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Transcript107 lines

[00:00]
A
The podcast Campus Files is back with more stories of scandal, crime and intrigue on college campuses. It is not hard to destroy a college.
[00:09]
B
It's almost like a university under siege.
[00:11]
A
Listen to and follow Campus Files available now, wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:15]
C
Hey, do you guys have the Citizen app on your phone? Do you know what that is? Amy got me on the bank. No, no, not Citizens Bank. No, I'm in Philly. No, it's like the police alert. Like, I get alerts when crimes are happening, when police are getting called within an X amount of radius from where I am and just shout out thoughts and prayers. Citizen hit on some. Some pedestrian got hit on Richmond right now just a couple of minutes ago. Right up here. The corner of Cummins in Richmond. Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. They give you a little map where it happens and stuff.
[00:46]
B
I love how you just transition to thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. These people. It's awesome.
[00:49]
C
Well, no, the app is awesome. You know, if it's somebody I know, I'd be a little bit more. But no, like, they tell you, like. Yes.
[00:54]
A
1, 2, 2 2, 2, 2, 2, 2. Dude, get a Libra.
[00:59]
C
Get a live read in.
[01:00]
A
I think I have to disclose that they. I work with Mocarim Injury Lawyers.
[01:04]
C
Right, right, right, right.
[01:05]
A
But if you're still listening to Mocarim Injury Lawyer, or if you're still listening to Sports Radio 610 on your transistor radio. Pedestrian call. Yeah.
[01:12]
C
Call Mocarim Injury lawyers. Yeah, but like, yesterday there were some people, like, at the Taco Bell on Shepherd throwing rocks at cars.
[01:19]
A
What?
[01:19]
C
Boom. Citizen app. Yeah, they were getting arrested.
[01:22]
B
Yeah, I could have maybe used that yesterday. So you heard about the shooting out at the Kroger?
[01:26]
C
I did. I saw it on the news in Cyprus.
[01:28]
B
Yeah, I live five minutes away from that Kroger.
[01:30]
C
Do you go to that Kroger?
[01:31]
B
I used to all the time.
[01:32]
C
My apartment is scary as hell.
[01:34]
B
Where Kirsten and I lived before we bought the house. Our apartment was right behind the Kroger.
[01:38]
A
Wow.
[01:38]
B
So if I was home, I would have heard the pop pop.
[01:41]
C
So what happened? Seth, you didn't. It doesn't sound like you.
[01:43]
A
No, no, no. Was it? Yeah. Like, was this a random crazy person shooting at people or was it like
[01:48]
B
a. I didn't release the information entirely, but there was just a shooting inside and two people got shot inside. Inside Kroger.
[01:55]
A
Well, I always need to know. The way I make myself feel better about being out in public anymore is if it like. Okay. Was this actually a dispute between specific people or was it a crazy person who is just firing it?
[02:06]
C
Everybody thought, I saw that it was a result of a domestic dispute.
[02:09]
B
So somebody felt. So somebody got a camera from their car of the arrest happening. So I think that there was, it definitely was something that was pre meditated, I think.
[02:18]
C
Okay. Okay. Yeah.
[02:20]
A
It wasn't a black bear.
[02:22]
C
No, no, no, no, no.
[02:24]
A
Like black bears aren't dangerous, but if they have a gun, you know, they just. Yes, they will.
[02:29]
C
You do have to watch with their bare hands. They're tiny little bare hands.
[02:33]
A
I would rather face a bear with no gun than a black bear with a gun.
[02:37]
B
On the text line, we at least know that somebody is on Richmond and did not hit the pedestrian.
[02:40]
C
So thank. Good, good job suspect. We need a citizen vigilante. Somebody said go take care of all these crimes. All right. So we were just talking in the previous segment about C.J. stroud, the top 100, the probably more substantive NFL GM poll that ESPN is doing of the top 10 at each position, final position drop today. Kaylin Bullock, congratulations. You are the 10th rated safety in the NFL according to NFL GMS. I the thing I like that they do about this and we'll get to the other Texan who gets mentioned in here in just a second. I like that they show the highest ranking and the lowest ranking, highest ranking. There is an executive out there that thinks Kaylin Bullock is the second best safety in all of football right now.
[03:29]
A
Yeah. And I think that's where Kaleb Bullock is. A guy that is the people that watch him a lot or you have seen a good chunk of him. I think there's a lot of people that feel about him that way. It's just that he's still a young player. And as it happens with defensive backs especially, I mean there's such a first round bias for young defensive backs, especially for corners, but even for safeties, that this is going to be if he continues to play the way he's been playing at the end of this year, I think there's going to be a lot of people just without thinking about him, put him in the top five.
[03:59]
C
I agree. I agree. Now it says, you know, talks about the ball hawk aspect of his game and how he's equal elite at that. Nine interceptions in two years probably could have been a lot more interceptions. He's one of the, he's one of the drops. He's culprits on this defense. He's. He's had a few that he could have had. The tackling is the thing they bring up as an issue they call it, but they do consider was an issue
[04:21]
A
in his rookie year.
[04:21]
C
In his rookie year and he's improved his physicality. There's an NFL coordinator that says he's an adequate to average tackler, but his range is elite. I will say this for his frame. He is very willing to mix it up. Caleb.
[04:36]
A
