Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Northwestern
Sept. 30, 2017
Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, Wis.
OPENING STATEMENT:Â Obviously it was good to win today and it took a lot of effort by our players and coaches and proud of the way they kept playing all day.
Certainly, you know, we knew who we were going to play against, and thought it is a good Northwestern team and well coached, and we knew it was going to be a hard one, and yet I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned in this one, and a lot of 'em are -- it goes back to giving yourself your best chance and starts with protecting the football and certainly the takeaways. Natrell has a big, big play on his take-away, and it's executing.
I thought it was a great example, too, of how football is a team game, and it takes everyone. I thought this was one of those games of field position, and I thought that we had better field position and took advantage of it in the second half and able to get some points.
Really proud of the way the guys played and fought together and found a way to win. Obviously a big play, you know, guys like D'Cota (Dixon), that last play on the safety. There's a lot of -- a lot of guys put it out there, and I think there are many areas that we can get better in, need to get better.
Q. I know it's hard to come off a bye week of practice but I thought you said Thursday your guys practiced well during the week. You've been around a long time. How do you explain not protecting the ball and be not executing in the first half?
PAUL CHRYST: It's too easy to say it's off the bye. It comes down to good football and executing, and we knew this was going to be the best team that we've played to this point. Certainly still believe that. But we just -- it's the fundamentals. It's the little things. What's empowering is those are the things that we can control.
Defensively, I thought there was a lot of moments we played really well, but we've got to run our feet and do a better job of -- too many missed tackles in key situations.
Offensively, you have to protect the football, whether it's the ball carrier or the quarterback. So I think, you know, we've just got to continue to work and improve. Yet all those things happened, and that's part of it, and it's how you respond, and that's what I was proud of, the way the guys continued to play and respond and come together. Knew it would take everyone.
Q. How did the game plan or the approach change offensively with Troy (Fumagalli) out today?
PAUL CHRYST: It wasn't for sure until last night that we knew Troy probably wouldn't play. He had been practicing through the week, obviously not a ton, so there was an idea -- we weren't sure, he was maybe going to go or maybe wasn't going to go, so we had the opportunity to work on a lot of things without Troy as well, you know, in practice, as well. I give credit to really the other tight ends and the full backs. It didn't change once we knew -- certainly we like it when Troy plays, and he's a really good football player, but as far as what we were going to do didn't change as much as maybe people would have thought.
Q. Is this a short-term thing for Troy? One week or do you know yet?
PAUL CHRYST: You never know for sure but we truly thought he had a good chance to maybe play today. I don't think he was setback any from what he was doing, so it will be a day-to-day.
Q. Anything you can pinpoint about why this team appears to play so much better in the second half, at least in three of the four games this year?
PAUL CHRYST: I don't know for sure. I think a lot of it, though, is I don't think anything is that simple. It's what are teams doing and the situations that you're put in. It's hard, you know, first play we turn the ball over on a short field, does that happen every game -- every game is not the same, so you can't say, well, this happened and this is who we are.
I think that our guys certainly understand -- I felt like they were ready to play, but you still have to execute. I think that's what the game is all about, and I think there was moments when we didn't.
Q. What about the defense in the first half. You weren't executing, yet the defense kept gelling off the field with get-off-the-field plays.
PAUL CHRYST: They did, and certainly part of the credit goes to Northwestern, and you can't take that away. I know they scored in the last two drives, but I thought our defense did really well and kept us in the game, gave us a chance. I thought they did a tremendous job on the pass rush, we did a good job of mixing it up, and I thought it was a good plan, and most importantly I thought the kids understood the plan.
I thought the defense gave us a chance and was proud particularly in the second half where the offense was able to finish some of those drives and take advantage -- I thought we were playing complementary football at that time, with the special teams. Anthony had a couple of big punts and all that. You need it, and every game in the Big Ten we're going to need every one.
Like I said, like every game there is things that we did well that we've got to build upon and there is plenty of areas where we've got to grow and get better.
Q. Paul, you mentioned the pass rush. It looks like (Clayton) Thorson doesn't mind holding onto the ball as long as he possibly can. Did you anticipate you could get to him more than you had in previous games against teams?
PAUL CHRYST: He's a really good quarterback, so we thought there might be some opportunities where I think earlier, couple games, I felt like the ball was really out fast. It's also going to force us to cover longer, and you saw some of the DBs step up and make some big plays, and like I said I thought -- a number of different guys did a nice job of putting pressure on their quarterback.
