It wasn't needed. I don't think anyone is as strong as their double threat. Although in the comic explaining their origins, Starscream gave them a run for their money. I think the real key to beating Jetfire and Jetstorm would be outsmarting them. And thats where Megatron would come in.

Starscream Megatron is in effect the opposite of Grimlock Safeguard, Screamer has the power to defeat Megs but not the courage, Grimlock V Safeguard is all about skill and speed.

 

I dont think they combined to form Safeguard when they fought Grimlock. And it wasn't just Grims, it was all the Dinobots at once. But yeah I think they probably were way too fast for the dumbass Dinobots to handle. But if Grimlock had gotten a lucky shot in then they'd be done for.

Yeah, basically just putting himself in position to capitalize on the inexperience of Jetfire/Jetstorm would give Grimlock an edge, despite his lack of speed...depending on what continuity you accept as canon for Grimlock, seeing as how his cartoon portrayal was completely different than his comic book portrayal. Marvel Comics G1 Grimlock would have gutted both Wonder Twins and laughed and mocked their weakness, because he was actually pretty smart in the comics, as well as being phenomenally strong. Optimus used to wonder if Grimlock would have made a better Autobot leader than himself. He just had the speech impediment.

 

Animated Grimlock draws heavily on his G1 cartoon portrayal, which sucks. It sucks hard. Because Grimlock could be an amazing character if he wasn't so consistently short-changed in the cartoons and made to look like a moron. The Dinobots were one of the very few things I disliked about Animated (although I love their individual toys).