Well, and a lot of it, a lot of it with his tackling is more the same thing with a young safety when, when it comes to coverage is understanding the proper angles to take and just kind of some of the anticipation. So he's a really young player who is very green and I like, I expected him to be a two or three year project when they drafted him. He came along really, really well, which is a testament to Dino Vasso and Adegoke, the defensive backs coaches. But I think the other part of it too is that what hopefully is different this year is that he's going to have another veteran safety alongside him in Reed Blankenship.
[05:12]
B
Yes.
[05:12]
A
So there were times last year where they couldn't do as much of the single high, deep, middle of the field safety type stuff as they would have liked to with Kalen Bullock when they were working in either rookies or guys they'd picked up off the street. With some stability back there, I think you're really going to get to see some of the, some of the more exciting parts of him or, or also not the single high stuff. But when Caleb Bullock's down in the box and they can use him creatively on blitzes and whatnot.
[05:39]
C
Yep, yep. You get a better version of him. All right. This is the one that I was very anxious to see where Jalen Petrie fell in this exercise that ESPN is doing with these front, it sounds like front offices and coaches. They quoted a coordinator. There's a scout that gets quoted personal
[05:56]
B
memory every once in a while.
[05:57]
C
Yeah.
[05:57]
A
Y70 different NFL, different titles. Personality isn't that many. Yeah.
[06:02]
C
Yep.
[06:03]
A
Now not all 70 weigh in on all the positions, but that's how many people that he talks to for all of these rankings. Yeah.
[06:08]
C
Jalen Petrie first among honorable mention at safety. And an NFC scout says he's a nickel but can play safety. Don't think he gets nearly enough credit. Would love to have him on their team. This NFC scout says yeah, I think
[06:24]
A
and what you had asked going into this, going into the break was okay, is he, is he penalized because of the position that he plays? I would say I think that's, that's changed over the last five Years because there's just so many more guys that play his role. That star position where you're. You're a nickel linebacker, slash, you know, slot corner slash, whatever we need you to be. And I think that those guys get more recognition for that now. But it is. It's still a little awkward calling him a safety.
[06:55]
C
Yeah.
[06:55]
A
And I wonder if just sometimes. Yeah. In people's minds that when they're filling out a battle, a ballot with the top 10, they might not in their brain have Jalen Petrie classified as a safety. So it doesn't even enter the list.
[07:06]
B
Do you think that they should add in another category for nickel defenders because of something like, maybe.
[07:12]
C
I think, like. I think he just gets in stuff like this. I think the league knows how good Jalen Petrie is right now and how much he's improved. In exercises like this, though, I think the fact that they. They kind of pigeonhole it into cornerback safety. It's funny because I. Because Jalen Petrie is so many different things. I. When I do my 53 man roster predictions for the Houston Press, I'm on like my third one now, and I go like any roster projection, you go by, you know, quarterback, running back, and you got two and four and six wide receivers and 10 offensive lineman, blah, blah, blah.
[07:45]
B
So you just do full offensive lineman.
[07:47]
C
I do full offensive lineman. I do full defensive lineman. I don't go end and tackle. I just do. There's eight or nine defensive linemen. I get to the secondary. And what I started doing this year is I have cornerbacks, safeties, and Jalen Petrie. Jalen Petrie has his own category where there's one of them and his name is Jalen Petrie. That's. I. So I think sometimes in these exercises, his positionlessness.
[08:10]
A
Yeah.
[08:11]
C
Or at least the lack of a label of a position that he does, I think works to his detriment sometimes.
[08:16]
A
Well, that's where, like, you know, in Derwin James and, you know, I would say Cooper De Jean to a certain extent, there are all these guys that are very versatile and can play multiple positions, and some of them. This is where. This is where the personal taste comes into it. I think if you're. If what you want out of your nickelback is a guy who's got really good coverage skills is like, okay, then you think about a guy like Cooper De Jean. Yes, that. Okay, he's versatile, but he's more on the. He's more on the coverage side of things where guys like Derwin James who can do everything and Be a Swiss army knife. He's kind of a different position than a Cooper DeJean. Even though they might be asked to do some of the same things, I think people value the coverage part of it more. Whereas Jalen Petrie, like it's not, it's not his one on one man coverage skills that, that, that are his calling card. That he probably gets docked just simply because of that. It doesn't. People are going to look at him and love what he does, but not look at him as a rare an athlete as some of those other guys. Yeah.
[09:13]
C
But there was that Rasheed Rice hit. I was hoping that that would get Jalen Petrie all of the accolades this off season. There was that hit and he just killed the guy right there on the field. It was amazing. The second World War was the largest event in human history. A 20 part series with Tom Hanks. No part of the globe was untouched. No life unchanged. Experience. The ultimate account of World War II. Every single person had a story. These are the stories that make us who we are. Listen to World War II with Tom Hanks on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
[09:54]
B
