers need both from Queen. They had difficulty at times with communication and finding the right place in defense. Therefore, it is extremely important to have someone capable of commanding the entire defense and positioning it properly before engaging.

The team also needs a confident presence in the middle, both against the run and the pass. Against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday, Queen gave them exactly that. He had 13 total tackles and one tackle for a loss in the 32-13 win. These tackles for loss are a big part of Queen's game (the Ravens had at least nine every season).

And it all starts with what lies above the queen's shoulders. You can have all the athleticism in the world, but without a good head on your shoulders it won't matter on the soccer field. But that's not the case with Queen. Wilson is definitely enjoying learning from Queen. And Wilson had his first game with double-digit tackles against the Jets.

All of this is happening as the Steelers shut out the Raiders and Jets in consecutive weeks. They held both offenses to 15 or fewer points while forcing at least two turnovers.

So here's hoping this is a sign of things to come for Payton Wilson, Patrick Queen and the Steelers' defense as a whole.