I rather like Pollack: it's versatile, holds up well when fried, deep-fried or BBQd and it's actually a lot of fun to catch (though I only caught them via handline, still fun!)

I do think Jaxson Kirkland would have gotten a chance to start over Volson at some point this season. He had an impressive pre-season and seemed to impress the coaches.

Interior OL should be a target this off-season. Volson and Cappa will both be entering the last years of their deals and both are playing the worst of their career.

(12-18-2024, 10:01 PM)jj22 Wrote: We talk about development and the lack thereof from positions across the team.

But I do see development on th Oline. If you look deep enough.

Mims, Ford (at LT) Lee, Kirkland, and even Cochran.

I like the run blocking scheme and I even like the run game.

Pass blocking is the issue and likely what will get him fired. But from a development standpoint he’s had a good year. And deserves some acknowledgment. From his harshest critics, myself included. We have a top passer, top receiver, and a breakout year at RB.

Is his job safer than what we may think?

If the Bengals get knocked out of the playoffs before final game of the season, I really want them to give Matt Lee a look somewhere on the IOL.
Dude was great at pass blocking coming out of college.

(12-19-2024, 11:55 AM)ochocincos Wrote: If the Bengals get knocked out of the playoffs before final game of the season, I really want them to give Matt Lee a look somewhere on the IOL.
Dude was great at pass blocking coming out of college.

Zac Taylor says they look at rookie Matt Lee as someone who can play center and guard.

Won’t hint at what may happen if Cappa can’t play Saturday. Could be Lee stepping in.

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) December 18, 2024

This was interesting as far as him possibly playing some guard. I thought he was a pure center only.

(12-19-2024, 11:59 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote:

Zac Taylor says they look at rookie Matt Lee as someone who can play center and guard.

Won’t hint at what may happen if Cappa can’t play Saturday. Could be Lee stepping in.

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) December 18, 2024

This was interesting as far as him possibly playing some guard. I thought he was a pure center only.

The fact that we have to throw a 7th round rookie in there who hasn't had snaps at guard as a pro to protect our 1/4 billion dollar generational talented QB is absolutely damning of this front office. 

(12-18-2024, 10:01 PM)jj22 Wrote: We talk about development and the lack thereof from positions across the team.

But I do see development on th Oline. If you look deep enough.

Mims, Ford (at LT) Lee, Kirkland, and even Cochran.

I like the run blocking scheme and I even like the run game.

Pass blocking is the issue and likely what will get him fired. But from a development standpoint he’s had a good year. And deserves some acknowledgment. From his harshest critics, myself included. We have a top passer, top receiver, and a breakout year at RB.

Is his job safer than what we may think?

Pollack and Anarumo need gone..Mims is ok at this point in his career..He gets away with many holding calls..Dont want to bust your bubble but Ford Lee Kirkland Cochran  will be career backups on any good team

(12-19-2024, 11:59 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote:

Zac Taylor says they look at rookie Matt Lee as someone who can play center and guard.

Won’t hint at what may happen if Cappa can’t play Saturday. Could be Lee stepping in.

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) December 18, 2024

This was interesting as far as him possibly playing some guard. I thought he was a pure center only.

I think he only played center in college and was sub-300lbs.

(12-19-2024, 12:17 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: The fact that we have to throw a 7th round rookie in there who hasn't had snaps at guard as a pro to protect our 1/4 billion dollar generational talented QB is absolutely damning of this front office. 

To be fair they have 3 OL on IR and Brown plus looks like Cappa hurt. Every team would be testing their depth at this point at OL. 

(12-19-2024, 11:28 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: I rather like Pollack: it's versatile, holds up well when fried, deep-fried or BBQd and it's actually a lot of fun to catch (though I only caught them via handline, still fun!)

So would you say they're any good at blocking your attempts to sack them?

(12-19-2024, 11:59 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote:

Zac Taylor says they look at rookie Matt Lee as someone who can play center and guard.

Won’t hint at what may happen if Cappa can’t play Saturday. Could be Lee stepping in.

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) December 18, 2024

This was interesting as far as him possibly playing some guard. I thought he was a pure center only.

If his arm length is any indication, I thought so too.
32.125" arm length.
He played all 4 years in college at C, so I don't know how new OG would be for him.
It definitely would be knocking the rust off, if anything.

Maybe Matt Lee follows Cam Jurgens's path and plays OG his first full season before moving to C after the current C departs.
Jurgens played RG in Kelce's last year before taking over for him at C this year.
Maybe Lee follows same path with Karras entering contract year next year.

(12-18-2024, 10:01 PM)jj22 Wrote: We talk about development and the lack thereof from positions across the team.

But I do see development on th Oline. If you look deep enough.

Mims, Ford (at LT) Lee, Kirkland, and even Cochran.

I like the run blocking scheme and I even like the run game.

Pass blocking is the issue and likely what will get him fired. But from a development standpoint he’s had a good year. And deserves some acknowledgment. From his harshest critics, myself included. We have a top passer, top receiver, and a breakout year at RB.

Is his job safer than what we may think?