Well, what's so funny is, is that they also included nickel defenders in this list because Kobe Bryant, who just signed with the Chicago Bears, a lot of that. Another name that was an honorable mention. But Nicki mean worry, the rookie safety that played in the nickel throughout the entire postseason for Seattle shows up at number six.
[10:11]
C
Yeah.
[10:11]
B
And I'm like, I have a bigger sample size of knowing what ungodly type of hits we're going to see from Jalen Petrie.
[10:19]
C
Yeah.
[10:19]
B
Than I do on Nicki Man Warri.
[10:20]
C
Yeah.
[10:20]
B
I feel like if you flip them, then you feel better about this.
[10:23]
C
He. He was a cheat code for them in a Super bowl playoff run though. You know what I mean? Imam Wari. That helps him. Yeah, yeah, that. That. I think that really helps.
[10:31]
A
Yeah. Like, I think most defenses now list their starters with 5 in nickel like
[10:39]
C
the depth chart does.
[10:40]
A
You're right. So it is. It's kind of. Still trying to pigeonhole everything into two safeties and two cornerbacks is just not an accurate reflection of just the way teams are actually operating.
[10:49]
B
No.
[10:50]
C
No. So in the end, in this exercise with ESPN, the Texans get. They get their two edge defenders, both finish in the top 10.
[11:00]
B
Will top six.
[11:01]
C
They were top six.
[11:02]
B
Yeah.
[11:02]
C
Will was 3D, Neil was six, Aziz Al Shayer six rated linebacker. Derek Stingley Jr. Second rated corner, Kaylin Bullock 10th rated safety, and Nico Collins eighth rated wide receiver.
[11:18]
B
And then the first two off were Kamari Laster at wide at cornerback and Jalen. And Jalen Petrie at safety.
[11:23]
C
And CJ Stroud got one vote and CJ Stroud got one vote for quarterback
[11:26]
B
and the offensive line got none.
[11:28]
C
Yeah. And Kamari was. Kamari was honorable mention.
[11:32]
A
Well, Kamari. And that's where Kamari and Kalin are both in that same boat. Like everything I said about Kalen Bullock, I think I would add to Kamari, even though he's played, he started off, you know, he was a starter immediately where Kalen Bullock had to work his way in. But I think Kamari is one of those guys that you almost have to like, the Texans need to play more teams before, especially teams in the NFC start to get a feel for like. Oh, oh, it's not just, it's not just Derek Stingley.
[11:57]
B
Right.
[11:58]
A
And then also, you know, and then Kamari Lasseter is the second guy. They're going to start realizing, okay. Oh, wow. They've actually got a really good thing going at both sides.
[12:06]
B
I know Sean feels this way. Seth, do you think that Kamari is a bonafide top 10 cornerback already?
[12:13]
A
Not yet. I think that, I think that that's just. I guess and maybe I'm guilty of this too. I just still need to see more of a body of work. It's interesting. I guess I do think He's a top 10 cornerback, but I also, I don't get offended that he's not listed in the top 10.
[12:32]
C
There's, there's a tenure element to you to, it feels like to you, like, hey, he's done it for two years. Let's see, for three years.
[12:38]
A
Well, you know, this is the thing with Kamari that, you know, like the, the discussion over his 40 time was overblown and the chance that it was inaccurately reported to begin with. But there is an element to his game that's a little bit unconventional in that he's got an ability to be beat by a half step. But because he's so freakishly good at timing the arrival of the ball.
[12:57]
B
Yeah.
[12:58]
A
That there are a lot of plays he makes at the, at the, the, the catch point that make him way better than it. He's way better than it might look by the textbook version of playing cornerback.
[13:10]
B
He benefits from an under thrown ball more than anybody.
[13:12]
C
Right.
[13:12]
B
It's basically. Yeah, yeah.
[13:13]
A
Oh, yeah, yeah. But even when the good. You remember the play in the end zone of the Chiefs. Yeah. Like that was. I think that's a, I think that's a catch versus a lot of other cornerbacks who aren't as good at the catch point. And I think it's there's a part of me that's still a little bit like, I almost need to see that so consistently for one more year for me to really believe it because it's just a little bit atypical. But it's not. But he's really, really good at it.
[13:41]
C
This is a great, I think this question encapsulates I think this is middle screen sending in this question that encapsulates perfectly with Jalen Petrie is who's the backup to Jalen Petrie?
[13:52]
B
Yes.
[13:52]
C
The answer is there isn't one.
[13:54]
A
Well, no, last year the solution was you go play your base. Four, three.
[13:57]
C
That's right.
[13:58]
A
We're not going to five defensive backs out there. We just bring EJ Speed in.
[14:01]
B
Yeah. Henry to aoa, moves over to the strong side.
[14:03]
C
That's exactly right. That's. That's the backup. It's not a backup person. It's a backup plan. Yeah. All right. Pain and Pendergast with you. Cole Thompson hanging out with us today. Five teams have checked in, reportedly on Stefon Diggs. Are the Texans one of them? Should they be? We'll do that. Coming up next.
[14:21]
A
How We Made youe Mother is a rewatch podcast that looks back episode by episode at the hit TV show How I Met yout Mother. It's hosted by me, Josh Radner on along with series co creator Craig Thomas.
[14:31]
C
In seasons one and two, we were joined by Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, Bryan Cranston, Ashley Williams, Wayne Brady, Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, Joe Manganiello and my brilliant co creator Carter Bayes. And now we are diving into season three.
[14:45]
A
So whether it's your 50th rewatch or your first time through, follow How We Made youe Mother wherever you get your podcasts.

