Sports

Pereira trains for NFL draft

By Erinne Magee

Posted on Feb. 24, 2005, at 12:00 a.m.

Christian Pereira walks into the football office with a gray tee shirt sleeve on his head and attire that reveals the early morning workouts he’s been devotedly partaking in since winter break.

But something is different.

It’s his walk, his demeanor, his attitude. You can see the motivation in his eyes.

Pereira has the ability to bring a crowd to its feet and drop the jaws of opponents; he even surprises his teammates from time to time. But, if he wants to take that trait to the National Football League in two months, there are some things he must improve on. His agent, Marlon Tucker, has highlighted areas that need work – everything from the way he walks to his flexibility.

“He wants me to walk more on my toes and lift my shoulders up,” said the Bronx native. “I have horrible posture. Basically I’m out here being molded into something.”

The all-star receiver even also added Yoga to his repertoire.

Pereira spent Jan. 17-31 with his agent and trainer in Los Angeles, where he was up five days a week at 6:30 a.m. for workouts.

“Each morning we did specific speed drills,” said the senior. “We did some sprinting and form running up a grass hill that is about 75 yards long. Monday and Thursday were upper body workouts in the gym, Tuesday and Friday were leg workouts and Wednesday we just ran.”

At this time last year, Pereira clocked a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash, which he considers an average time.

“One of the scouts said he liked the way I ran and said I would run even better if I lost some weight,” said Pereira. “So I came in this past season 12 pounds lighter than usual.”

Now, Pereira is confident that he can run a 4.4 40-yard dash, but is aiming to run a 4.3. It’s only three-tenths of a second faster than one year ago, but it’s more difficult than it sounds.

“It is really hard,” said Pereira. “Only a handful of guys in the NFL now can run a 4.2 or 4.3. That’s, like, world-class speed.”

Pereira said there are a lot of people who would label his sprint goal as unrealistic for an athlete of his size, but that is just the type of thinking that motivates Pereira.

In fact, there are a lot of things that motivate Pereira.

A recent scouting report is one of the things that keeps him working so hard. It includes things like: decent release off the line, needs to use hands better, inconsistent at getting separation.

“I don’t disagree with what it says,” Pereira said. “It’s something that I know is noticeable and something I know I have to fix in order to play at the next level. It’s just motivation.”

The same report recognizes Pereira’s strengths, noting that he is good at using his body to shield off and get behind defenders, has the ability to catch tough balls and has great size.

The New York Giants were so impressed that they invited Pereira and others to a luncheon on Feb. 4. It was a day for selected small-school players native to the tri-state area that Pereira reigns from, to come and learn about where the team stands in the draft process.

“Some of the players came in and talked to us,” said Pereira. “We were told about their draft situation and how some guys in the room would most likely be on the team.”

The Giants, like many professional teams, aren’t looking to obtain players from just the first seven rounds, but are also interested in signing athletes as free agents as well.

After a skybox lunch at Giants Stadium, Pereira and two other potential draft picks were taken aside to complete two tests. One consisted of 75 short answer questions, while the other was 275 multiple choice.

“They wanted to know where your mental state of mind was,” Pereira said. “I take that as, either they thought I was crazy, or they are really interested in me … hopefully they were interested in me.”

Following the meeting, Pereira returned to UMaine where he has continued the workouts he learned in California.

“I talk to my personal trainer on the phone and he tells me what to do for the week and what he wants me to focus on,” said Pereira.

One of the things he has implemented in his training is the usage of a harness and tire. While the baseball and softball teams are getting ready for their seasons in the field house, you may find Pereira making use of the track. But he’s not running like a typical athlete. Pereira makes his rounds with a harness tied around his waist that is attached to a tire. That is his way of building the combination of strength and speed.

“The workouts are much more physically and mentally demanding,” he said. “My workouts have been modified because I’m actually weaker than they expected. But that’s actually good because that means I have a lot of potential.”

And it’s motivation.

Pereira believes his biggest leap is not in physically maturity, but more from what he has learned through the commitment.

“I’ve always been lazy,” he admits. “When I started playing sports I was always better than everyone else, so I knew I could rely on my athletic ability. Now, I’m entering in to a new realm where everyone is a good athlete, where athletic ability can get you there but it won’t keep you there.”

Pereira knew from the start it wouldn’t be easy, but he is pleased with his dedication and progress.

“I think I’ve improved on a lot, like the will to get up in the morning knowing what I have to face and endure,” he said. “But, it’s something I welcome now, knowing there is a greater end.”

Before that greater end, there is one last obstacle for Pereira to complete.

Each March, schools across the nation hold a Pro Day where NFL scouts are sent to work the potential draft picks. The scouts time the athletes in the 40-yard dash, check their bench press and test their agility skills

Head Coach Jack Cosgrove said the University of Maine doesn’t usually hold a Pro Day because of its out-of-the-way location, but is trying to piggy-back one off Boston College.

Regardless, a private workout will be held for select UMaine players here on March 25. Pereira plans on flying back out to Los Angeles during Spring Break to help prepare for this day.

April 23 and 24 denotes the end and, hopefully, the beginning of the hard work.

Draft Day. 32 teams, 224 picks.

Talk about motivation.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2005, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.