Perez lets his play do the talking

MISSION — Last season, Sharyland had as good a season as it has ever had.

The Rattlers won 10 games in 2008 and played three-rounds deep in the playoffs. As great as the team’s accomplishments were, senior defensive back Marcus Perez felt as if he could have done better personally.

Sharyland, which takes on Edinburg North at 7:30 pm. Friday in a Class 5A, Division II area round game, implemented a new defense under defensive coordinator Rudy Gonzalez, and Perez admitted last season was one big learning curve for him, adding that his mistakes mounted in ’08.

“It’s a big improvement from last year,” Perez said. “We had a new defense. Just coming back, it is a lot easier.”

Perez spent a lot of time studying film and working on getting better during the offseason. As a result, Gonzalez said Perez probably knows the defense better than any of the team’s defenders.

“I felt like I had to improve,” Perez said. “I didn’t want to do the same things I did last year. I wanted to do better so I could help the team go deep in the playoffs.”

Perez was chosen last spring to be one of the team’s captains in part because of his desire to study the game. He isn’t exactly the most vocal on the team, choosing to let his game do most of his talking.

“Most of our captains are pretty quiet,” Gonzalez said. “They speak by their actions. Marcus has been a consistent player for us all year long. He doesn’t make many mistakes. He knows where he is at.

“Like he told me last week, ‘Coach, I know this defense like the back of my hand.’ He does. He studies the game all the time. … He is just one of those leaders that is all action. There isn’t really much he needs to say.”

Perez’s quiet nature is one he picked up from his parents. Even in class he says he only speaks when spoken to.

“I don’t have a lot to say,” Perez said laughing.

Rattlers coach Fred Sanchez said what matters most is Perez’s talent and not how vocal he is.

“He is a quiet leader,” Sanchez said. “He is not a raw-raw type of guy. He has been a really steady player and gets the job done. He will come up with a big play or two and the other kids will feed off of it.”

Peter Rasmussen covers District 30-5A football for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.