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: Payne & Pendergast

Episode Title: Is Calen Bullock a Top Safety in the NFL?
Date: July 16, 2026
Hosts: Seth Payne & Sean Pendergast
Guest Contributors: Cole Thompson
Theme: Deep dive into the ESPN NFL GM poll's top 10 safeties with a special focus on Texans' rookie Kalen Bullock's meteoric rise and the versatile impact of Jalen Pitre. Plus, broader reflections on Texans' standouts and the changing landscape of defensive positions.

Main Theme Overview

This episode examines the latest ESPN NFL GM poll, particularly breaking down the Texans’ defensive backs’ placement among NFL elites. The hosts analyze whether Kalen Bullock deserves his billing as a top-ten safety, discuss Jalen Pitre's versatile but hard-to-categorize impact, and reflect on the evolving nature of positional labels in the NFL secondary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kalen Bullock’s Top-10 Recognition in the NFL GM Poll

Starting at [02:40]

Ranking Explaination:
ESPN polled 70 NFL executives, coaches, and scouts for their annual top-10 rankings at each position. Bullock debuts at #10 for safeties, with his highest individual vote at #2.

“There is an executive out there that thinks Kalen Bullock is the second best safety in all of football right now.” — Sean Pendergast [03:17]
Ball Hawk Skills:
Bullock is described as “elite” in ball production, with nine interceptions in two years and several near-misses.

“Talks about the ball hawk aspect of his game and how he’s equal elite at that… one of the drops, he’s culprits on this defense.” — Cole Thompson [03:58]
Tackling & Physicality Critique:
Early criticisms center on tackling, with one NFL coordinator rating him “adequate to average” as a tackler but praising his exceptional range ([04:21]).

“For his frame, he is very willing to mix it up.” — Sean [04:32]
Development Under Coaches:
Bullock’s rapid progress is credited to Texans’ defensive backs coaches Dino Vasso and Stephen Adegoke. Having veteran Reed Blankenship beside him is expected to unlock more diverse roles for Bullock ([05:11]).

“I expected him to be a two or three year project… he came along really, really well.” — Seth Payne [04:35]
Schematics & Versatility:
Anticipate more creative and aggressive deployment thanks to an improved supporting cast: “They can use him creatively on blitzes and whatnot.” — Sean [05:39]

2. Jalen Pitre: The Positionless Defender

Main segment [05:39–09:12]

Honorable Mention Status:
Pitre is ranked just outside the top 10, prompting discussion of whether his hybrid/nickel role affects his national reputation.

“Jalen Pitre has his own category... his positionlessness, or at least the lack of a label... works to his detriment sometimes.” — Sean [07:45], [08:10]
NFL’s Changing Labels:
Increasingly, players like Pitre, Derwin James, and Cooper DeJean are evaluated based on multiple-position versatility instead of traditional assignments.

“There are all these guys that are very versatile... some of them, this is where the personal taste comes in.” — Seth [08:15] “Still trying to pigeonhole everything into two safeties and two cornerbacks is not an accurate reflection…” — Seth [10:39]
Memorable Moment — The Rashee Rice Hit:

“But there was that Rashee Rice hit... he just killed the guy right there on the field. It was amazing.” — Cole [09:12]

3. Broader Texans Recognition & Positional Debates

Segment [10:49–13:12]

Texans’ Defensive Standouts:
Recap of ESPN's rankings:
- Edge defenders: Both in top 6
- Linebacker Aziz Al-Shaair: 6th
- Derek Stingley Jr.: 2nd corner
- Kalen Bullock: 10th safety
- Nico Collins: 8th wide receiver
- Jalen Pitre & Kamari Lassiter: First among honorable mentions
Kamari Lassiter’s Growth:
Lassiter mirrors Bullock’s under-the-radar emergence; both need more reps for national respect.

