FOXBORO -- Bill Belichick said Friday that newly acquired cornerback Aqib Talib is making progress in learning the Patriots defensive scheme. Belichick did not make any commitment as to whether Talib will be ready to play and/or start for the Patriots this Sunday when they take on Andrew Luck and the Colts at Gillette Stadium.
"I think it's coming along," Belichick said. "I think we'll find out today when it kind of all comes together on a review day. We segment things along the way and then Friday is more of pulling it all together. We'll see how it goes today."
Belichick said he's spent some time interacting with and coaching Talib but more of the instruction has come from cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and special teams coach Scott O'Brien.
"Spent a little bit of time with him," Belichick said. "Obviously, Josh, Matt, Scott O'Brien, they spend more time with him."
Belichick said Talib has been spending most of his time at left corner and on the left side of the defense, the same side as Devin McCourty, who has been filling in at strong safety in the absence of the injured Patrick Chung.
"Some guys flip easily, some guys don't," Belichick said. "I don't think there's any set formula. Some guys don't care which side they play on. Footwork's obviously different on one side than the other, same thing with the receivers. Some guys flip, some guys don't. Some guys it bothers, some guys they don't have any problem with it. I don't think we can set our boundaries on that. To a degree, we have to take it how it comes and have to see how adaptable they are or aren't.
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