Q. What's the difference between what you saw in Alex (Hornibrook) between the first and second half?
PAUL CHRYST: I think early I thought we were in some of those situations that, you know, you just never felt like -- we didn't help him, and he didn't get himself into a rhythm. He found himself into a little bit of a rhythm, and we've got to continue to help him.
I like the way that he plays the game. He takes it one play at a time, and I've said this every game about him, I thought there were areas that were really good and he's got to continue to build upon, and we're going to look at this film and it will give us some learning moments and he'll do that. That's what I appreciate from him.
It was one of those games. It's a good defense and you're not always going to be in rhythm, and you've gotta learn how to play that way, too. Football is a good game that way.
Q. Paul, Garret Dooley finished with (three) sacks on this game. What can a performance like this do for him this season?
PAUL CHRYST: I think you've got to take anything positive and you've got to build on it. There is no guarantee that it's going to happen again, but you've done it. Now you've just got to build upon it. I think Dools is a good football player, and I think he thinks he's a good football player, so he's got confidence, and he's just got to build on it.
And, you know, I bet you go back and look at that film, there is not one play that just one guy does. It takes all 11, and I think that's what I think our team understands and when one person or one side is struggling, we've got to continue to work on how can we pick up that guy or that -- a lot of those sacks there was a good rush from a number of guys, and maybe it turns it one way or the other, but it was fun to see Dools have that, and it's always good to get the production. You appreciate that.
Q. The two interceptions Alex threw it looked like he was giving his guys a chance to go a 50/50 ball. Were you okay with those decisions or did he need to put the ball in a better place on those plays?
PAUL CHRYST: I'll have to see it again. I know what he was thinking on it, and I think the biggest part of quarterbacking is that you've got to trust what you see, and then you've got to pull the trigger and make it happen.
If there is any doubt, then you've got to move on. I don't know. I thought one he didn't necessarily stripe it. And so was he thinking -- I know what he was thinking on the deep one down, I think it was to Kyle (Pennisten), and saw that, so, you know, those are learning moments for him.
Q. Paul, have you paid much attention to the turmoil at Nebraska and how that might impact you guys' trip there to the game next week?
PAUL CHRYST: Obviously I know what happened, and what's nice about being in the season is you focus on your team, and then you get to focus on the opponent of the week. So certainly I'm going to enjoy and appreciate what the guys did today, and then tomorrow morning early start on Nebraska. I don't know if that's answering it.
Q. Paul, obviously the three games before this they were comfortable leads for your team by the time the fourth quarter came. How important is it that your team was able to finish out a close one today?
PAUL CHRYST: I think it's always important to make the most of the day. It comes in all different fashions when you play this game. Proud of the way the guys played. Are there things that we've got to get better at, absolutely, and you know what, this group will work on those. Each day is different, and that's what's fun about this game.
Q. What do you attribute the last five minutes to? Do you feel like your guys relaxed after the pick six?
PAUL CHRYST: No, I don't think the guys relaxed. I think it goes back to complementary football. They're a good football team, and they made some plays, and that's when it's a great opportunity for the offense now to pick it up. The way that the -- the on-side, the deep one, you know, you've got a long field, a lot of things come into this thing but absolutely I don't think there was one bit of relaxing at all, no.
Q. You've seen (Natrell) Jamerson come on a little bit but how important is his versatility, not only what he can do in the back end, run support, but special teams, on that punt, the one you downed at the two there?
PAUL CHRYST: You're seeing it. Natrell brings so much to this team and has been doing it for a while now. Two years ago he was our special teams player of the year. What you appreciate from him is that now that he's in a starting role, what he thinks about and how he approaches the special teams is every bit as important as it was when he was first breaking in, playing, and as you know, we're going to need all the guys.
There are good examples of players like Trell that will do anything for this team. And you get into games -- we're going to have a lot more close games -- that we're going to need plays such as that. Doesn't matter how it comes, what unit it comes on, we're going to need everyone.
Q. Justin Jackson had less than three yards a carry. How did you get that done, especially since you play a lot of nickel, and how important was it?
PAUL CHRYST: I thought it was really important. Going into the game, probably not different than any other time you play football, you want to be able to take away the run. We were -- certainly had a lot of respect for Northwestern, with the quarterback and the running back, they can really spread you out and hurt you in a number of ways. I thought guys -- I thought it was a good plan and guys played well, got off the blocks and rallied it when you needed it, whether it's the backers or the safeties, were fitting it. It was fun to watch a lot of it. We have a lot of respect for him as a back and knew it was going to be a challenge.
