Count me in as one who thinks we really need a bonafide and 'proven' true #2 WR. I'll post this again-
A guy like Edwards at the #2 is a true vertical (and proven) deep threat and will open up the other receivers and the passing game a lot more. Notice how often Marshall was double and triple covered at times last year. Even Bess was double covered half of the time he was out there as well. No defense respects Hartline and this is a problem. Those shell coverages within 25 yards of the LOS killed us last year.
I don't like pasting other posts. But I was just at the rival board and Todd over there made some very good points.. the first parts i totally agree with wholeheartedly, but the latter points about the teams we have to face does coincide with the premise of this thread:
we currently have no proven depth at WR, and if Marshall or Hartline go down we could be in trouble again. It's uncertain how long Gates will take to make an impact, and until he does, I think it would be wise to have someone else in the mix who certainly can.
IMO Hartline is a possession guy. He might have a slightly higher yards per catch, but he's still a possession guy. He might sneak by a DB here and there, but he's not the first guy you're picking to enter a jump ball contest..... or a tracking the ball contest...... or a down field catching contest. He's not a scorer, and he's not a playmaker.... and that's what we're missing. I'd rather go after Edwards than bank on Gates contributing early on.
The Jets made the Champ game with him so I wouldn't say he's detrimental to success.
Not to mention, if we're looking at the big picture and planning ahead:
we face the Eagles, so we'll need all the help at WR we can get for that game.
We face Revis twice. That alone should warrant us grabbing an extra WR. (That's 3 games against HOF caliber corners)
Houston picked up Joseph who's a stud when healthy. With the firepower of that offense, we might need more of our own.
Cleveland has Haden.
NE has a ProBowler in McCourtney and could be nasty with Vince & Albert up front, so it'd be nice to have 2 big guys to throw jump balls to if they bring the pressure. Plus they drafted Dowling.
SD had one of the best pass defenses in the NFL (ranked #1 in yards allowed with a 76 QBR and led the league in fewest big play catches allowed. We might also need to match their firepower.
KC should be even better than 2010 where they allowed a stingy 78 QBR & 55% completions.
Giants allowed an 80 QBR with only 57% completions.
That's 10 games against some good cover guys or great secondaries that would really benefit IMO from another weapon at WR. Not to mention, if these teams decide to double Brandon and stick their stud corner on Hartline, that could spell trouble.
Plus the playoffs and Super Bowl could include teams from the 6 toughest pass defenses from 2010: Baltimore, Pitt, Jets, GB, Chicago, and SD.