FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Six games into his career with the New England Patriots, Chad Ochocinco has just nine catches-and one vote of confidence from his offensive coordinator.

Now comes the team’s bye week with Ochocinco’s role still evolving.

“Ocho’s progressing every week,” coordinator Bill O’Brien said Monday. “He’s done a really good job in practice and when he’s been in certain parts of games, he’s produced, two-minute drives at the end of halves and things.

“And we’re happy with where Ocho is right now.”

Since being traded by Cincinnati on July 28, Ochocinco has struggled with the complex playbook, much more complicated than the ones he had for 10 years with the Bengals.