It wasn’t an especially notable play at the time. The 11-on-11 portion of the Ravens organized team activities Wednesday had just started and the offense wasn’t even close to finding its rhythm.
But for third-year inside linebacker Patrick Queen, the play could probably serve as a good indicator of what he describes as an increased confidence and comfort level within the Ravens defense. Quarterback Tyler Huntley made a quick decision, but Queen read the throw and got his hands on it, harmlessly knocking the ball away.
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“Just being more comfortable by being vocal and actually communicating and understanding stuff now,” Queen said when asked after Wednesday’s practice about where he’s made the most strides as a player. “Not even being frightened by this formation or that formation, or I got this responsibility or that responsibility. Just being able to be more vocal and more open-minded to stuff. Just being able to play football and relax.”
It’s been an uneven first two seasons for Queen, the team’s first-round pick in 2020. He’s started all 33 games at a physically-challenging position, wracked up 204 tackles, including 19 for a loss, and made his share of big plays as a blitzer or run defender. But he’s also struggled to maintain consistency, both against the run and as a pass defender.
Queen also didn’t take a significant step forward last year in his second NFL season and found himself on the sideline more in obvious passing situations. He played about five defensive snaps per game fewer than he did as a rookie. That stung Queen, who used it as offseason motivation.
“That’s very important to me, especially seeing last year how I didn’t get on the field that much,” Queen said. “This offseason, I just focused on being in shape and coming back stronger and (being) more vocal and understanding stuff now. I’m more comfortable now. Everything is in a rhythm, so now being in those positions, I can stay on the field all the time.”
"It's year 3 now, so you know what time it is." @Patrickqueen_ pic.twitter.com/2Xn9GagVm8
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 8, 2022
Queen said he took only two weeks off after the season and then went back to work. He cut out fried foods for two months, which wasn’t an easy concession for the Louisiana native. Things also fell into place around him. The Ravens hired Mike Macdonald, who was Queen’s position coach in his rookie season, as their defensive coordinator. Queen’s new position coach, Zachary Orr, is a former player who was a coaching assistant with the Ravens when Queen was drafted.
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The Ravens also didn’t draft an inside linebacker, which, at the very least, would have probably been perceived as a potential threat to Queen’s future standing in the organization.
Queen responded by being a fixture in the team’s offseason workout program and playing well in the OTAs. During an earlier OTA, Queen tweaked his ankle and he looked hobbled, but that didn’t stop him from finishing practice and running sprints with teammate Josh Bynes at the end of the workout. On Wednesday, he collided with rookie tight end Charlie Kolar and Queen took the brunt of the collision on his shoulder. However, he didn’t miss a repetition.
“Obviously, you see he’s out here every single day and we just continue to try and work and get him better and better,” Orr said. “I honestly believe if he continues to get better, if he continues to grow, continues to work on the little details, he could be one of the best linebackers in the National Football League.”
Orr, who spent last season on the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching staff, said he studied tape of Queen’s 2021 season and felt like he made definite strides. It is not lost on Queen, though, that his third season at every level of football he’s played has resulted in a breakout. It happened in high school and it happened at LSU, where he went from a reserve to a starter on a national championship team and an eventual first-round pick.
“I wanted to do it quick, but I understand that things take time,” Queen said. “Somebody actually asked me, ‘What’s the one thing that you’d tell your high school self now?’ And I’d say patience. That’s the biggest thing. It’s Year 3 now, so you know what time it is.”
Now, let’s get to observations and thoughts from Wednesday’s practice, the third and final OTA open to the media. The Ravens finish OTAs later this week and will have their mandatory minicamp next week.
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• The Ravens had 15 players not participating in the workout, which was their fewest absences during the three weeks of OTAs. Not practicing were quarterback Lamar Jackson, running backs J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Gus Edwards (knee), offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and Morgan Moses, outside linebackers Tyus Bowser (Achilles) and David Ojabo (Achilles), defensive lineman Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe (hip) and Michael Pierce and defensive backs Marcus Peters (knee), Ar’Darius Washington (foot), Marcus Williams, Kyle Fuller and Iman Marshall. All of the non-participants, except Williams who took part last week, had missed the other two OTAs open to the media. Ravens coach John Harbaugh did say that Moses has participated in other OTAs.