Q. On the long pass play on third-and-three, is that a feel call or that you see something, when you go for something like that, a big hit when you're down like that?
PAUL CHRYST: It's -- I suppose it's a little bit of that. (Laughter.) The one that's second guessed if it doesn't work.
Junior S D'cota Dixon
On Natrell Jamerson's two interception day:
"It was Christmas for him. I have never gotten two interceptions or a pick six in a game before, so it was surreal to see him do that. And just to see him grow over the years and take advantage of his position, and today is a great example of that."
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On being able to get the safety:
"The defense was getting great pressure on the quarterback that made the quarterback roll out and put me in the position to make a play. Anytime they get the pressure like they did today, turnovers happen."
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On the team relaxing after his safety due to Northwestern getting back into the game:
"Yeah, I think so. We got a little too relaxed in the end, and that was the only thing I was disappointed about. It was a finish, but an ugly finish, and now I feel like we've earned the right to think about and put into action about how we finish and how we win."
On what he saw on his pick-six:
"Green grass. I had a few blockers in front of me, and I was able to make a couple guys miss."
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On how Northwestern was able to get back into the game:
"Towards the end we just got out of breath and they took advantage of that. But we were able to hit it head on, close it out how we did.
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On if he believes if this will become a common anomaly with Big Ten games.
 "We didn't think about it like that. They felt like they were still in the game, so they were going to keep fighting anyways, and we kind of laid down and took our foot off of the gas and they were able to come back."
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On if this game is indicative of how games against Northwestern usually are:
"We know that they're always going to give us a good game. We never expect them to just lay down while we hit them in the mouth a few times. We know it will usually be a fight until the end, and we have to be able to close them out."
On how the offense transitioned into the second half after a not-so-good first:
"I think we had a fire lit from underneath us. Things didn't go so well for us in the first half, but we were able to turn that around and execute."
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On struggling on third down:
"I think that was another thing that we improved upon going from the first half into the second, and that was huge for our offenses execution."
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On if the long ball to Quintez Cephus was the offensive turning point:
"Yeah, that was the point where our offense was able to consistently move the ball down the field. And obviously there are some things that we could have done better, but I believe once we did that, we were able to move the ball better."
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On the defense's performance:
"I thought they did a great job tonight, and we were hurting them with where the field position was in the first half, but they got us out of some tough situations that saved some points."
On the difference from the first to second half:
"I think we started off slow, took us a little longer to get rolling. The second half came, we had a talk, and came out with more intensity and picked it up."
On the offensive shift:
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Quintez Cephus] had that deep ball, after that coach talked about making a play, so I ended up doing that. After that we started rolling, JT (
Jonathan Taylor) got in the end zone after that. That was a big part of it."
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On the production from true freshmen:
"The team we've got this year, with Fum and a bunch of guys that can score, it just happened to be this week that it was me and JT twice. Any week it can differ, we've got a lot of players at receiver and tight end, so it just happens to be what today was."
On the rushing and passing game:
"It was good, it was a lot of fun. We made some adjustments at halftime and were able to come home with a few more things. But it was a lot of fun, I had a good time."
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On what makes the defense so good:
"I think it's just a lot of guys willing to do their job and not really play outside of themselves. Lot of unselfish guys out there who are ready to play for each other."
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On "picking up slack" for the offense in the first half:
"There's going to be games where we need them to pick up stuff or we pick them up. It was just one of those games. It wasn't anything we dwelled on, we just kind of went out there and did our job."
Junior OL Michael Dieter
On whether his ankle bothered him during the game:
"A little bit, not that much. I thought it felt pretty good for most of the game. Towards the end it got a little sore, but I thought it was pretty good."
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On the difference from the first to second half:
"To me, confidence. I thought we were playing a little slow, guessing ourselves in the first half. Then I think we had a really confident third quarter, playing as fast and as confident as we have. Then I think towards the end we went back to what we were doing in the first half.
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"We just have to be confident for four quarters, sixty minutes. That's what we've got to work on."
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On Northwestern:
"It's always a good game with them. No one in the Big Ten is ever going to lay down, you never expect them to lay down. I thought their answer was good, that's what we expect out of Northwestern, and anyone we play in the Big Ten. We still have to be better."
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On the hesitation from the defense:
"It wasn't anything they were doing. It just didn't feel like we were cutting it loose in the first half. There were times we did, times we didn't. I think we need to be more consistent with confidence and cutting it loose at all times."
