Patriots vs. Dolphins: Does Tom Brady Even Need Chad Ochocinco?

Tom Brady had 517 passing yards against the Dolphins. A New England Patriots record. A Monday Night Football Record.

Chad Ochocinco had 14 receiving yards in that offensive explosion in Miami last night. Tom Brady threw the ball 48 times last night, and Ochocinco was on the receiving end of that pass three times. Only once did he come up with a reception.

Ochocinco coming to New England might have been one of the biggest moves of the offseason. If last night is a predictor of the rest of the season, it won't even register as a minor move when things are said and done.

Ochocinco was going to make the Patriots more explosive. Looks like the Patriots have more than enough explosiveness already. He might be expendable, even at this early juncture of the season.

With Tight Ends Like That, Who Needs Receivers at All?

Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez both had huge games in the season opener. Last season, it was usually one of the other. Now it looks like both are going to have huge days every Sunday (or Monday).

The tight ends received 17 targets (seven to Gronkowski, 10 to Hernandez). They combined for 13 receptions. That means they caught 76 percent of the balls thrown their way. Why look anywhere else?

Brady has not had tight ends that he could truly count on in the past decade. Now he has two.

Gronkowski is a big target that can run over people once he gets his hands on the ball. Hernandez is built more like a receiver but doesn't mind getting dirty. Both bring a dynamic to the offense that the Patriots have missed.

Chad Ochocinco Doesn't Add Anything New to the Offense

Chad Ochocinco is a possession receiver at this point. The Patriots already have guys like that in Deion Branch, Julian Edelman and Wes Welker.

The Patriots have two tight ends, one who is an enormous target and the other who can line up at any receiving position.

Then there are the guys who can get down the field. Matthew Slater and Taylor Price are the deep threats.

There is no specialty that Ochocinco brings to the table outside of a big name. That doesn't get you wins, so that doesn't matter to Tom Brady.

Deion Branch Finally Showed Up

The thing about preseason football is that nothing matters.

Deion Branch was nonexistent. It wasn't because he was not on the field either. He just didn't do anything all preseason.

Brady might have been more concerned getting some of the other, less experienced receivers involved since he has a fairly good rapport with Branch.

Branch made some noise last night though, catching seven passes for 93 yards and proving why he was so valuable in the past. With Branch and Welker firmly planted as Brady's most reliable targets, Ochocinco may not have any targets coming his way. 

Ochocinco Is Not Learning Fast Enough

The Patriots' passing game is based on reading the defense at the line. Unlike Peyton Manning, Tom Brady trusts that the receivers are seeing the same thing as him rather than making every call at the line.

Ochocinco hasn't learned to read Tom Brady's mind, yet.

The newest member of the Patriots' receiving unit is having a hard time making the reads since he came from a system where the play was called and you ran the route unless a hot read was called. Ochocinco never had to make the adjustments himself.

This is causing him to be hesitant. Which in turn is allowing, cornerbacks to cover him more easily.

Ochocinco needs to get a tutor if he doesn't want to get lost in the offense. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady don't care if he is the nicest guy in the world. All they care about is production.

If Ocho doesn't learn soon, he might go the way of Joey Galloway.