The top player to watch in Steelers preseason finale vs. Lions

First, it was 20-12, then it was 9-3. I guess I’m glad I can say that I was right about the Steelers' defense being a big watch for this preseason stretch. However, that only means so much when the offense is so abysmal that defeat is nonetheless inevitable.

But you know what? The top takeaway during the preseason is always that the games don’t matter. Therefore, I’m going to save all of my whining about Pittsburgh’s offensive incompetence for the ones that do. With that said, let’s get right into whom I intended to yap about today: Patrick Queen.

Queen, a linebacker entering his fifth season in the NFL, has played a limited role in the Steelers' preseason effort up until now, sitting out of the opener against Houston before racking up just a couple of tackles against Buffalo last weekend.

Steelers fans need to see big things from Patrick Queen

The reason why? Simple: By already being a proven talent, he’s obviously not going to be worked to the bone in the preseason, as we know we’re going to need him for the next several months.

You never want to send studs into the regular season completely covered in rust though, and that’s why we saw him suit up for the Bills. It’s also why we should see him do so again in Detroit, where he’ll hopefully be expected and able to make all the bigger of an impact.

Another reason I highlight this game as a big one for Queen is no different than one I gave in my prior previews: The offensive prowess of the opponent.

Of Pittsburgh’s three preseason foes, Detroit finished last season with the best offensive statistics, landing in the top three for total yards and top five for points scored. When neither Houston nor Buffalo can even say that, you know the Lions have a legit offense.

Now, as I’ve said when tackling similar discussions, it’s obvious that we won’t see a regime of that caliber this weekend (heck, if common sense didn’t tell you that, the Texans and Bills failing to combine for 30 points against us certainly should’ve). But again, knowing that the minds behind that offense will be on the sideline doesn’t leave one thinking “pushovers.”

Also, it’s important to remember that this isn’t just the last preseason game for Queen and the Steelers, but for the Lions as well, so I can’t say I’d be surprised if their usual playmakers got some serious snaps themselves.

In short, Patrick Queen was one of the biggest grabs for the Steelers defense entering this season, and he could be approaching one of the strongest tests that a preseason battle could possibly give him. If he laughs in the face of it, no one should doubt what he’ll bring to the Steel City this fall.