Ronnie Brown MIGHT be injured

[Pappy13]

We do not have a speed WR. I'm sorry all of our WR's (including Marshall) are on the slow side. That isn't a knock against any of them, but just a fact. We need a burner to open up the field for us

I'm not sure if he was referring to Hartline or not, but I believe that Hartline is faster than you might imagine.  Then there is Marlon Moore who is supposed to be fairly fast.  I'm not sure that either of these guys qualify as a "burner", but they're not slow either.

[berkeley223]

I agree next year's draft (never too early to think about the draft!) should be top-heavy on O. We need a new starting RB---one with some speed who can actually take it to the house on any given play. The good news is you can usually get one of the top 3 RBs any year in the late 20s. We also need a  new starting TE who can stretch the field.  I wouldn't be averse to another WR with some speed, or a backup OT (we have zero depth there and if there's an injury we're totally screwed). 2 or 3 of these in the first 4 rounds would work. Our O is nowhere near a finished product.

[MikeO]

Hartline and Bess are good WR's, don't get me wrong. But if we had a burner to put on the opposite side of Marshall who would demand saftey help, that would leave Marshall open all day long. And in many more 1-on-1's.

Hartline and Bess don't have that kind of speed. Not a knock, just a fact. I like both and don't want to get rid of either but if we could add a guy to that group, watch out!!!

[Pappy13]

Hartline and Bess are good WR's, don't get me wrong. But if we had a burner to put on the opposite side of Marshall who would demand saftey help, that would leave Marshall open all day long. And in many more 1-on-1's.

Hartline may end up being that WR, not Bess he's quick but not fast.  That opening throw to Hartline in the last game was not just some lame attempt to get the DB's to back off, that play can actually work.  Dan Marino criticized Hartline on the play because all he did was try to outrun the DB which he did, but didn't really create any seperation which is what makes the throw easier. 

“The one play, [Brian] Hartline had a deep ball thrown to him, he didn’t make a move. That was always a pet peeve of mine. Just don’t run and try to outrun everyone, because they’re pretty fast, too. If you take a little more time and break them down some, you’ll be a lot more open. You don’t necessarily have to catch the ball 65 yards down the field. You can catch it 45 to 50 and run the rest of the way. "

[MikeO]

I don't see Hartline with that speed

[Pappy13]

I don't see Hartline with that speed

He's deceptively fast.  If you want an example and can see it, go back and watch another catch by Hartline in the 4th quarter I think it is.  He's coming back to the ball, catches it, turns and splits 2 DB's and runs right past them.  I was like WOW.

I found article that said he ran a 4.49 40 at the pro day.  That's not bad.  Certainly capable of getting deep.

[fyo]

I was thinking of Hartline. I've heard some of the players comment in interviews on how fast he is in practice. With the awful TV angles shown 90% of the time during games, I have no way of knowing it. He seems fast, but it's really hard to tell. (I want me some all-22 footage!)