Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Purdue
Oct. 14, 2017
Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, Wis.

 

Wisconsin Head Coach Paul  Chryst

OPENING STATEMENT: I'm really, really proud of the way this team played and competed, and we had to against a really good Purdue team. And certainly we've got to do a better job of taking care of the football, those are big, that and the blocked punt, those are huge plays, which leads me to, I thought our defense was sensational. The way they were put in some really tough situations and love their energy and most of all I thought they executed and played really good team defense.
 
And certainly as much as those turnovers hurt, that was a huge takeaway by Leon (Jacobs). And proud of the way the guys just kept playing. And also great response by the offense to finish that game with the ball in their hands and some guys came up big, KP (Kendric Pryor) gets his first catch on a third down and Groesch (Garrett Groshek) had a couple nice runs and we're going to need everyone and going to continue to do that, but really proud of the way the guys kept fighting and playing and certainly there are areas that we got to clean up and got to get better, so we need to -- room for growth, room to take a step forward, but appreciate their effort and well fought earned victory.
 
Q. You talked about the problems that you've had seemed to be a little recurring turnovers penalties, things like that that just seem to be holding you back from a really big performance.
CHRYST: They do.
 
Q. What do you think going on here, it's six games in?
CHRYST: Yeah, I think that I mean JT (Jonathan Taylor) did not want to put the ball on the ground going in there and so we've got to do better at that. The screen, if it's not there you've got to find a way to not try to force it in there. I thought that was big and you're right, that's been the one thing that we have got to do a better job about and we've got to coach it better and make sure the kids understand it and go, because it's a great example of how you can make it really hard on yourself.
 
Q. You mentioned team victory, on the pick by Leon (Jacobs) it looked like there was first of all some pressure and maybe also nobody open for the guy to throw it to. I'm guessing Leon wasn't the only one who was contributing on that play?
CHRYST: No doubt. I thought our front did a heck of a job and then you add in Dules (Garret Dooley) and Leon, on the edge and he put on some pressure and I'm anxious to see how beginning played but it was typically that's what happened, he was getting flushed and that was a big, big play.
 
Q. What was the thought process behind playing Garrett on that last drive after he hadn't been in the game before that?
CHRYST: Well, you just get to the point where you want to have some guys that are fresh and been working on a little bit of a package with them and thought it would be a good time it use him. He's been going all year on our third down, so he was in on the third down conversion to KP and so that's a guy that's earned the right to play and needed him in those situations.
 
Q. The sixth game of the season and your defense just managed to keep a team from scoring a touchdown throughout four pretty intense periods of play. How far do you think this defense has come and what do you think it is about this defense that kind of allows that momentum to build throughout a game?
CHRYST: Well I think they're a group that's got good players and I think our defensive staff is doing a heck of a job. That combination is really good, it gives you a chance, but I think that they're embracing the moments they're in. Today we put them in, I thought we put them into some tough spots but they rose up and I think we got some good leadership in that group and guys that have played in games, so we certainly are going to need to continue to have them do that and I think we have got to find a way to compliment them a little bit better offensively and special teams.
 
Q. After the fumble by Jonathan Taylor next time you guys had the ball Bradrick Shaw was in. Sometimes position coaches will give a guy a break if he fumbles it. Is that what you were doing or just wanted to go to Shaw because Taylor needed a breather?
CHRYST: A little bit of both. That one truly, that bothered JT big time and you want to make sure he's got a chance to just breathe for a second and like I said, there's not one kid that's going out there and this is what I'm going to try to do and put it on the ground and we talked real quick and he knows he's going to come in and we're going to need you some more. So I think it's a chance to breathe for a second and comeback and knew that we would need him.
 
Q. Highly-rated teams haven't been able to close the deal the last couple weeks. Is there something, is there a pride that you guys were able to win ugly?
CHRYST: Yeah, absolutely. It's how do you find a way to score one more point than the opponent. And games play out in all different fashions and never once do we think guess going to be perfect. We want guys to go out and play and enjoy playing. And when you're in those tough moments embrace them and I think guys are doing that and certainly that we're trying to I think the players want to and we as coaches want to coach to perfection, they want to play knowing that you'll never attain it, and I think that in some ways those become really good wins because you know that you're not doing everything, you know we made it harder on ourselves but guys found a way and that again I think you go back and you appreciate the players and continuing to play.
 
Q. What did you see on T.J. Edward's tackle and what explanation did you get from the officiating crew?
CHRYST: I had a quick discussion with the official that was on our side and I think that's, I thought from my advantage point it looked like a good football play and yet I understand why they, why he threw that flag. Everyone that plays this, everyone that's coached wants it to be as safe as we can and I think that those are really hard moments. I don't think that it's always a, the receiver, he stays, he doesn't stay on the same plane, he's going to go and I thought T.J. I know he had his head up and went and I understand why the call, I did not see any type of review on it, so I don't know, but those, that's, I think that's part of the game now.
 
