Offensive linemen begin process of meshing into cohesive unit

~ Teammates must balance friendships and battling friends to earn playing time.

Veteran Francisco Perez smacked into a lot of new faces during drills Saturday afternoon.

The offensive lineman doesn't plan on his fellow Southeast Missouri State offensive linemen remaining unknowns for long.

"I have the most experience on the offensive line now," Perez said. "I kind of take these young guys under my wing and just kind of show them the ways and how to play, how to practice."

The Redhawks are retooling their offensive line after losing so many guys from last year's team. Since the offensive line must work together as a collective unit, it's imperative the guys on the field understand where each other is going to be at all times. They need to learn to read each other's movements and help out when necessary, and that started Saturday during the first day of drills and practice.

Sean Middleton sprayed water in his mouth after dousing his head during practice Saturday. Water was readily available for players as they worked through the heat.

"Especially this year, we have to jell together in camp," Perez said. "I think we have a great opportunity to have the best season since I've been here. We've got great athletes, but we just have to come together and I think today was a good start."

Paul McGuire, who sat out last season after transferring from Indiana State, said it's only natural for the linemen to stick together.

"You click with them," McGuire said. "They have the same personalities as you do. You're with them every day through the hard stuff. We're sweating and everything. We're over there doing everything all together as a family."

Freshman Bryan Curry said the family analogy is accurate, since the linemen spend so much time together that they're likely to get sick of each other at different points during the season.

"We're around each other 24/7," Curry said. "If it's not a meal, it's practice. If it's not practice, it's a team meeting, a position meeting, an offensive line meeting. We're together 24/7. That's really how we get to know each other and know each other's personalities."

Quarterback Jared Van Slyke released his ball as fellow quarterbacks Victor Anderson and Steve Callanan prepared to throw theirs during a drill.

Perez said the offensive linemen can usually be found hanging out together when practice is over, which helps the unit mesh.

"We're always at each other's houses, just hanging out, getting to know each other," he said. "We've got so many new guys this year, so we're kind of taking them under our wing. It's been good. It's been real nice."

But while the players try to get to know each other, they also must compete against each other for playing time. They must walk the line between becoming friends and battling for starting spots. McGuire said the competition usually doesn't sour relationships.

"Whatever we have to do, we have to compete -- versus each other and versus the defensive line," McGuire said. "Even though we're a family, you have to try and beat some of your family members out to play. There are no hard feelings. I mean if a guy is better than you, he's better than you."

Perez has been around football long enough to know that competition is healthy. Even though he enjoys the most seniority on the offensive line, he isn't guaranteed anything and went after his teammates during lineman drills.

Left guard Bryan Curry pushed past a teammate holding a pad during offensive line drills at Southeast Missouri State football practice Saturday at Houck Stadium. (AARON EISENHAUER ~aeisenhauer@semissourian.com)

"It's all fun competition out here," Perez said, sweating still pouring down his face. "Off the field, we're all family pretty much. But on the field, no one's got a spot secured. You've got to go all out every play. No one has a spot right now."