• The other players who returned to action after not participating last week were offensive linemen Ja’Wuan James and Ben Cleveland and undrafted rookie running back Ricky Person. Harbaugh said that he’s been impressed by how James has looked and moved this offseason despite the fact that he’s coming off of an Achilles injury.
• Harbaugh said that he expects Jackson to be at next week’s mandatory minicamp and the offense surely could use him out there. Wednesday’s practice was mostly a struggle for the offense. Through the first couple of team sessions Wednesday, it was not a stretch to say that defensive players were getting their hands on thrown balls just as often as offensive players were. Batted balls and interceptions were the theme of the practice. The offense did get better as the practice wore on, but this was still a day dominated by the defense.
Harbaugh said he expects Lamar Jackson to be at mandatory minicamp. “I know he’s working hard,” Harbaugh said.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) June 8, 2022
• Case-in-point: In just the first segment of 11-on-11 work, Huntley overthrew Mike Davis out of the backfield and then had a pass knocked down by Queen. A few plays later, he underthrew tight end Nick Boyle and had a pass stuffed by rookie safety Kyle Hamilton. Inside linebackers Bynes and Diego Fagot also got their hands on footballs during the first segment.
• Another bad offensive sequence started with a high snap by Trystan Colon and continued with Brett Hundley trying to force a short sideline throw to Josh Oliver. Cornerback Denzel Williams, an undrafted rookie out of Villanova, jumped in front of Oliver and took the interception to the end zone. Veteran defensive backs Marlon Humphrey and Tony Jefferson ran onto the field to celebrate with Williams.
• Defensive lineman Justin Madubuike was the most active defensive player in terms of getting his hands on the football. He had at least three deflections, including one which was intercepted by Humphrey. Harbaugh said later that the pass deflections aren’t particularly concerning, because of the nature of the practices. Defensive players know not to get close to the quarterback for safety reasons, so instead of pushing the pocket, they focus on trying to bat down the football. Still, there was an abnormal amount of throws deflected at the line of scrimmage in Wednesday’s practice.
• Wide receiver Rashod Bateman has had at least one drop in all three OTAs open to reporters. He got the drop out of the way early in Wednesday’s practice and it led to a lecture from pass game specialist Keith Williams. Bateman rebounded and made a few nice catches later in practice, including one on a deep ball in which he beat rookie Jalyn Armour-Davis who otherwise had a nice practice.
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• When the offense had success, it was usually because one of the tight ends made a play. Veterans Mark Andrews and Boyle didn’t take a ton of reps, ceding the stage to the younger tight ends. Tony Poljan had one of the day’s highlights, going up high in traffic to catch a touchdown between Kristian Welch and Damarion Williams. Fourth-round rookie Charlie Kolar also elevated to make a catch just outside the end zone although he was aided by safety Brandon Stephens holding off from going for the ball as not to cause a collision. Rookie tight end Isaiah Likely shrugged off an early drop and may have had more catches than anyone Wednesday.
•The Ravens’ deep class of rookie undrafted receivers has been mostly quiet in the OTAs although Devon Williams, who played at Oregon, had himself a solid day. He out-dueled cornerback David Vereen to catch a back-shoulder touchdown early in practice and then later beat Denzel Williams on a deep ball. Denzel Williams also gave up a long touchdown to James Proche who hauled in Hundley’s best throw of the afternoon.
• Second-year outside linebacker Daelin Hayes continued to make his presence known, easily beating left tackle Patrick Mekari off the edge on one play of 11-on-11s.
• Safety Chuck Clark nearly came up with a spectacular one-handed interception on a ball intended for Andrews, but he lost control of it on the way to the ground.
• Ravens specialists talk often about how detail-oriented things are when it comes to the kicking game. On Wednesday, the coaching staff had new holder Jordan Stout wearing a camera on his helmet as he put the ball down on Justin Tucker’s field-goal attempts. The footage will help Stout and the coaches review the specifics of his holds. He didn’t seem to have any issues Wednesday.
• A familiar face was on the Ravens sideline for Wednesday’s workout. Former Ravens cornerback Cary Williams, who played for the team from 2009 to 2012 and was a starter on the Super Bowl XLVII-winning team, has a coaching internship with the team this summer and will work with the defensive backs.
(Top photo of Patrick Queen: Gail Burton / AP Photo)
