Chad issues a challenge

[Shake n Blake]

(04-29-2020, 08:27 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: I thought I read about Brady and Chad very recently (maybe because Chad is appearing in the media more because of Burrow), this is not the article I read about his struggles, but it says it's well documented he couldn't run NE's routes:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/06/08/why-chad-ochocinco-failed-with-patriots/woLHEZMcbQsvowtsayTgVL/story.html

" What the Patriots didn’t realize watching Ochocinco on film while with the Bengals was, according to several league sources, he ran the routes he wanted to there and it drove quarterback Carson Palmer nuts -- especially later in his Bengals career. But Palmer was smart enough to realize that no matter where Ochocinco was running, he was probably going to get open because his feet are that good down the field. And after so many reps together, Palmer had a good feel for where Ochocinco would end up.

That can play in the Bengals’ offense, but not with the Patriots. This offense is so precise that if one player is in the wrong spot, it throws off the entire system – not to mention it irks Brady, who wants to be in total control at all times on the field."

Whatever I heard it was basically Brady couldn't trust Chad would be where he was supposed to be, and that got him essentially benched (not thrown to).

I remember people talking about chad improvising only after he moved on, because he failed in NE and it came out that Carson was able to work with him even though he improvised all the time.

I stand by what I said. I can find endless links talking about Chad being known for his excellent route running:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000817660/article/chad-johnson-megatron-among-best-wr-prospects-ive-scouted
https://billswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/06/buffalo-bills-chad-johnson-stevie-johnson-better-footwork/
https://www.stack.com/a/chad-johnson-offers-his-opinion-of-the-top-4-route-runners-in-the-nfl

Chad didn't get to the level he was on by running wherever he wanted and just winging it. To suggest that all he did was freelance is frankly ridiculous. I'm sure he was given permission to freelance at times, or have options on some of his routes, but again, he was far from alone on that.

An article on the Titans talking about Kendall Wright being given the green light to freelance a bit, early in his career: https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2016/06/07/kendall-wright-wont-free-lance-under-terry-robiskie/85568468/

Drew Brees saying Marques Colston had "route guidlines": https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/11/drew-brees-marques-colston-has-route-guidelines-not-rules/

I'm sure Chad had similar permissions. He wasn't going rogue and ignoring Bratkowski and Marvin Lewis.

I'd be interested to see who these "league sources" were. Probably Palmer himself. Funny thing is, after he started throwing Chad under the bus for his 20 INT's and 5 pick sixes, he left and was acting the same way towards receivers in Oakland and AZ. Throwing his hands up in the air as if to say "what are you doing" after every pick...with no Chad in sight.

As far as why Chad flopped in New England, everything I've read mentions the complex playbook:

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2013/09/on_most_plays_new_england_patr.html (an entire article on the complexity of the playbook, that mentions Chad as one of numerous players who failed to adapt)
https://www.boston.com/sports/extra-points/2014/09/02/what_makes_the_patriots_offense_so_difficult