By Brian Biggane

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DAVIE —

As much criticism as the Dolphins’ receiving corps has come under this season, former wideout Oronde Gadsden doesn’t see talent as the group’s biggest problem.

That, Gadsden said, would be lack of experience.

The offseason trade of Brandon Marshall left Brian Hartline, in only his fourth season, and Davone Bess, in his fifth, as the veterans of what proved to be one of the youngest corps in the league, and Gadsden is convinced the unit’s No. 24 ranking through Sunday, at 218.6 receiving yards per game, is a direct result.

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“They would have been OK even if they had kept ‘Ocho’ (Chad Johnson) just for that reason. You need a guy who’s been around the league. When I came in, O.J. had already played New England nine times; he knew what Ty Law or Lawyer Milloy would do in every situation. Hartline is definitely a good receiver, but he hasn’t even played against all the teams in the league yet.”

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Gadsden said he feared the worst when general manager Jeff Ireland failed to find a replacement for Marshall after trading him to Chicago during the offseason.

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“If you thought you might get rid of him, you should have had a backup plan. I don’t think (Ireland) did.”

Gadsden said he believed during training camp and the preseason that Matthews might develop more quickly or that free agent Chris Hogan might emerge as another Wes Welker. He said Marlon Moore’s ability on special teams helps make him a valuable asset, but he would like to see the Dolphins pursue a high-end free agent this offseason to complete the mix.

“The top free agents are going to be Dwayne Bowe (of Kansas City) and Mike Wallace (of Pittsburgh),” he said. “If I had to pick, I’d take a guy who can take the top off the defense, which is Wallace.

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What we need now is a guy who can take the top off the defense and a veteran the young guys — and that includes Hartline and Bess — can bounce things off on the sidelines. You need that veteran leadership at every position.”

Experience and.....
depth,
speed,
size,
talent.

As for Wallace being this "veteran" mentor for Hartline, Bess, and Matthews. What exactly is Wallace going to teach them??? Wallace is fast, that's it. He's not a great route runner. He doesn't have great hands. He's a one trick pony. If anything, Wallace would learn from Hartline and Bess.

Experience and.....
depth,
speed,
size,
talent.

As for Wallace being this "veteran" mentor for Hartline, Bess, and Matthews. What exactly is Wallace going to teach them??? Wallace is fast, that's it. He's not a great route runner. He doesn't have great hands. He's a one trick pony. If anything, Wallace would learn from Hartline and Bess.

I did not read it as Wallace being this veteran. I read it as Wallace and a veteran. Two people not one person.

A one trick pony?.. Try a one trick pony thats caught almost three times as many TD passes as all our WR's combined all season!..

Ted Ginn was a one trick pony..
Clyde Gates was a one trick pony..

Mike Wallace?..Not so much

I just dont understand you guys that cant see the value in catching TD passes, kinda an important stat......No?

In his first four seasons Wallace has caught twice as many TD's as Hartline, Bess and Moore combined and you call him a 'one trick pony?'...WOW!!!

Look....I have no idea if this guy is the answer but he sure would be an instant upgrade to what we have!.. we desperatly need a proven speed wide out to keep these safeties honest and draw double coverage to open open up the field to some shallow crossing routes or some big gains in the running game....

Man those 8 TD's would have helped this year!!

Gadsden said he feared the worst when general manager Jeff Ireland failed to find a replacement for Marshall after trading him to Chicago during the offseason.

Wallace is wildly mediocre in terms of his overall receiver skills.

Are you unemployed?

How do you find time to watch all the Dolphins AND Steelers games?

Oh wait, you probably don't... you're just making stuff up.

Are you unemployed?

How do you find time to watch all the Dolphins AND Steelers games?

Oh wait, you probably don't... you're just making stuff up.

Ever heard of a job that you don't have to work Sundays? Ever heard of Sunday Ticket? Ever considered the idea I've got a few buddies who are Steelers fans?

I agree that he'd fit well in Miami from a physical talent standpoint, but I completely disagree that we should go after him.

So what you're saying is you'll listen to fans of a team... you know fans that always think the grass is greener elsewhere.



So he would fit in well, but let's not go after him.

Makes sense!!!

Does Wallace have red flags (drops, prima donna) yes, but we have to ask, is he an upgrade? Yes, not only will he upgrade our offense, he will also upgrade Hartline and Bess as well. Sign him, we need him.

If we were only looking at players in terms of what they can do from an on the field standpoint, Brandon Marshall and Chad Johnson would still be Miami Dolphins.

If we sign Wallace it will prove that our team has learned nothing from our mistakes with Marshall and Johnson. If you don't learn from you mistakes you're doomed to repeat them. Wallace would be another mistake.

I'd much rather see us draft a pair of wideouts for Tannehill to develop with.

Just to add to my previous post, I can see Miami packaging up picks to jump up and grab a guy (Keenan Allen?) if he slips or they target him from the get go.

After more thought from Rich's GM post, I can see them going hard after Dustin Keller and overspending. He and Fasano would make a nice tandem for two TE sets.

I'm sorry but I don't see the comparisons to Marshall and Johnson. Marshall has been in trouble on and off the field his entire career and Johnson has always been a clown and recently also saw off the field issues.

Wallace's biggest character concern is wanting more money...

Wallace may be the fastest receiver in the league but he is only great for one route, go long and outrun the defender.
Wallace is able to do a 10-yard slant route as well but he can only catch it if it is high.

When it comes to learning new routes, Wallace looks like the four-year-old trying to ride a bike for the first time

It seems to me that Wallace is so set in his ways, and you don’t get paid the big bucks just because you can run one route