“They’re going to start realizing, okay, oh wow, they’ve actually got a really good thing going at both sides.” — Seth [11:57]
How Should NFL Recognize Nickel/Hybrid Defenders?
- The hosts suggest the league and pollsters lag behind team realities; position categories may need redefining.
“Do you think that they should add in another category for nickel defenders?” — Cole [07:06]

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Bullock’s Ball Skills:

“He’s one of the, he’s one of the drops, he’s culprits on this defense.” — Cole [03:58]
On Bullock’s Progress:

“He came along really, really well, which is a testament to Dino Vasso and Adegoke, the defensive backs coaches.” — Seth [04:35]
On Pitre’s Fit:

“I have cornerbacks, safeties, and Jalen Petrie. Jalen Petrie has his own category...” — Sean [07:45]
On Nickel Evolution:

“Still trying to pigeonhole everything into two safeties and two cornerbacks is just not an accurate reflection…” — Seth [10:39]
On Pitre’s Uniqueness:

“Who’s the backup to Jalen Pitre?...The answer is there isn’t one...It’s not a backup person. It’s a backup plan.” — Seth & Sean [13:41–14:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:40 | Introduction to NFL GM Poll and Bullock’s Ranking | | 03:29 | Discussing Kalen Bullock’s Ball Skills and Coverage | | 04:20 | Tackling Criticism and Physicality | | 05:11 | Impact of Safety Pairings, Defensive Scheme Implications | | 05:39 | Transition to Jalen Pitre’s Role | | 07:45 | Pitre’s ‘Positionlessness’ and Roster Construction | | 08:15 | NFL’s Changing Attitudes on Hybrid DBs | | 09:12 | Highlights: Rashee Rice Hit | | 10:49 | Texans’ Overall Showing in GM Polls | | 11:31 | Comparing Kamari Lassiter's and Bullock’s Careers | | 13:41 | Pitre’s Unique Role and “Backup Plan” Insight |

Tone and Delivery

Conversational, with a blend of light-hearted banter and incisive football analysis.
Humor sprinkled throughout, especially in the context of unusual defender skills (“I have cornerbacks, safeties, and Jalen Petrie. Jalen Petrie has his own category…”).
Candid skepticism about poll methodology and NFL positional labeling.

Conclusion

This episode of Payne & Pendergast delivers a nuanced evaluation of how Kalen Bullock and Jalen Pitre fit into both Texans' plans and the league’s perception of elite defenders. The hosts argue that Houston’s secondary is on the verge of consistent league-wide respect, contingent on continued growth and recognition of hybrid defenders. Diverse strengths and coaching progression are highlighted as the reasons for optimism and excitement around these young players.

For Texans fans and NFL viewers alike, this episode clarifies where H-Town’s defensive stars stand today—and why the coming season might be their true breakout.