Q. You had Danny Davis returning kickoffs today. How do you feel like did he in that area, do you feel like you're going to stick with him moving forward and I guess as a second part, how do you know the severity of the injury he suffered?
CHRYST: Yeah, I don't know on the severity of the injury. Obviously that determines the first part of the question. I think we just had I don't know if we just had the one return or a couple, no, one return, so I thought he was fine on it.
 
Q. Do you have an idea or did you see what happened on the punt block? That they basically took the ball from him?
CHRYST: Yeah, he did. I think they caught us and we were trying to release one more and they did a nice job of shifting to it and I don't know, Jeff, and obviously we'll take a good look at it, but it was, they were on us fast.
 
Q. Jason (Erdmann) had to go in at left guard in the second half today. Was it just a re-aggravation for Jon (Dietzen) and did you think he might need to give him a week off to make sure this doesn't happen?
CHRYST: We'll see how he is feeling with this and early in the week he didn't practice a lot and then was able to come back, had some good practices and thought that if we could get him a good half it would be pretty good for us. I think it would also help Jason. So I don't know going forward, certainly Jason's getting some good experience and it will be interesting to see how he played. I couldn't tell you right now, but we'll just kind of see how he's is feeling and continue to develop and work everyone.
 
Q. Getting back to the Edwards tackle, what are your thoughts on the automatic ejection that comes with that rule?
CHRYST: Well I think that we're all it's really important to try to make this game as safe as possible and there's a lot of discussion that goes on in the off season and I think that we made a step forward with being able to go back and review it and so I think we'll continue to look at different ways that we can make this game as safe as possible, understanding that it is a physical game.
 
Q. How do you explain when your offense doesn't do much for very long period of time and then with the game on the line is able to drive basically eight plus minutes I think it was off the clock and make some key third downplays, including Quintez Cephus's on the sideline there, yeah, I mean it's execution, right?
CHRYST: The bottom line is offensively plays work when guys do their job and the same could be said defensively when guys are doing -- and then someone there has to win. I mean and I think that we executed and I thought guys embraced the moment, I was proud of that. That's a you don't know, right, you go out, you take that field and then certainly weren't proud of what happened, I thought we had some good drives and then the turnovers were big. The pick was a missed communication between Alex (Hornibrook) and Danny and yet that's a big, big play. And then the screen really wasn't there and tried to shoe horn it in and then that was a heck of a drive that we didn't finish on with JT's and then certainly the punt block. So those are easily you look at and say we good shots to beat that, we got to eliminate those, but there's a lot of good things throughout the game just you got to put it all together and that's where it's never easy and that's why I appreciate the guys keeping their poise and just continuing to work and play together and it takes everyone to win.
 
Q. Woody projected Rachid (Ibrahim) to be a fifth running back, how much does it say about his character that's come in and through injuries other players is have really been able to step up and contribute as fifth year senior?
CHRYST: Sheed's a really neat person and fortunately we had a good idea of who he was and also had a good idea of the room that we had for and it was going to be a good fit and whatever that role is being asked of him, knew that Sheed would be a guy that would embrace it and give his very best and I think he's done a nice job of coming into the team and I think our team has done a nice job of bringing him into the team.
 

Freshman RB Jonathan  Taylor

On whether his success this season exceeds his expectations:
"Definitely. The offensive guys in the huddle give me so much confidence. Every play they juice me up. With that kind of confidence, anything is possible."
 
On his fumble:
"I just have to put two hands on the ball. The ball got away from my body and was knocked loose. Like I said though, the guys came up to me right away on the sideline and challenged me to fight back and respond well."
 
On whether or not the inclement weather played a factor in the fumble:
"No, they weren't a factor. Just coaching techniques, keeping that ball high and tight in traffic."
 

Senior OLB Garrett  Dooley

On the blocked punt:
"I'm not necessarily sure what happened. I think they did a good job scouting us. We motioned a guy out and they shifted when we made our cadence. They hit us in a spot we were vulnerable so hats off to them."
 
On stepping up in big moments as a defensive unit:
"Those are crucial moments in the game. As a defense, we need to stop the momentum that the other team has on things like turnovers or the blocked punt. We were able to do a heck of a job tonight. We did not let them in the end zone at all and we were able to hold them to a field goal or less.
 
On his big sack:
"We just knew we needed to make a big play. We had a couple sacks on that drive so it ended up making the field goal a lot longer than they thought. Ultimately they missed it, so that was one of those times when the defense just has to step up."
 

Junior OL Michael  Deiter

On not playing the best but still coming out with a win:
"We didn't play our best but we fought and we won. At the end of the day, that is the most important thing. But overall we have to get better."
 
On the final drive:
"To be able to put the game away like that is awesome. That is how you want to finish the game. It's a huge positive and something we have to build off of."
 
On the little mistakes that have been popping up throughout the season:
"It's a big concern. We are better than that and we know it. We just have to enjoy the win. But it's a concern and we just have to get better."
 

Senior LB Leon  Jacobs

On the defense allowing zero touchdowns:
"I thought at the beginning of the season we were bad at that, we were giving up touchdowns. But today, we bounced back and were pretty good."
 
