Matt Lee & Cam Grandy

[J24]

Do you think these guys can take over their respective positions? Lee taking over at Center & Grandy at Blocking TE.

I'm more confident in a guy like Lee taking over @ center because he has the Athleticism( Ras score of 8.66), he graded well in college at both UCF & Miami, and he had a pass blocking grade of 87.7 during the preseason.( also a cap hit of 985,438)

I know Karras is a fan favorite but he will be 32 next season, he isn't that Athletic, and he will be carrying a 6.3 million dollar cap(1.5 m in dead money & 4.8 m in cap savings) hit this upcoming season. He did have a nice pass blocking score of 78(overall 64.1).

As for Grandy he was an All American(fcs) at Illinois State and he did have a total blocking grade of 70.25 on 44 blocking snaps during the regular season! That's a very small sample size though.

Its not like Drew killed it this past season with a 49.5 blocking rating(48.9 overall ranking) on 394 blocking snaps. Also drew has a 2.75 million dollar cap hit vs Grandy who has 980,000 cap hit.( that's roughly A 1.8 million dollar difference)

If the Bengals cut Karras & Sample they would save 7, 550,000 in cap space. That can get you a significant player elsewhere on the roster if the FO wants to go in that direction.

[CJD]

Matt Lee we just...don't know very much about as an NFL player. He had a good pre-season, if I recall correctly, but I personally found it to be a red flag that he didn't get a chance to start with the dumpster fires that were at LG and RG all season. If the coaches had faith in him to take over center, you'd think he'd be good enough to play better than 2 of the worst guards in the NFL.

Cam Grandy, I liked what I saw in a limited sample size. But I remember him getting a disproportionately high number of false starts. That can't continue and be a regular player on the team. Sample isn't that valuable on this team, so if we "downgraded" to Grandy, I don't think the offense loses a lot, but whether or not he'd be a positive contributor to the team would depend on if he can clean up his penalties.

[puddycat]

(02-09-2025, 12:43 AM)CJD Wrote: Matt Lee... found it to be a red flag that he didn't get a chance to start with the dumpster fires that were at LG and RG all season; Cam Grandy... disproportionately high number of false starts.

Unfortunately, I have no faith in out coaching staff developing players by giving them snaps.  I know that there wasn't much garbage time in the Bengal's season, but particularly OL,LB and Safety they flat-out refuse to share snaps until they no longer have a choice.  Cam Grandy looks like just a guy who wasn't given a chance to do much in his 75 snaps. I have hopes for Lee, but need to see him on the field. 

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

If we have them as starters Week 1, our FO failed spectacularly this offseason. Ideally Grandy doesn't even make final cuts.

[Brownshoe]

Matt Lee looked like he would at least be a solid backup in the preseason. I'm not too sure about Grandy.

[ERIC1]

(02-09-2025, 10:17 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: If we have them as starters Week 1, our FO failed spectacularly this offseason. Ideally Grandy doesn't even make final cuts.

100%

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

Lee has a tougher hill to climb than Grandy.

Karras is one of the best pass blocking C's in the league. Now, a poor run blocker, for sure, but still a useful/average NFL starter in total.

Sample is a mediocre to awful TE1. Decent blocker but that is it. On a good TE team, he is TE3-TE4. Or on the PS.

There is no way I cut Karras loose with Lee so unproven. If he beats him out, fine. Even then, moving Karras to LG or keeping him around in case of injury (while under contract) would still be my play. He does not make that much.

The TE room is so bad that Sample IS TE1 at the moment. Grandy TE2, then McLachlan. With All on IR. Even if Grandy beats him out, Sample is still our best option as TE2. Gesicki & Hudson are essentially WRs. Where our drpth is also terrible, btw.

[FormerlyBengalRugby]

I do not trust either to do much as starters.

I would like to see Lee get more snaps, but Grandy, with limited snaps, needs to show more disciple (lees penalties) before given many more opportunities.

Karras and Sample are both safe, unless the Bengals draft TE or IOL high, or find superior replacements in the draft. Even then, they are still known quantities and solid depth.

[SunsetBengal]

(02-09-2025, 12:43 AM)CJD Wrote: Matt Lee we just...don't know very much about as an NFL player. He had a good pre-season, if I recall correctly, but I personally found it to be a red flag that he didn't get a chance to start with the dumpster fires that were at LG and RG all season. If the coaches had faith in him to take over center, you'd think he'd be good enough to play better than 2 of the worst guards in the NFL.

