WISCONSIN FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 30, 2021

Paul Chryst

Postgame Press Conference

Wisconsin 27, Iowa 7

PAUL CHRYST: Certainly appreciate the efforts really all week by the players and coaching staff, and felt we certainly did enough in the way they played to earn this victory against a really good Iowa team.

You look back, I don't care what game probably, but it takes a lot of people, a lot of contributions, a lot of effort, to win a game, and I think today is no different.

Once again, I thought our defense was tremendous in so many ways. I thought early did really a really good job. We got some takeaways. Thought the stop, the fourth down stop was big, and we were able to follow it up with a touchdown drive that was at the end of the third quarter and finished in the fourth.

I thought guys made plays and certainly they made some plays, but we came back and bounced back and it was a good win for us today.

Q. Are there any specifics that you can pinpoint that have led to the turn around for this team in the last few weeks?

PAUL CHRYST: I think each week is a different week, different set of challenges, but I think the one thing that has stayed constant is their approach. That as a coach you appreciate. I think all season long our defense has been playing at a really high level, and it's been fun to see. Challenged in different ways, but still really the results have been impressive.

That will continue, keep going. I thought today offensively need to do things a little bit different and I thought guys responded to that. It was good. I think the combination of how our defenses was playing, takeaways, didn't take advantage of the one on the short field, but was able to get it right back.

I thought offensively did some good things. Good to be able to give our -- have a lead and to be able to play off that. I think it's -- I think the constant has been their approach and their belief in each other. Each week it plays out a little bit different.

Q. Obviously linebackers are getting a lot of attention for the way that they're playing. How do you quantify what the defensive line is doing, especially in a game like today where really didn't let Iowa get up to the second level, just the impact they had.

PAUL CHRYST: Yeah, it's been that way. There is no doubt, and I think for good reason or linebackers get a lot of attention and they've been productive.

But it doesn't happen without a lot going on not just in front of them, talking about the D-line, which I love the way that group approaches each day and certainly the games and the opportunity. They were excited to play this week because you knew -- had an idea what type of game it was going to be.

I think the best thing you can say is they're playing with each other and off each other and helping each other be able to make the plays that maybe get a stat, right?

A lot of people say you look at the stats and certainly Leo and Jack, they been playing really, really good football. So I don't want to -- not trying to take anything away, but there is a lot of other stuff that goes around that allows them to do that.

But they're still doing their part. That's what our whole defense is doing. I think that's what makes them fun to be around. They're an unselfish group they trust each other and they love playing together.

Q. I know you're a big fan of turnover props. Were you aware that your defense has a hat that goes around after turnovers, and what's your reaction to that?

PAUL CHRYST: I am now. You know what? Yeah, I've always been a real big fan of players owning. And you know what? It's probably fitting, right? Probably fitting.

Q. I was going to ask you that. This does seem to be a gritty group. Is that the best -- you've used a lot of words to describe them this season. Is gritty maybe --

PAUL CHRYST: I think it's one of them, and I think you have to be, and we'll continue to be that. But I think there are a lot of things right now. It's a team that really does care about each other, and to play this game you have to have some true grit and true commitment to each other.

I think they have that. Yeah, it was pretty good. Always a big fan of that stuff.

Q. You said the one constant has been the players' approach. How would you quantify what that approach has been maybe day-to-day?

PAUL CHRYST: Quantify is a big word, Jeff. When Henny comes down he can answer that. I got lost when you said how do you quantify.

Q. Your approach.

PAUL CHRYST: I think their approach has been consistent. You know, I think that's what I've appreciated, that I think it's a group that values the day-to-day work that goes -- that you have to put in. I think they enjoy being around each other, and I think they know there is a bigger thing you're working for, and I think that part has been real.

And again, I think number of different guys and different personality styles and ways, but there is a number of guys that are really doing a good job of leading, and that you're always grateful for as a coach.

Q. Not only is your defense creating turnovers, but I think is it just as important that your offense in a game like this doesn't turn the ball over? Are they doing a better job do you think of limiting those?

PAUL CHRYST: Yeah, today certainly was. It becomes real big. I thought you saw today and had an idea that it was going to be that type of game where field position, you know, they did a nice job on the kickoff return, and how do you -- and certainly turnovers and takeaways change field position at times pretty dramatically.

We were the benefit of that. We had the -- also had the punt that they fumbled and we had a short field there. We had couple short fields. I still think we got to do better, but you got protect the football and I thought we were better.

Q. I think you said about the offense that you thought you might have to do some things differently today. Why did you think that, and are you talking about giving Graham the ball, especially on that one drive where I think it was five for five on that first touchdown drive.

PAUL CHRYST: Yeah, I think you just knew wasn't really cutting edge. You know that, right? You know you're going to have to move the ball a number of different ways. Felt like the way they were playing it and kind of the opportunity presented itself, I thought guys did a good job taking advantage of that.

I thought in general the protection was really good and I thought guys -- there was a stretch where we weren't really effective on third down and kind of like to clean that up, but I thought early we were, and you just got to keep going. There is always going to be work, areas to improve upon.

Knew going in we were going to have to, or thought going in that we were going to have to move it -- you're hoping to get it through the run, and you knew certainly you would have to get some in the passing game.

Q. I think Sanborn was one of the guys in on that fourth and one stuff in the third quarter. How big was that play to swing the momentum in your favor, and what does that say about Sanborn to come back from the injury and play the way he did?

PAUL CHRYST: Yeah, his first play back in was a big play. Talked about that at the beginning. I thought that was a sequence that was huge, for the defensive stop and then to be able to finish it with a drive that end in a score. I thought that was a big part of kind of the finish of that game.

Q. You mentioned the pass protection. No sacks today. I don't believe a quarterback hit. What do you think they did better today that they maybe didn't in earlier weeks that kept Graham clean and in a good pocket?

PAUL CHRYST: Yeah, I think probably ended up being a number of things. Certainly the play of the line. I thought it was all clean, but Graham did a good job getting the ball out of his hands. To do that you got guys that are going where they should be going and there was a sense of timing.

Not that ever one of them was a completion, but I thought there was a rhythm to it. So I think the combination of things help in that.

Q. When you consider this opponent a couple weeks ago was ranked No. 2, having allowed 25 points in 29 games, I know you guys control your own destiny in the Big10 West, how big is this win for you guys?

PAUL CHRYST: This game was a big game for us because it was the opportunity we had this week, and I love the fact that guys were all into this week. Just told them I want them to appreciate all that goes into winning a game. We got come back tomorrow and do it again and start on a new opponent.

You know, the season is no different than a game. You get to play it and that's the best part. You ask any of our players right now what's the best part of what they get to do, and it's play in the game.

We're going to play out this season and enjoy each opportunity we get. We're going to enjoy and get something out of each day, and next week we get an opportunity to play another opponent, and that will be our complete focus.

Q. Back to the O-line for a second. You had been Bortolini filled in for Bruss for two games. Had to go with Furtney today. Can you walk us through when did you guys know that someone would have to replace Seltzner inner and the decision to use Furt?

PAUL CHRYST: Yeah, kind of as we've been practicing really throughout this fall, Furt has been playing at the guard spot. Really wasn't until late in the week that we found out about Seltz, so I think the combination of kind of what he's been doing, and felt good with Furt going in.

But he also -- you kind of had to just, All right, who has been getting the reps, and the combination of that and you have confidence in him, right? So I think those two things.

Found out about Seltz late in the week.