Loading summary

Transcript107 lines

[00:00]
A
The podcast Campus Files is back with more stories of scandal, crime and intrigue on college campuses. It is not hard to destroy a college.
[00:09]
B
It's almost like a university under siege.
[00:11]
A
Listen to and follow Campus Files available now, wherever you get your podcasts.
[00:15]
C
Hey, do you guys have the Citizen app on your phone? Do you know what that is? Amy got me on the bank. No, no, not Citizens Bank. No, I'm in Philly. No, it's like the police alert. Like, I get alerts when crimes are happening, when police are getting called within an X amount of radius from where I am and just shout out thoughts and prayers. Citizen hit on some. Some pedestrian got hit on Richmond right now just a couple of minutes ago. Right up here. The corner of Cummins in Richmond. Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome. They give you a little map where it happens and stuff.
[00:46]
B
I love how you just transition to thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. These people. It's awesome.
[00:49]
C
Well, no, the app is awesome. You know, if it's somebody I know, I'd be a little bit more. But no, like, they tell you, like. Yes.
[00:54]
A
1, 2, 2 2, 2, 2, 2, 2. Dude, get a Libra.
[00:59]
C
Get a live read in.
[01:00]
A
I think I have to disclose that they. I work with Mocarim Injury Lawyers.
[01:04]
C
Right, right, right, right.
[01:05]
A
But if you're still listening to Mocarim Injury Lawyer, or if you're still listening to Sports Radio 610 on your transistor radio. Pedestrian call. Yeah.
[01:12]
C
Call Mocarim Injury lawyers. Yeah, but like, yesterday there were some people, like, at the Taco Bell on Shepherd throwing rocks at cars.
[01:19]
A
What?
[01:19]
C
Boom. Citizen app. Yeah, they were getting arrested.
[01:22]
B
Yeah, I could have maybe used that yesterday. So you heard about the shooting out at the Kroger?
[01:26]
C
I did. I saw it on the news in Cyprus.
[01:28]
B
Yeah, I live five minutes away from that Kroger.
[01:30]
C
Do you go to that Kroger?
[01:31]
B
I used to all the time.
[01:32]
C
My apartment is scary as hell.
[01:34]
B
Where Kirsten and I lived before we bought the house. Our apartment was right behind the Kroger.
[01:38]
A
Wow.
[01:38]
B
So if I was home, I would have heard the pop pop.
[01:41]
C
So what happened? Seth, you didn't. It doesn't sound like you.
[01:43]
A
No, no, no. Was it? Yeah. Like, was this a random crazy person shooting at people or was it like
[01:48]
B
a. I didn't release the information entirely, but there was just a shooting inside and two people got shot inside. Inside Kroger.
[01:55]
A
Well, I always need to know. The way I make myself feel better about being out in public anymore is if it like. Okay. Was this actually a dispute between specific people or was it a crazy person who is just firing it?
[02:06]
C
Everybody thought, I saw that it was a result of a domestic dispute.
[02:09]
B
So somebody felt. So somebody got a camera from their car of the arrest happening. So I think that there was, it definitely was something that was pre meditated, I think.
[02:18]
C
Okay. Okay. Yeah.
[02:20]
A
It wasn't a black bear.
[02:22]
C
No, no, no, no, no.
[02:24]
A
Like black bears aren't dangerous, but if they have a gun, you know, they just. Yes, they will.
[02:29]
C
You do have to watch with their bare hands. They're tiny little bare hands.
[02:33]
A
I would rather face a bear with no gun than a black bear with a gun.
[02:37]
B
On the text line, we at least know that somebody is on Richmond and did not hit the pedestrian.
[02:40]
C
So thank. Good, good job suspect. We need a citizen vigilante. Somebody said go take care of all these crimes. All right. So we were just talking in the previous segment about C.J. stroud, the top 100, the probably more substantive NFL GM poll that ESPN is doing of the top 10 at each position, final position drop today. Kaylin Bullock, congratulations. You are the 10th rated safety in the NFL according to NFL GMS. I the thing I like that they do about this and we'll get to the other Texan who gets mentioned in here in just a second. I like that they show the highest ranking and the lowest ranking, highest ranking. There is an executive out there that thinks Kaylin Bullock is the second best safety in all of football right now.
[03:29]
A
Yeah. And I think that's where Kaleb Bullock is. A guy that is the people that watch him a lot or you have seen a good chunk of him. I think there's a lot of people that feel about him that way. It's just that he's still a young player. And as it happens with defensive backs especially, I mean there's such a first round bias for young defensive backs, especially for corners, but even for safeties, that this is going to be if he continues to play the way he's been playing at the end of this year, I think there's going to be a lot of people just without thinking about him, put him in the top five.
[03:59]
C
I agree. I agree. Now it says, you know, talks about the ball hawk aspect of his game and how he's equal elite at that. Nine interceptions in two years probably could have been a lot more interceptions. He's one of the, he's one of the drops. He's culprits on this defense. He's. He's had a few that he could have had. The tackling is the thing they bring up as an issue they call it, but they do consider was an issue
[04:21]
A
in his rookie year.
[04:21]
C
In his rookie year and he's improved his physicality. There's an NFL coordinator that says he's an adequate to average tackler, but his range is elite. I will say this for his frame. He is very willing to mix it up. Caleb.
[04:36]
A