On his interception:
"They disguised a bunch formation. They had the running back swing out, and I had him in man. D'cota Dixon's guy came under me, so D'cota went over the top. His guy did a nice job of sitting down, so D'cota was getting picked. And I broke off my man and picked-off D'cota's guy."
 
 "He and I both tipped the ball. But I just caught it."
 

Senior DE Alec  James

On his improved play from beginning of the year:
"I'm just running around. Really just trying to give all I can every play, and take advantage of my last year. And I feel like I'm in good shape—just got to keep running and keep it up."
 
On the defense and offense picking up for one another:
"There's gonna be times when we have to pick them up or they have to pick us up. It's never us joking around with them, it's more us doing our job and being excited to stop the other team."
 
On his sack:
"I made an inside move, and (Conor) Sheehy was rushing on his side towards the center, and I just kind of pushed off the center and got vertical and made the play."  
 

Sophomore QB Alex  Hornibrook

On the defense's performance:
"Our defense is outstanding, I love having them on the other side of the ball. They bail us out, they make plays especially that last one that Leon [Jacobs] had. Just the whole game, to be able to hold them to nine points, three field goals, that's huge."
 
On not playing as crisp as normal:
"I think it's a positive that we can be better than we were. Obviously we got bailed out a few times by the defense, and then there are some guys that made big plays for us. I thought it was great at the end that after Leon [Jacobs] made that great interception for us that nobody hesitated and we were ready to go."
 
On Jonathan Taylor:
"Yeah, it's pretty ridiculous to see some of the runs that he makes. We see him do that every day in practice, so we don't always expect him to make it, but we're not always surprised when he does it. The offensive line did a great job for him, and then he made some great plays himself, too."
 

Senior CB Derrick  Tindal

On the defense's response:
"We responded pretty well, I mean we only gave up nine points off of them [Purdue] being in the red zone a few times. Sometimes our offense might put us in that predicament, but that's why they feel like they've got one of the best defenses in the nation, we get them out of there and we help them out. You can't stop our offense for too long, not with Jonathan Taylor in the back field."
 
On Nick Nelson's performance:
"Oh man, Nick's going to be Nick. He makes plays, that's what he does. That's why he's on the other side of me. I've been really proud of him lately, and it's not surprising to me. We come out every day and put in work in practice, and we put the time in, so I expect that from him."
 
On the win:
"I feel pretty good about the win. A win is a win no matter how many points you win by. Every game, every week, it's college football. I'm just happy we found a way to come out and win the game, especially with a great defensive effort from a lot of people."
 

Junior S D'Cota  Dixon

On Leon Jacobs' interception:
"We were in a situation where we could make calls, and I think we got ourselves in the right call. That was all really just from communicating. That was great communication. Leon [Jacobs] was doing his job, being in the right place in the right time. He made a play for us, and that was huge. Any time you get a takeaway it's huge, but especially in the red zone."

 

Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm

Opening Statement:
"Well that was a hard-fought football game. I was proud of the effort of our guys. We hung in there until the end even though things didn't go well early on. Wisconsin's a very good football team, we knew that coming in. Defensively, we were fortunate enough to find ways to get turnovers when they were moving the ball offensively. We just weren't able to make enough plays, get enough points. It's one of those games to learn from. It's a good opponent and you try to move on and get ready for the next one."
 
On not being able to capitalize on their turnovers:
"At times we had a hard time blocking. Other times we had a hard time getting open. There's certain routes that didn't work for us. We were able to run the ball occasionally at times. Not enough execution and that's a good defense and they put it to us. I think they hung in there and found a way to do a few things but that defense did a good job and they stopped us."
 
On Purdue's ability to get turnovers:
"We have been good at that. We've been fortunate enough to get turnovers. I think we do our best to stop their run and load the box. I think we have good players who play physical and finish. When they hit some plays on us, they continue to battle. When you get in tight the field gets a little bit shorter and now the box gets even tighter and we've done a good job of stripping, getting the ball out and really making it hard for teams to run the ball. You almost have to throw it because we do a decent job of that. Turnovers were big for us. It gave us a chance to score points, we just couldn't capitalize offensively."
 
On how close the team is to breaking through:
"The thing I like as far as being close is our guys play hard, they like football and they want to win and it's important to them, it means something to them and they give great effort. That's there. Now we just have to continue to improve in certain areas to win some big games. We've just got to improve and get better on offense and find ways to move the chains. Defensively, we've been fortunate to get turnovers. Sometimes we give up some plays on third and long against the pass which is disappointing but we do load the box and try to take away the run so there's a little give and take there. We've still got a long ways to go. The fact that we play hard if you want to win, that's the most important. As coaches, myself, all of us just have to find ways to be creative and help our guys improve and find ways to win."
 
On Jonathan Taylor:
"He's big, strong running back and he fits perfect in their offense. He's got some big old guys to block for him and open up the holes. Lead blockers lead up in there for him. He's going to be as good as they've probably had here in a while. To be this good that young, he's an impressive man. He's got size and strength and he's got a great system and players around him to help him do his thing. They've got a chance to have a special season if they keep it rolling and that's a very well-coached team."