Published: November 21, 2008 11:38 pm            

Bullitt — on target

Colts’ free agent making game-changing plays

Grabbing game-clinching interceptions is getting to be old hat for Indianapolis Colts second-year safety Melvin Bullitt. 

The former Texas A&M standout, now in his second season with the Colts after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent, has picked up game-ending interceptions against Houston (twice) and Pittsburgh. He also has a team-leading four interceptions overall this year, just one behind National Football League leaders Charles Woodson and Nick Collins of Green Bay. 

Not a bad career start in the NFL for a guy who has primarily been a backup for 2007’s NFL “Defensive Player of the Year,” Colts strong safety Bob Sanders. But with Sanders seeing limited playing time due to a high right ankle sprain and arthroscopic knee surgery, Bullitt has become an integral part of the Indianapolis defense this season.  

The Bryan, Texas native, though, fully understands just how fortunate he’s been to have found himself in his current role with the Colts.  

“It’s not [easy]. The cards didn’t start rolling for me right from the start. Coming in as an undrafted free agent, that’s always rough,” Bullitt said. “I know how those guys feel when they come in. It always seems a little tougher that way. Then, you’re sitting behind a Pro Bowler [Bob Sanders], a Future Hall of Famer, someone who’s the [2007] Defensive Player of the Year, it’s never going to be easy. But you learn a lot. I’ve learned so much just from watching him play every game. I try to model my game after him.”  

Style-wise, Sanders is much more the bruiser. His hard-hitting style of play, especially against the run, is tough to emulate. Bullitt, however, is learning how to meld his own way of playing to what the Colts need him to do. In a way, he’s part strong safety and part free safety. And, if needed, he could also play a little cornerback if the right situation came about.  

“I said [when he was called upon to replace an injured Sanders in the starting lineup] ‘I’m not going to be Bob Sanders. Bob is down. I’m going to go be me. I’m going to make plays. There are going to be times when you’re going to like what I do and there are going to be some mistakes made, but I’m going to go out there and do the best I can,’” he said.  

That’s pretty much been his motto since his high school days. Bullitt has always considered himself to be somewhat of an overachiever.  

“In my eyes, sometimes I’m an underdog. Everywhere I’ve been I’ve always been the lowest on the totem pole. I’ve always been the smallest. I didn’t start growing until around my junior year of high school. I was around 5-feet-8 by junior year of high school. I just shot up to about 6-1, and from then on, I was still really thin. I committed early, at the end of my junior year, to Texas A&M, so the recruiting process stopped. I was blessed I already had a scholarship. I knew where I was going, but even when I was there, I was last on the depth chart,” he recalled.  

“I showed them I could play. I played as a true freshman. Every year, I changed positions. I went from corner to free safety to strong safety to outside linebacker. I didn’t even play safety my senior year. I played outside linebacker. I didn’t really get a chance to show teams in the NFL what I could do, because I was always at the line of scrimmage.” 

The Colts saw a lot that they liked about Bullitt. His in-between size and overall versatility seemed to be tailor-made for the team's defensive scheme. And they gave him a chance to play as a rookie.  

“It’s all motivation. It’s all about a want-to. [cornerback] Kelvin Hayden says it best. When guys talk about tackling, he says, ‘It’s not hard. Either you want to do it or you don’t want to do it.’ He says, ‘Of course, you’re going to miss some tackles, but when you want to tackle somebody, you’ll tackle them.’ It’s the same with playing in the NFL,” Bullitt said.  

“You have to show a want-to when you’re out there. If you show any ounce of timidness or fear, it’s going to overcome you. It’s OK to be nervous when you go out there and play. I’m nervous before every game, but you get those jitters out and keep going.” 

Which is exactly what Bullitt has done. For every mental or physical mistake that he's made in practice or in a game [such as missing a tackle near the line of scrimmage on Houston's Steve Slaton last week, which resulted in a 71-yard touchdown run], he's been able to push those errors out of his mind and just keep playing. It's a mindset that has served him well.  

“You always want to be a starter. That’s why you come to the NFL. You don’t want to come in and be a backup. But, you have to learn and you have to wait your time. You have to be patient, because anytime, an opportunity may come. Mine came this year, and I just wanted to go out and do the best I can and show people in the league I can play, too,” Bullitt said.  

“I think I did that. I’m just looking forward to every game now. Lately, even with the situations we’ve had, I’ve still been getting playing time. I’m just having a good time now.”

Colts-Chargers game notes

• Indy has won three straight after starting 3-4.

• Peyton Manning threw franchise-record six interceptions vs. Chargers last year in San Diego

• Norv Turner’s record in three stops as NFL head coach has tumbled to 73-93-1, including 15-11 with Chargers.

• RB LaDainian Tomlinson is having worst season in his eight-year career. He has only 686 yards and per-carry average of 3.8 yards.

• Philip Rivers has thrown two interceptions in each of last two games after having just one two-pick game in previous eight.

        

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