Brady adjusting to Lloyd's unique skills

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FOXBORO - Noted musical connoisseur Chad Ochocinco no doubt knows a few lines from Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain."

It basically became the soundtrack to his New England tenure.

Ocho never got it, despite promise after promise that he was this close to turning the corner.

So when Tom Brady mentioned Wednesday that he's going to need every rep with his newest wide receiver, Brandon Lloyd in order for the two to get on the same page, an immediate, "Oh, boy . . . " floated through the subconscious.

Is this "Ocho, Part Dos?"

Probably not. The problem with Lloyd is a good one to have. He already gets the offense. Brady just has to adjust to his otherworldly leaping ability and tenaciousness when the ball is in the air.

"He's got a unique skill set," Brady said Wednesday. "It's gonna take some time to get used to the things he does well. We haven't had anyone quite like him."

Asked if his ability to go and get the ball is what stands out, Brady seemed to agree, saying, "He's got great ball skills and great body control. If you get it near him, he's gonna catch it."

So what's the hangup?

"It's just sometimes a matter of, it doesn't really look like he's open then -- boom -- he springs open on you," Brady explained. "Sometimes you think he's covered and you get off him and then you watch the film and you're like, 'How did he get open?' He knows what he's doing to set the guy up and he makes the move and you gotta trust that he's gonna beat the guy and he does. It's just a matter of, 'Don't let your eyes take away from what he's doing in his route' because you know he's gonna get open at some point."

If there are lingering doubts about Lloyd's comprehension, receivers coach Chad O'Shea helped snuff them when he was asked how being part of Josh McDaniels' offense is helping Lloyd's transition.

"I think it makes a big difference. I think that the transition for him has beena lot smoother for him than it would be for a player that is not accustomed andfamiliar with this system," said O'Shea. "Thats really helped in the process of him cominghere and being a productive player for us in the offseason. It really has."

Brady is one of the most precise passers in NFL history and part of the reason he's gotten there is he stays away from too many contested throws. If someone's covered, he skips on to the next guy.

But Lloyd, who high jumped 7-2 in high school, doesn't just uncover downfield and laterally. He uncovers by outjumping.

"Brandons definitely very talented when the balls in theair on contested catches," said O'Shea. "This is something that hes done in the past. Itshowed up in our offseason work now, just being very talented when the ball isthrown to make a play down the field."

Brady, who dismissed the idea that Lloyd and Randy Moss were similar players, it will take time to "understand where he likes the ball placed and where he gets open."

"We've got a lot of work ahead in training camp and we'll need to use every single practice, every rep because he can really be a big part of this offense if we get up to speed," Brady predicted.

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