FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty has become something of a chameleon in the secondary, filling in at safety when the team has needed him there due to depth issues, while also manning his normal left cornerback spot for much of the season.
While it remains unclear where McCourty will line up when safeties Steve Gregory and Patrick Chung return to the lineup, as well as what impact, if any, the presence of recently acquired Aqib Talib will have on his position, he said on Wednesday that he's ready to take on any role his coaches ask of him.
"Whatever they tell me to play," he said when asked what position he preferred between cornerback and safety.
One difference in playing from the safety spot is that McCourty has a new vantage point of the field. He is able to see all of it, rather than being isolated to one side.
"It's cool, it's different. You get used to it, seeing more of the field," McCourty said. "I think you have more responsibility since you have a viewpoint to let everyone else know. I know when you're playing corner, it's not as easy to see the different things that you see on film when you're just on that side of the field. I try to just communicate and let guys know if I see anything from film study that might happen."
When asked what has made the position switch a smooth one so far, McCourty cited communication with his teammates.
"I have a good knowledge of, especially for our corners what they're doing," he continued. "I think a little bit of that helps me, I can say things and they're being communicated and let them know I'm on the same page as them, I think helps them out a lot. Just my experience at corner, I think helps me out with that aspect. And then just going out there playing and listening to the guys that have been playing safety when they're trying to help me out. I think a lot of us is just working together and trying to improve."