Hate for Hartline

[Doc-phin]

Now ask yourself Doc if he DOESN'T jump or go to the ground, is he ASSURED of making the catch?  I say no in EVERY case. There was one in particular that I think the average fan would say that he should have kept his feet, but I disagree. He had beaten the DB, but the ball was thrown behind him and to the inside, so he dips inside the DB and then he does something that you can't teach, he actually goes UP for the ball and catches it at it's height rather than waiting for it to come to him. He loses his balance a bit when he does this and get's tackled but going UP for the ball absolutely guaranteed that the DB couldn't recover and make a play on the ball.

I want to fair and clear.  There are many catches where it is absolutely evident that leaving his feet was either the only way to make the catch or close to it.  There were also many catches that were made where getting tackled was inevitable.

But there were approximately 1 out of 10 catches that could have or should have gone for more and didn't go for more due to either poor body control after the catch or unnecessarilly jumping or dropping before the catch.  This 10% is the difference in the NFL.  It really is.

[Diehard_Dolfan]

In spite of Omar's superior knowledge to myself, regarding racial profiling, it has nothing to do with race.  I've never been a fan of Hartline, don't hate the guy either.  I just think he is an average 3rd string receiver.  There was a 9 minute highlight reel that I think had only two TD catches, heck it had more highlights of him being interferred with.  Then Omar wants to say he performed when his number was called, how the heck does Omar know how many times that Hartline was the primary target and he didn't get open???

That's the problem Marshall was always the primary receiver in Moore's eyes!   He looked for Hartline when Marshall wasn't on the field or there was no chance of getting him the ball!  A lot of those throws were slants also.. If Moore had led him right instead of throwing low some of those slants could have been big numbers!   How many slants did Jerry Rice and John Taylor take to the house?

[Doc-phin]

I completely disagree. You can't run with it if you don't catch it. You can't score with it if you don't catch it. You can't get a first down if you don't catch it. Brandon Marshall would have had about 4 more TD's if he would have just caught the damn ball when he had the chance. Hell BM ran out bounds once for no apparent reason and you're on Brian Hartline for making sure he catches it first? You're looking for a reason to criticize that's just not there.

I can respect you disagreeing, but why does it seem you are making "catching the ball" the standard.  I will agree with you that it must be done to have success as a receiver, but doing it alone is simply not enough.

And I will refrain from commenting on Marshall because I am coming at this with the perspective of moving forward with what we have, but if I was going to talk about Marshall it wouldn't take long to find video of him making things happen after the catch that would put this video to shame.

[Pappy13]

I want to fair and clear.  There are many catches where it is absolutely evident that leaving his feet was either the only way to make the catch or close to it.  There were also many catches that were made where getting tackled was inevitable.

Agreed.

But there were approximately 1 out of 10 catches that could have or should have gone for more and didn't go for more due to either poor body control after the catch or unnecessarilly jumping or dropping before the catch.  This 10% is the difference in the NFL.  It really is.

I completely disagree. I thought there were maybe 1 or 2 catches where someone else might have gotten more yardage, but that same guy would have dropped 2 or 3 of the balls that Hartline catches. You're not giving him enough credit for making the plays that he DOES make while being over critical on the ones that he DOESN'T make.

[Doc-phin]

If Moore had led him right instead of throwing low some of those slants could have been big numbers!  

Very possible, but keep in mind there is a very good chance Moore is our QB this year.  At the very least, I have to imagine it will be QB play of a similar caliber.  I just hope Hartline tries to improve this aspect of his game now that he is being thrust into a more vital roll on the team.  

[Pappy13]

Very possible, but keep in mind there is a very good chance Moore is our QB this year.  At the very least, I have to imagine it will be QB play of a similar caliber.  I just hope Hartline tries to improve this aspect of his game now that he is being thrust into a more vital roll on the team.  

I think you will be pleasantly surprised with Hartline this year.

[Doc-phin]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised with Hartline this year.

I hope you are right, Pappy.  I want to be optomistic and have reason for hope but I also have reason for doubt.

My main source of doubt is this...  I am really worried about what I perceive to be a lack of aggressiveness from our receiver core.  I think we have receivers that are smart enough, fast enough and have good hands.  I like how (I believe) our scheme will use the type of depth we have.  But I just don't see the kind of guys who look to score when they get the ball in their hands.  I see guys who are focused on running the proper routes and making the catch, but we have to score.

The only thing that eases my tension is our tightends and our running backs.  I see aggressiveness and savy out of those units.  The question is, is that enough? 

If I get surprised, I expect it will likely come from either Bess or Gates.  Bess showed aggressiveness in his punt returns last year and Gates won't be taking on the other teams best corner.  But that is just my deduction.

[Spider-Dan]

Hartline is a serviceable #2.  If he is expected to be the primary receiving threat, MIA is in trouble.

[Frimp]

I wonder if people said the same things about Wayne Chrebet? He was alot like Hartline, wasnt he? Great hands, very dependable for the catch, but not much for running after the catch?

*I'm asking if he was because I honestly don't remember. He was a Dolphin killer for sure, but I don't remember any runs after catches from him.

[MikeO]

Hartline is a "nice" player. For where he was drafted he has outperformed the expectations. There are very few knocks on the guy and negative things you can say against him as a player.

IF he is the #1 WR going into the season come September its the opportunity of a lifetime for him. I'm not sure hie is anywhere near a #1 WR in this league but we will find out.

[EKnight]

Hartline has been described as "Jordy Nelson with an accurate QB." He'll be fine as the #1 guy this year. -EK

[BigDaddyFin]

He has to run the correct route and catch the football. Outside of that, with the disarray this team is in, I don't think much else matters.

[Fins4ever]

Hartline is a serviceable #2.  If he is expected to be the primary receiving threat, MIA is in trouble.

I think we all need to get the "primary target" idea out of our head. The primary receiver will now be the guy that's open instead of the guy with the "open mouth". Hartline will be fine.

[MikeO]

The good thing about this is its the final year of Hartline's deal. So, if Hartline does well we can re-sign him and he is a guy we have to build around and find him some help. Whether he is the #2 or the #1, go get help for him, And we have a proven player in our new system who we know can produce. If Hartline fails, bombs out, stinks in his new role and just isn't a #1 or #2 WR in this league we can let him walk and its no big thing because his contract is up anyway.

[Brian Fein]

Now that I've watched the video, I will say I disagree with your analysis a bit more.

I saw exactly 4 instances where Hartline could have kept his feet to try for a longer run:

3:10 - Hartline makes a catch in the flat and dives forward into 3 defenders.
6:15 - Hartline jumps for a deep ball and trips after coming down with it
7:55 - Hartline had 3 or 4 steps on his man and had to lean to get the ball a bit and fell after the catch
8:40 - Hartline dives on a comeback route when he probably didn't need to.

There were probably 40 or 50 plays in that highlight reel, and 4 of them I agree he could have kept going.

If you hate Hartline so much, go ahead and send him to New England and watch him become a Pro Bowler, and then whine about how he was underutilized here.  Hartline is very underrated, and I hope he gets to show his stuff this season.