JB is a top notch DB
By T.G. SMITH
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tsmith@morrisdailyherald.com
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| Jordan Bruyn has been a key contributor in the defensive backfield as the Morris Redskins made the IHSA Class 4A football playoffs this season. (Herald Photo by T.G. Smith) |
Raby quarterback Daniel Cleveland dropped back to pass on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium and found receiver Tyran Givens down field about 40 yards away and hit him in stride. It looked to be a game-changing play for sure.
As No. 15 ran downfield at full tilt, Morris defense backs Jon Serna and Jordan Bruyn ran him down from behind. Serna made the tackle, but right there was Bruyn who stripped the ball out of No. 15's hands and recovered it.
"Over the last couple of years I've probably seen him do that eight times," Morris defensive coordinator Andy Peterson said. "He's run a kid down from behind and make a touchdown-saving tackle a lot."
Bruyn is a 6-3, 176-pound defensive back and he is now in his second full season as a varsity starter. According to Peterson, Bruyn "has made a lot of very athletic plays" over the years. This year, it includes 3 interceptions and more than 50 passes defended.
Much of what Bruyn credits Peterson for over the years is getting the right people in the right spots.
"Definitely, coach Peterson put the people where they need to be," Bruyn said. "A lot of the guys on defense are back from last year and not much has changed there, but knowing that who is going to be in what spot makes playing a lot smoother.
"A lot of what we do is dependent on being in the right spots on the field. It's important we know what the other teams run," he added. "But it's not just that easy, you still have to go out and make the plays because the other team's offense is going to change to try and beat us."
The other thing that Bruyn says help him in the defensive backfield is knowing basic route patterns that receivers will run.
"As a defensive back, you have to know the routes," he said. "You have to know routes and how to read them and then to read the quarterback's eyes.
'A lot of high school quarterbacks will only throw to one side of the field, depending on what their strength is," he added. "It helps to know where he tends to throw the ball, too."
According to Peterson, many of the defensive backs around Bruyn are interchangeable parts but that no matter who is back there, he has definitely improved since last year.
"All you have to do is go back a year ago and watch the game against Driscoll to see how we struggled. Now this year we've been able to shut down teams we've wanted to do," he said. "We're in a conference where everyone likes to run the ball, so you don't get to see it much, but this team can defend the pass.
"Look at that game against Raby. We were used to playing in the mud and defending the run and then we go up there, play on the carpet against a team which goes 5 wide and get the job done. A lot of that work in the summer time has paid off."
Bruyn is often given the assignment of going up against the other team's No. 1 wide receiver — especially in man-to-man coverage. However, Bruyn says that he can't afford to lose track of the other team's No. 1 receiver in zone coverage, either.
"I'm in a position on the field most of the time where I'm a safety valve whether it's in man-to-man or zone," Bruyn said. "
His favorite part of the game, though, often comes when playing a team who predominately runs — like Mendota this week — or who throw underneath in front of him.
"Tackling is the best part of the game," he said. "I like being able to hit people."
It's the other part of his game that stands out to people. So far this season, Bruyn is fourth on the Redskins with 48 tackles.
Bruyn has also played a limited role on offense this year, catching four passes for 35 yards, but perhaps his most important role this year has been serving as the team's punter. To this point, Bruyn has punted 29 times for 1,043 yards (36 avg.) and with a long of 57 yards.
"I've been punting since the seventh and eighth grades and my freshman and sophomore years, too," he said. "I've always been the punter and this year has been pretty good for me. But I'm going to do whatever I can to help the team.
"You can say that the punter is a key defensive person because they can help set up good field position or bad," he added. "But the bottom line is that the defense is the one who is going to have to stop the other team."
With No. 11 back there in the Morris secondary, chances are the job is going to get done.
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