Wilson offers take on Badgers' preparations for Michigan State
October 17, 2011 | Football
Oct. 17, 2011
• Watch Wilson Press Conference 
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin senior quarterback Russell Wilson reflected on the Badgers' 59-7 win over Indiana and looked ahead to Saturday's matchup with No. 15 Michigan State during his weekly press conference Monday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Archived video of the media session is available through the link above, and a complete transcript of Wilson's remarks can be found below.
QUESTION #1: Russell, I think I asked you after the game, where were the tough ACC venues you've played. With all your experience, is there anything you can impart to some of your teammates here about playing in tough venues?
WILSON: Personally, I visualize a lot. So, when I'm preparing during the week, especially when I'm playing away, I envision myself being in that stadium, where the clock is, the first downs, all that stuff. I visualize being in that stadium, so that prepares me for the game. And so I've basically played five games already during the week in my mind.
So I think that's one thing that I would tell some of the younger guys. Obviously, the guys who have played a lot don't need as much motivation or anything like that. They're excited about the opportunity. But we have to play a great game, and it should be fun.
QUESTION #2: Russell, Bret was saying that once you looked at some tape of Michigan State, what they like to do defense, you had a smile on your face. And I'm just curious what you were thinking as you started to look at them, their defensive line, the way they blitz, the pressure they can put on a quarterback?
WILSON: Well, when you watch Michigan State, they have a lot of speed. Obviously, they're the No. 1 defense in our conference and all that, so it should be a great game. I have a smile on my face because it's the reason why I came here, to play great games, to play in big-time venues like at Michigan State, and so it should be fun.
QUESTION #3: Russell, I'm guessing you saw the comment from the Michigan State safety about their defensive linemen wanting, planning to hurt you. What was your reaction to that?
WILSON: I think the games are won on the field, and the main thing is it’s by our preparation during the week. It's by the extra film that we put in. Everything that you do during the week really helps you prepare for the game. And every defense is trying to go for the quarterback. Every defense is trying to stop the quarterback, and I think the main thing is just playing great football, executing our offense, and doing the things that we need to do to win.
QUESTION #4: Russell, what's your reaction to the first BCS poll with Wisconsin sixth? Do you pay attention? Did you watch the show last night, or what are your thoughts?
WILSON: Of course I watched the show. Being sixth, we're still in a great place. But at the same time, all that matters is that we win and play one week at a time. We have play a great team in Michigan State, so go there to show it should be a great scene. And so I think all that matters is really playing great football week by week and see where we come out in the end.
QUESTION #5: Russell, your teammates and your coaches have talked about your poise, and you mentioned after the game Saturday about, you know, the field being the same dimensions no matter where you go and venues and that. Has there ever been a game, maybe at NC State when you were younger, where you didn't handle the moment as well as you would liked? And if so, what did you learn from it?
WILSON: I wouldn't say I never really didn't handle the moment. I think, more than anything, I grew. From being a freshman to sophomore to junior to this point in my career, I just continued to grow and learn that, especially playing the quarterback position, the calmer you are, the more confident you play, the more that you trust your offense, the more that you trust what you see, especially when you're playing away, the better off you're going to be.
QUESTION #6: Russell, you've said all year how great your line has been at protecting you. There were some times against Indiana on Saturday it seemed like you had all day back there. Just what do you, have you thought of the protection overall, and physically, it doesn't sound like you've taken as many hits, do you feel a difference in how you feel physically maybe compared to past seasons, less beat up a little bit?
WILSON: Yeah. I think our offensive line is doing such a great job right now. We have a lot of experienced guys, obviously, up front. It all starts with Peter Konz calling out the protections and whatever it is. And so, in terms of their blocking ability, in terms of run blocking and pass protecting, it gives me a lot of time to make decisions and stay up on my feet and make the right throw at the right time. And that obviously helps throughout the game when you're on your feet more than anything.
QUESTION #7: You mentioned about being calm in the pocket. I'm just curious if you think you need to do that as well for your teammates, because a quarterback who maybe shows a little bit of being rattled, I imagine that would be unsettling for the guys in the huddle.
WILSON: Yeah, definitely. I think the experience that I have in terms of playing quarterback, being in tough situations at tough times. The thing I know is there's going to be adversity. When you're playing a great team in Michigan State, with a great defense, there's going to be storms. The thing I have to do, and the thing the offense has to do, and our team just in general, is weather the storms and just play with confidence, play with a little bit of a swagger, and play great football.
QUESTION #8: In six games, how many times have you been hit?
WILSON: I can probably count on my hand, to be honest with you. Not too many times, but that's a testament to our offensive line and the guys making big-time plays, and our running game too as well, and the play-action game that we have, and also Coach (Paul) Chryst, obviously.
QUESTION #9: How did your mom enjoy your first game in Madison, and how many times does she get to see you play in person most times?
WILSON: She's seen me play a lot in person, but she loved Madison. She absolutely loved it. She was e-mailing me today, talking about how much she enjoyed the time, and my sister as well. And so that was great to have them there, and they got to see me catch my first touchdown pass ever, so that was pretty exciting for them.
QUESTION #10: Russell, that Depth Chart show airs this week. Bret was saying you embraced that when he approached you about it, when you, you know, when you first got here. I'm just curious what you thought the positives of it would be.
WILSON: In terms of the Depth Chart show, I thought the positives would be it puts Wisconsin on a national map in terms of what we do on a daily basis and how we work. So I thought it would be fun. It'd be interesting for some of the guys, as well, and it was a good experience. But the thing is, once they got here, you didn't really notice they were here, and I think, with our coaching staff and with the players and the leadership that we have, our focus is to prepare on the right way every single day. So that's how all the cameras and all the outside stuff, we kind of just ignore it, and I think that's why we're doing so well right now and we have to keep working.
QUESTION #11: You mentioned your family getting to see your first TD reception. In the days now following, has seeing that play brought more of your teammates out to say that they want to throw a pass or you lobbying to run different pass patterns or anything like that now?
WILSON: I think Jared Abbrederis thinks he can go back to his quarterback days, but, other than that, I mean, no. It's our offense just scores as many touchdowns as we can and do what we have to do to score touchdowns, and that's the goal of every offense. So it was the type of play that we had an opportunity and we capitalized on it.
