Make room, Ebert! YSU’s Perez gobbles film

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Watching game films is a big part of the life of a Youngstown State football player, especially the regular players.

Senior safety Bob Perez is one of those Penguins who watches as much film as he possibly can, especially on the Penguins’ upcoming opponent.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound captain from Navarre spends a lot of time early in the week watching films.

“The coaches usually break down the films late Saturday and early Sunday and then we come in Sunday night and get to take our turn,” Perez said.

The game films from the opposition are usually broken down into many different tapes. Perez and the rest of the Penguins can pick out what parts they need to view each week.

“Everything is now on computers and we can sit down and watch the parts we need to watch,” Perez said. “We will probably have three of four films from the team this year and a couple from last season.”

Missouri State is next

This week, Perez and the Penguins (3-1) are concentrating on Saturday’s opponent, Missouri State, (3-1) which also happens to be the Penguins’ first Gateway Conference opponent. Kickoff for Saturday’s game is 6 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

“The films are broken down so that we can watch the team in just passing situations or just running situations and also in different offensive formations,” Perez said.

The Penguins also will watch a little of last week’s game against Lock Haven.

“There isn’t too much time devoted to watching last week’s game,” he said. “We’ll usually watch it once with our position coach and they’ll point out anything that needs to be corrected.

“We are all pretty much aware that this is Gateway time and it’s the time when the intensity has to pick up,” Perez said. “We know that we have to control our own destiny in the league; we can’t leave it up to anyone else.”

Pickoffs

The YSU secondary has come up with six pass interceptions this season, including four against Stony Brook.

“Interceptions begin with the pass rush up front,” Perez said. “When they put the pressure on the quarterback, it forces him to make bad decisions and those lead to interceptions.”

“As far as the secondary is concerned, the ball goes in the air and you got to go get it,” he said.

Perez came to Youngstown out of Perry High School where he was an honorable mention all-district and all-Federal League selection.

After being redshirted in his freshman season of 2003, Perez played in all 11 games in 2004. He played in the team’s first four games in 2005 before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Pittsburgh.

He came back last season and played in all 14 games and also earned first-team Academic All-Gateway honors. He also was a second team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV pick.

Perez carried a perfect 4.0 grade point average during last spring semester.

mollica@vindy.com