I’m no expert. Seems like Synic is good. But QB centric OC’s (Zac) need help often from their OL coach. Pollack was Mike Brown’s choice after Zac whiffed with his…Jim Turner. Pollack strikes me as a motivator not a schemer. Zac needs a run game schemer. It seems the linemen we have been drafting and acquiring in free agency don’t fit the same scheme. Mixon didn’t fit what we were doing. Chase hits the hole faster maybe it suits him better. But drafting Volsen and not moving away from him and some other decisions have handicapped this team. Right now our guard play is awful.

(12-18-2024, 11:47 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: May have been, but the premise holds true. OL coaches are consumed with weekly activities in season.

Nope, it was Alexander. It was huge sticking point with me and the many debates with ol Toast about Piano Paul.

(12-19-2024, 12:17 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: The fact that we have to throw a 7th round rookie in there who hasn't had snaps at guard as a pro to protect our 1/4 billion dollar generational talented QB is absolutely damning of this front office. 

I think the OL from front office and performance has been our biggest drawback to better success in the Taylor tenure.

(12-19-2024, 11:28 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: I rather like Pollack: it's versatile, holds up well when fried, deep-fried or BBQd and it's actually a lot of fun to catch (though I only caught them via handline, still fun!)

Thought you were a baccala man, truck.

(12-19-2024, 12:17 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: The fact that we have to throw a 7th round rookie in there who hasn't had snaps at guard as a pro to protect our 1/4 billion dollar generational talented QB is absolutely damning of this front office. 

We don't know if he has been getting any snaps in practice.
I realize not a game, but still would be some.

I agree though, it feels risky business.

(12-19-2024, 01:19 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I’m no expert. Seems like Synic is good. But QB centric OC’s (Zac) need help often from their OL coach. Pollack was Mike Brown’s choice after Zac whiffed with his…Jim Turner. Pollack strikes me as a motivator not a schemer. Zac needs a run game schemer. It seems the linemen we have been drafting and acquiring in free agency don’t fit the same scheme. Mixon didn’t fit what we were doing. Chase hits the hole faster maybe it suits him better. But drafting Volsen and not moving away from him and some other decisions have handicapped this team. Right now our guard play is awful.

My ideal OL has two new faces at IOL next year.
One of those might be Matt Lee if he can show well enough the rest of this season or through preseason next year.
I want at least one IOL added early in the draft and/or in FA that can be a plug-and-play starter.


In an ideal world, Cappa is cut and that saved space is put towards a new starting IOL in FA. Someone like James Daniels.
I'd also look to supplement that with a cheaper veteran on the other side with someone like Dalton Risner.
Risner has been playing very well for his cost through his whole career, making no more than $4 mill a year. He's also started at both OG spots in the NFL, so he would be a great budget signing.
And then get an early or mid round draft pick to groom behind the vets.

(12-19-2024, 11:31 AM)Synric Wrote: I do think Jaxson Kirkland would have gotten a chance to start over Volson at some point this season. He had an impressive pre-season and seemed to impress the coaches.

Interior OL should be a target this off-season. Volson and Cappa will both be entering the last years of their deals and both are playing the worst of their career.

Yes, I liked what I saw from Kirkland in the preseason myself. Hopefully he continues to get better next season and stays healthy.

Too bad he got injured this season when we needed better play at Guard badly.

(12-19-2024, 11:55 AM)ochocincos Wrote: If the Bengals get knocked out of the playoffs before final game of the season, I really want them to give Matt Lee a look somewhere on the IOL.
Dude was great at pass blocking coming out of college.

(12-19-2024, 01:32 PM)ochocincos Wrote: We don't know if he has been getting any snaps in practice.
I realize not a game, but still would be some.

I agree though, it feels risky business.

Matt Lee has gotten snaps in jumbo packages this season. Just saw him have a penalty against the Titans.

He has played LG from what I have been seeing.

(12-19-2024, 03:20 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yes, I liked what I saw from Kirkland in the preseason myself. Hopefully he continues to get better next season and stays healthy.

Too bad he got injured this season when we needed better play at Guard badly.



Matt Lee has gotten snaps in jumbo packages this season. Just saw him have a penalty against the Titans.

He has played LG from what I have been seeing.

Apparently Matt Lee has gotten 19 offensive snaps this season.
From what PFF says, all of his snaps have come at TE, which I guess would be the jumbo outside OL in this case.
PFF has 0 logged snaps at any other position.
https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/matt-lee/98544#gradesWidget

(12-18-2024, 10:15 PM)jj22 Wrote: I see good things for Mims going forward. We actually got something out our first round pick. Things you see that he can improve with you can easily write off as rookie lessons.

He barely started college games and has survived outings with top rushers all season. I give Pollack props for getting him ready.

Mims is really the only stud prospect that Pollack has been given to work with in his time here.

(12-19-2024, 10:55 PM)jason Wrote: Mims is really the only stud prospect that Pollack has been given to work with in his time here.

Yep. As much of a technician as Jonah is he was just too physically limited to go up against the elite rushers in our division.

Meanwhile Jonah Williams having probably his second best season ever. According to PFF it’s his second best pass blocking and run blocking year.