Well, and a lot of it, a lot of it with his tackling is more the same thing with a young safety when, when it comes to coverage is understanding the proper angles to take and just kind of some of the anticipation. So he's a really young player who is very green and I like, I expected him to be a two or three year project when they drafted him. He came along really, really well, which is a testament to Dino Vasso and Adegoke, the defensive backs coaches. But I think the other part of it too is that what hopefully is different this year is that he's going to have another veteran safety alongside him in Reed Blankenship.
[05:12]
B
Yes.
[05:12]
A
So there were times last year where they couldn't do as much of the single high, deep, middle of the field safety type stuff as they would have liked to with Kalen Bullock when they were working in either rookies or guys they'd picked up off the street. With some stability back there, I think you're really going to get to see some of the, some of the more exciting parts of him or, or also not the single high stuff. But when Caleb Bullock's down in the box and they can use him creatively on blitzes and whatnot.
[05:39]
C
Yep, yep. You get a better version of him. All right. This is the one that I was very anxious to see where Jalen Petrie fell in this exercise that ESPN is doing with these front, it sounds like front offices and coaches. They quoted a coordinator. There's a scout that gets quoted personal
[05:56]
B
memory every once in a while.
[05:57]
C
Yeah.
[05:57]
A
Y70 different NFL, different titles. Personality isn't that many. Yeah.
[06:02]
C
Yep.
[06:03]
A
Now not all 70 weigh in on all the positions, but that's how many people that he talks to for all of these rankings. Yeah.
[06:08]
C
Jalen Petrie first among honorable mention at safety. And an NFC scout says he's a nickel but can play safety. Don't think he gets nearly enough credit. Would love to have him on their team. This NFC scout says yeah, I think
[06:24]
A
and what you had asked going into this, going into the break was okay, is he, is he penalized because of the position that he plays? I would say I think that's, that's changed over the last five Years because there's just so many more guys that play his role. That star position where you're. You're a nickel linebacker, slash, you know, slot corner slash, whatever we need you to be. And I think that those guys get more recognition for that now. But it is. It's still a little awkward calling him a safety.
[06:55]
C
Yeah.
[06:55]
A
And I wonder if just sometimes. Yeah. In people's minds that when they're filling out a battle, a ballot with the top 10, they might not in their brain have Jalen Petrie classified as a safety. So it doesn't even enter the list.
[07:06]
B
Do you think that they should add in another category for nickel defenders because of something like, maybe.
[07:12]
C
I think, like. I think he just gets in stuff like this. I think the league knows how good Jalen Petrie is right now and how much he's improved. In exercises like this, though, I think the fact that they. They kind of pigeonhole it into cornerback safety. It's funny because I. Because Jalen Petrie is so many different things. I. When I do my 53 man roster predictions for the Houston Press, I'm on like my third one now, and I go like any roster projection, you go by, you know, quarterback, running back, and you got two and four and six wide receivers and 10 offensive lineman, blah, blah, blah.
[07:45]
B
So you just do full offensive lineman.
[07:47]
C
I do full offensive lineman. I do full defensive lineman. I don't go end and tackle. I just do. There's eight or nine defensive linemen. I get to the secondary. And what I started doing this year is I have cornerbacks, safeties, and Jalen Petrie. Jalen Petrie has his own category where there's one of them and his name is Jalen Petrie. That's. I. So I think sometimes in these exercises, his positionlessness.
[08:10]
A
Yeah.
[08:11]
C
Or at least the lack of a label of a position that he does, I think works to his detriment sometimes.
[08:16]
A
Well, that's where, like, you know, in Derwin James and, you know, I would say Cooper De Jean to a certain extent, there are all these guys that are very versatile and can play multiple positions, and some of them. This is where. This is where the personal taste comes into it. I think if you're. If what you want out of your nickelback is a guy who's got really good coverage skills is like, okay, then you think about a guy like Cooper De Jean. Yes, that. Okay, he's versatile, but he's more on the. He's more on the coverage side of things where guys like Derwin James who can do everything and Be a Swiss army knife. He's kind of a different position than a Cooper DeJean. Even though they might be asked to do some of the same things, I think people value the coverage part of it more. Whereas Jalen Petrie, like it's not, it's not his one on one man coverage skills that, that, that are his calling card. That he probably gets docked just simply because of that. It doesn't. People are going to look at him and love what he does, but not look at him as a rare an athlete as some of those other guys. Yeah.
[09:13]
C
But there was that Rasheed Rice hit. I was hoping that that would get Jalen Petrie all of the accolades this off season. There was that hit and he just killed the guy right there on the field. It was amazing. The second World War was the largest event in human history. A 20 part series with Tom Hanks. No part of the globe was untouched. No life unchanged. Experience. The ultimate account of World War II. Every single person had a story. These are the stories that make us who we are. Listen to World War II with Tom Hanks on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
[09:54]
B