Cam Grandy, I liked what I saw in a limited sample size. But I remember him getting a disproportionately high number of false starts. That can't continue and be a regular player on the team. Sample isn't that valuable on this team, so if we "downgraded" to Grandy, I don't think the offense loses a lot, but whether or not he'd be a positive contributor to the team would depend on if he can clean up his penalties.

Lee has grit, plays with a little fire, and is a good technician of his executions. His problem lies in that he's a little light in the lower body to move a man off the ball at Guard. It'll be interesting to watch him in camp/preseason to see if any physical development has happened in regard to lower body power/mass. The one downfall of guy like him putting on mass, is that his RAS will likely drop a little.

[Housh]

Matt Lee yes, Grandy probably aint even making the team next year

[*bengalfan74*]

I'm anxious to see how Lee develops? I do find it interesting that with the two worst guards in the league he didn't make it on the field a bit more.

[WeezyBengal]

No.

I am not expecting a 7th round draft pick to make any kind of contribution on this team. Especially not starting in year two after barely getting on the field in year 1. 

[The D.O.Z.]

(02-10-2025, 01:44 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I'm anxious to see how Lee develops? I do find it interesting that with the two worst guards in the league he didn't make it on the field a bit more.

I thought the same thing as the season went on. Was Pollack hard set against kicking Karras out to LG and starting Lee? From what little I saw of Lee as an extra lineman, he didn’t look out matched. So I suspect he practiced well, or he wouldn’t have seen the field AT ALL. Having Karras to his left, helping him identify and set line calls would have been worse than starting the two worst guards in the entire league?! I’m hoping the new OL coach has a vision for this line, and the prior drafting of Mims and Lee, that they’re possibly gearing up to FINALLY have the athleticism and bodies to run WZ. Draft / sign a couple high RAS guards this off season and FINALLY have this offensive line in sync with the rest of Zac’s scheme.

[QueenCity]

As someone who wanted Pollack gone years ago.... I'm willing to let our new O-Line Coach make what I hope better decisions.

[FormerlyBengalRugby]

(02-10-2025, 01:44 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I'm anxious to see how Lee develops? I do find it interesting that with the two worst guards in the league he didn't make it on the field a bit more.

Therein lies the conundrum.

Did Lee not displace them because he was was not talented, or did he remain on the bench because Pollack cannot identify talent?

I want to see the Bengals bring in at least 3 new guards (and a raw rookie OT ideally), and give Lee a look at center sometime in the next season.

[*pally*]

As many complaints we have had about coaches p, the one that has consistently gotten the best from his group is James Casey, the tight end coach. His #1 guy changes every season. His back ups are almost after thoughts on the roster, but in the end they contribute. So I would like to see what Grandy can do

[SunsetBengal]

(02-10-2025, 11:24 PM)pally Wrote: As many complaints we have had about coaches p, the one that has consistently gotten the best from his group is James Casey, the tight end coach.  His #1 guy changes every season. His back ups are almost after thoughts on the roster, but in the end they contribute. So I would like to see what Grandy can do

I kind of agree with you on this, if Casey feels like Grandy was worth protecting, then their is likely something there in him.

[BurrowTheGoat]

Matt Lee could very well develop into a solid player especially with a new (and almost for sure way better) OL coach but id prefer to not go into the season with him as a starter. Would like to see him first off the bench on the iOL and if he gets on the field and holds his own perhaps in year 3 we've got something. Just feels like it could backfire too hard if he is bad.

[*bengalfan74*]

(02-10-2025, 08:53 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: Therein lies the conundrum.

Did Lee not displace them because he was was not talented, or did he remain on the bench because Pollack cannot identify talent?

I want to see the Bengals bring in at least 3 new guards (and a raw rookie OT ideally), and give Lee a look at center sometime in the next season.

Yep, I'd like to see them sign two established vet guards in free agency. They don't have to be All-pro top of the heap high $$$ guys. Just solid producers.

We have so many other needs especially defense and that would free up the draft a lot.

[kalibengal]

(02-09-2025, 06:21 AM)puddycat Wrote: Unfortunately, I have no faith in out coaching staff developing players by giving them snaps.  I know that there wasn't much garbage time in the Bengal's season, but particularly OL,LB and Safety they flat-out refuse to share snaps until they no longer have a choice.  Cam Grandy looks like just a guy who wasn't given a chance to do much in his 75 snaps. I have hopes for Lee, but need to see him on the field. 

once again ,  as it seems to be annually we have a concern over the O Line , the TE position remains a question mark. Eric All unfortunately looks cooked and we still need to resign Mike G who is a tweener and not a true TE. It appears we need to either sign a FA or draft another TE in April. SMH