Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin vs. Illinois

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Wisconsin Football vs. Illinois October 1, 2022Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, Wis. Illinois 34, Wisconsin 10

OPENING STATEMENT First, congratulations to Illinois. They beat us today. Then it's we've got to — no one wants to be where we're at, yet I told the team there's one response, and that's us continuing to come together. And we've got to make sure — in my opinion, we've got to play better football, and we've got to get to where you're playing one team, the opponent.

I thought it was enough, at least three turnovers. All three ends up being big plays that give them good field position. This makes it more difficult.

I am eager to see the penalties. There was a lot of contact out there in the passing game, but certainly — penalties are hard, when you give a team yards or when you take away yards, and that's where we've got to be better. I've got to do a better job.

It's going to take all of us at this time. Sure, I have leaders in this team that I believe in. But everyone has to take ownership. Everyone is part of the whole deal. We all have to be part of the solution.

It's hard. I know our players. Any time you invest and put yourself out there — and I appreciate that from them. It doesn't always work out your way. We have to support them. We have to work together. Come back to play again.

Q. Q. But are you — you're still struggling, especially on offense. Are you unsure if your confidence in your staff's abilities, or your ability to get this group up and running as it should? Do you worry that your players are losing confidence?

CHRYSTThere are a few things to note in the question. Absolutely, do we want to be and do we need to be — to give ourselves a chance to win, we've got to be playing better certainly offensively. It's obvious. To win, you need to score points. We haven't been scoring enough. That's obvious.

I believe we have to do a great job. You can look at everything if you do. How can we coach them? What are we doing? I think — you know, it's unfair, and we've just got to play better, you know what I mean?

There were some things that we didn't do well today. We had a good drive on our first attempt, but that was it. Really when you do convert on third downs — we weren't very good on third down. You've got more offense when you convert on third down.

We just haven’t been putting them together. That's something that, if we're going to be — we need to be better, right? We have to give our team the chance to win. You have to be more offensive. We are all part of the solution, I believe.

Q. Q. You mentioned that you were unable to run the ball and Graham (Mertz), was sacked six more times.

CHRYST It's an excellent defense. Coming into the game, I thought they were playing a good defense and trusted their man coverage. Therefore, it allows you to get a hat — extra hat down in the box, and they're going to gap it out. You've got some things that we've been able to do, and when you do that, they become big, but if you don't win your one-on-ones —

It takes 11 on every play, offensively and defensively, as well as special teams. That's what makes this game so difficult. It does. There are some guys who can make a mistake right away. Sometimes you can make up for it. It takes 11, and that's why we have to be better. You have a chance if you are all 11 in sync.

Q. Q. He taped the rest of his game, non-throwing, with his wrist or hand, I believe. From your perspective, what impact did that have on him during the remainder of the game?

CHRYST I thought that he had dealt with it. That wasn't the issue. And any time that — everyone knows it. If you can make your quarterback feel uncomfortable, if you can hit the quarterback, and when pressure is applied, it can have a greater impact on it than anything else.

We had one early, ball tension. I felt we could have done something different there. There's times when we were getting beat on it, and I thought that — like I said going in, the majority of the game is going to be a man-to-man game, and you've got to win your one-on-ones, and then you've got to protect, you've got to win the one-on-one, and then you've got to deliver it. We didn't do enough.

Q. Q. Just curious. The second half seemed flat for the team. I don't know if your personality is one that makes you scream at what you see. But I'm curious about the halftime.

CHRYST You're in a moment right now. I sensed we were at a moment at halftime and how we come out and what's our — how are we going to play this right from the get go?

Didn't get — not a great way to start. They come down, and then they drive and score, and then they fumble on their return. It's not what you want. Like you said, you're in a game, and that makes it — again, turnovers, things like that make it that much harder. To give ourselves a better chance, we need to improve in this area.

Q. Q.

CHRYST: Yeah, I thought there was a stretch there I thought they were playing — there was some drives — and they made some plays, I'm not saying that — but did a good job. That's what I felt was the area where we didn’t complement each other.

