FOXBORO, Mass. — Aqib Talib spent last week covering the short, shifty, quick DeSean Jackson. This week, as the Patriots face off against the Buccaneers in joint practices, he’ll be matched up against Vincent Jackson, who the Patriots cornerback described as a “more bigger, jump ball receiver.”
There’s another storyline to be monitored, though. The Buccaneers are Talib’s former team. The Patriots traded a 2013 fourth-rounder for Talib and a seventh-round pick in Nov. 2012. Talib dismissed the idea that practicing against his old team would be any different than going up against the Eagles last week.
“Another day of work, man,” Talib said. “I’m eager to come out here and get better every day. So I’m going to be eager to come out and get better tomorrow.”
Talib finds value in the joint practices, even if it’s nothing special to go up against his former head coach, Greg Schiano, and teammates. Talib said it’s nice to get a look at a different offense, since he’s been going up against the Patriots for over three weeks now.
“Definitely, definitely,” Talib said. “You get a different look. Different tempo offense, different receivers, just a totally different offense than what we go against every day. So, you definitely have to work your technique and get better.”
The Patriots don’t have a receiver like Jackson, who Talib will likely be matched up against all week in practice and in Friday’s game. It will be a change of pace from DeSean Jackson last week and Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson in practice.
“Yeah, it’s a different look,” Talib said. “I got a quick, faster receiver last week. More bigger, jump ball receiver this week. I mean, it’s good work, man. It’s gonna be practice, man. It’s gonna be a good look. It’s gonna be a good challenge.”
Talib wouldn’t get into specifics how he covers players like Amendola and DeSean Jackson.
“I play a whole different way when I go out on short, quick guys like that,” Talib said.
When asked to go deeper, Talib would not.
“I can’t tell you that,” Talib said. “They might be watching.”
Talib gave up the Eagles’ biggest play on Friday, when he allowed a 47-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Jackson. Talib didn’t seem too bothered by the play, though, and described it as only he could.
“When I went back inside — fast, run away from me,” Talib said, motioning what Jackson was running. “Vick threw a good ball inside. I couldn’t get to it. Touchdown.”
Talib says he’s just trying to get better in the next few days as he goes up against his former team, even if it’s just another day at Gillette Stadium.
“Looking forward to getting better, man,” Talib said. “It’s another practice — against my former team — but it’s another practice. I come out here to get better every day.”
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