Well, what's so funny is, is that they also included nickel defenders in this list because Kobe Bryant, who just signed with the Chicago Bears, a lot of that. Another name that was an honorable mention. But Nicki mean worry, the rookie safety that played in the nickel throughout the entire postseason for Seattle shows up at number six.
[10:11]
C
Yeah.
[10:11]
B
And I'm like, I have a bigger sample size of knowing what ungodly type of hits we're going to see from Jalen Petrie.
[10:19]
C
Yeah.
[10:19]
B
Than I do on Nicki Man Warri.
[10:20]
C
Yeah.
[10:20]
B
I feel like if you flip them, then you feel better about this.
[10:23]
C
He. He was a cheat code for them in a Super bowl playoff run though. You know what I mean? Imam Wari. That helps him. Yeah, yeah, that. That. I think that really helps.
[10:31]
A
Yeah. Like, I think most defenses now list their starters with 5 in nickel like
[10:39]
C
the depth chart does.
[10:40]
A
You're right. So it is. It's kind of. Still trying to pigeonhole everything into two safeties and two cornerbacks is just not an accurate reflection of just the way teams are actually operating.
[10:49]
B
No.
[10:50]
C
No. So in the end, in this exercise with ESPN, the Texans get. They get their two edge defenders, both finish in the top 10.
[11:00]
B
Will top six.
[11:01]
C
They were top six.
[11:02]
B
Yeah.
[11:02]
C
Will was 3D, Neil was six, Aziz Al Shayer six rated linebacker. Derek Stingley Jr. Second rated corner, Kaylin Bullock 10th rated safety, and Nico Collins eighth rated wide receiver.
[11:18]
B
And then the first two off were Kamari Laster at wide at cornerback and Jalen. And Jalen Petrie at safety.
[11:23]
C
And CJ Stroud got one vote and CJ Stroud got one vote for quarterback
[11:26]
B
and the offensive line got none.
[11:28]
C
Yeah. And Kamari was. Kamari was honorable mention.
[11:32]
A
Well, Kamari. And that's where Kamari and Kalin are both in that same boat. Like everything I said about Kalen Bullock, I think I would add to Kamari, even though he's played, he started off, you know, he was a starter immediately where Kalen Bullock had to work his way in. But I think Kamari is one of those guys that you almost have to like, the Texans need to play more teams before, especially teams in the NFC start to get a feel for like. Oh, oh, it's not just, it's not just Derek Stingley.
[11:57]
B
Right.
[11:58]
A
And then also, you know, and then Kamari Lasseter is the second guy. They're going to start realizing, okay. Oh, wow. They've actually got a really good thing going at both sides.
[12:06]
B
I know Sean feels this way. Seth, do you think that Kamari is a bonafide top 10 cornerback already?
[12:13]
A
Not yet. I think that, I think that that's just. I guess and maybe I'm guilty of this too. I just still need to see more of a body of work. It's interesting. I guess I do think He's a top 10 cornerback, but I also, I don't get offended that he's not listed in the top 10.
[12:32]
C
There's, there's a tenure element to you to, it feels like to you, like, hey, he's done it for two years. Let's see, for three years.
[12:38]
A
Well, you know, this is the thing with Kamari that, you know, like the, the discussion over his 40 time was overblown and the chance that it was inaccurately reported to begin with. But there is an element to his game that's a little bit unconventional in that he's got an ability to be beat by a half step. But because he's so freakishly good at timing the arrival of the ball.
[12:57]
B
Yeah.
[12:58]
A
That there are a lot of plays he makes at the, at the, the, the catch point that make him way better than it. He's way better than it might look by the textbook version of playing cornerback.
[13:10]
B
He benefits from an under thrown ball more than anybody.
[13:12]
C
Right.
[13:12]
B
It's basically. Yeah, yeah.
[13:13]
A
Oh, yeah, yeah. But even when the good. You remember the play in the end zone of the Chiefs. Yeah. Like that was. I think that's a, I think that's a catch versus a lot of other cornerbacks who aren't as good at the catch point. And I think it's there's a part of me that's still a little bit like, I almost need to see that so consistently for one more year for me to really believe it because it's just a little bit atypical. But it's not. But he's really, really good at it.
[13:41]
C
This is a great, I think this question encapsulates I think this is middle screen sending in this question that encapsulates perfectly with Jalen Petrie is who's the backup to Jalen Petrie?
[13:52]
B
Yes.
[13:52]
C
The answer is there isn't one.
[13:54]
A
Well, no, last year the solution was you go play your base. Four, three.
[13:57]
C
That's right.
[13:58]
A
We're not going to five defensive backs out there. We just bring EJ Speed in.
[14:01]
B
Yeah. Henry to aoa, moves over to the strong side.
[14:03]
C
That's exactly right. That's. That's the backup. It's not a backup person. It's a backup plan. Yeah. All right. Pain and Pendergast with you. Cole Thompson hanging out with us today. Five teams have checked in, reportedly on Stefon Diggs. Are the Texans one of them? Should they be? We'll do that. Coming up next.
[14:21]
A
How We Made youe Mother is a rewatch podcast that looks back episode by episode at the hit TV show How I Met yout Mother. It's hosted by me, Josh Radner on along with series co creator Craig Thomas.
[14:31]
C
In seasons one and two, we were joined by Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, Bryan Cranston, Ashley Williams, Wayne Brady, Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, Joe Manganiello and my brilliant co creator Carter Bayes. And now we are diving into season three.
[14:45]
A
So whether it's your 50th rewatch or your first time through, follow How We Made youe Mother wherever you get your podcasts.