On UW getting eight sacks:
"I'm always confident in our outside backers and d-line getting after it. If the quarterback is holding onto the ball too long and they have time to do their stuff I'm pretty confident they'll get there.
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On improving in the second half:
"I would say the main reason, and it's not necessarily always the energy, maybe in the first two games, but we have a lot of veterans so they start to click on offense and once they start to figure it out we can figure out tendencies and that's a big part to why we can get going in the second half."
On Northwestern's comeback attempt in the fourth quarter:
"That's just the Big Ten, maybe in non-conference play teams may not always fight in the fourth quarter but once you hit Big Ten play, teams are going to be fighting all four quarters. It's kind of a reality check that teams aren't going to stop coming."
On what he was doing without TE Troy Fumagalli in:
"I was doing a lot of the same stuff. The biggest change was I was in on more passing plays. That was about it."
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On getting Troy back:
"I think Troy is a great player. We definitely want to have him back as soon as possible. He's a playmaker all around and he is good to have on our offense. I'm confident he'll be back next week so I'm excited."
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On what he attributes to the first half struggles:
"Obviously the biggest thing for me was turnovers to start. We weren't being sound with the ball, we have to do a better job there. There are no excuses. I think we bounced back and got into a rhythm but it's important for us to keep our foot on the gas pedal. We had two or three really good drives and didn't do much after that so I think it was a good lesson to know that when we have the momentum we need to keep it going for as long as possible."
On the importance of getting to the QB:
"It's just something that we've emphasized over the last two weeks, getting after the quarterback. Our coaches did a really good job of dialing up new pressures we haven't done and those hit home today and everybody did a really good and just did their job well."
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On giving up the 21-point lead:
"Yeah, it definitely does hurt. When we're up 21 points and the defense is on the field we know that we need to go out there and get a stop or get a turnover, kind of put the dagger in. That's something that we didn't do and that's something we need to focus on."
On being able to contribute
"I feel like there's a huge difference from game one to now. I feel like as the games keep going on I'm more comfortable being out there. I feel like I'm able to make more plays because I feel a tad bit more comfortable. I can play faster so I feel like I've been able to play faster throughout the four games."
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On what he learned during the non-conference slate:
"The first non-conference games I learned a lot. I learned how physical college football can be outside of practice. I really felt like I learned a lot about myself and then I was working on a lot of things that I saw in practice. Those three games helped a lot.
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On his sack:
"I was just doing my job. I was supposed to get up field, I made a move, it just kind of opened up and the quarterback was right there."
Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald
Opening Statement:
"I just got the stats in front of me and there we had ample opportunities today. We started the right way, getting the turnovers we need and we don't capitalize on it. To only have three points off the turnovers in the first half was obviously the difference in the game in the first half. In the second half, there were miscommunications and we give up a couple explosive plays, credit Wisconsin obviously for making those. Then we just all the sudden decided to stop executing on offense for some reason for about 16, 18 minutes. Then when we decided to do some things again we got ourselves right back into the game. Very disappointed in the outcome of the game, credit Wisconsin. We've got to get our guys to be more consistent to win games like this."
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On failing to convert on third and one's in the first half:
"No excuse. It's the difference in the game. Good for them, they did a great job defensively. I tip my hat to them. I mean it's embarrassing quite frankly. It's embarrassing. Third and one and you get your lips knocked off. Obviously our sense of urgency in those times wasn't good enough."
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On what Wisconsin did to limit Northwestern RB Justin Jackson:
"First of all, we get down a bunch of scores in the second half so maybe it's a little bit different. They're going to do what they do to stop your inside run game. We had some things oiled up that maybe we didn't execute maybe per se right away. Justin didn't practice at all this week, so to see him even out here playing shows his toughness. He's a pretty tough kid."
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On Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson's overall performance today:
"We lost. It's our job to win. The quarterback gets all the credit when we win and gets all the blame when we lose. We lost.
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"I've gotta look at the tape because if you're holding the ball because nobody's open, it's a combination of us making him successful as coaches. We have to put him in better situations and that's protections, it's calls, it's routes, schematics. We have to protect better, we've got to get open and he's got to get it out of his hands so that's the whole the whole thing with the passing game. When it's off it's just really ugly and for a while today it was really ugly. For a good portion of it though too we had some good success."
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On providing pressure:
"It's a good sign. I think we had some pretty good pressure there for a while and then they have a bunch of explosive plays over the top of our heads."