As I mentioned, the first score was a short field from the pick and then I had another field from the second half return. I thought they did a great job and stepped up. We just need to play better and better complementary football.

Q. Q.

CHRYSTYeah! I'm eager to see it. There was a lot pushing, shoving, and grabbing. It was visible from both sides so I'm eager to see it.

Q. Q.Paul, many of your guys talked about how they responded and bounced back after last week. Are you disappointed with how they performed at certain times? How did you feel about their response to the loss last week?

CHRYST: I think that it's — I think there's always — you know, the response — you can have some guys that respond well. It doesn't always go the way you want. You still have to play the next one. Those are all lessons you have to learn. You are required to learn by the game.

Just because you may have understood it and know what the response has got to be, you still have to then go out — the thing that's awesome about this game is it is a team game, and that's where you're going to win as a team and you're going to lose as a team. There's an energy there. It's a way to be accountable. It has all of it.

I believe we have to come together as a team and that's where it is right now. Although it's not going the way anyone would like it to, the response, which is a continuous response, must be strong.

There is only one way forward. We have to learn from all the events that have occurred, but there is one way forward.

Q. Q.

CHRYST: Each week you've got to play — you get to play a game, and I thought there were some moments in practice, like every week, that was good, and there's some things in practice that you're glad it's practice and you're glad to keep going.

Then, you can play the game together. We didn't do enough today for a chance at winning.

Q. Q.Paul, where are your emotions right now? Would you like to share with us?

CHRYST I've been playing this game for a while and it's something I respect about the game. Do you want to become better? Absolutely. You just need to be focused on the things you can do to move the needle, help our assistant coaches and players.

We knew going in — and been fortunate to be around and having coached a long time — it's never easy. It wasn't going to be easy. But I believe in this group, and I like them. I admire their approach and where they come from. Every day I get to spend time with them is a joy.

We get to be together again and we have to continue to work.

Q. You mentioned the response. You mentioned response. If you look at the touchdown drive in the first few minutes, you're up. Your defense forces a punt. You start at your 3, but you're already in good shape. Is it possible that the momentum was shifted in Illinois' favor by the interception? Do you think that your players weren't able, at least partially, to respond and turn the tide in your favor from that point?

CHRYST: There's no question I think that was one where the — not just the pick, but the yards after on it. It suddenly goes where we are backed up, and we throw it and get a good return. Now it's a short field. That's what I believe.

We have to be a team. A group that can answer the questions when it happens. And I thought there was another time when we came back, and the offensive answered a score by scoring. That's what you — that's kind of how you have to play, complementary.

There will always be momentum swings in every game that we play. I believe that's part and parcel of what great teams can do. If you want to win every Saturday, you have to be able handle those ebbs, flows, and momentum swings.

There are very few games where momentum doesn't shift. That's why an individual, group, or unit has to seize that moment. We've got it. Here's how to stop the momentum. We didn't do enough today.

Q. Q.

CHRYST Our trainer came by quickly and said that Keontez was back on field. So I'm hopeful but I don't really know. Rucci and Isaac are definitely on the list. I don't know what to do about that one.

Q. Q.Paul, are you able to attribute some of the penalties, special teams miscues, and drops to a lack focus? What's your opinion?

CHRYST: I didn't think that — okay, big miscue was the drop on the kickoff return. None of me believes Isaac Guerendo is just I'm going here, I just came out, and they didn't kick to me. I don't believe that.

There's a guy I love that does everything, and it's the first one that I can remember him dropping.

And I understand what you're asking, but I don't believe — I think every guy takes the field with the right intentions going in. Is that something our guys should be pressing? That's a question I don't have the answer to. There is a fine line, and I believe there is. You have to be able play the game and be able take advantage of opportunities that come your way.

The fine line is that those who press are men who want to do whatever they can for the team. That's dangerous because you still have a job and you get to enjoy the game. It's a reactive game. You need to be ready to capitalize on opportunities that come your way.

I don't know and, to be fair to our men, I'd like to see everything before I speak on that. But I do know some people who are so eloquent that you wish it wouldn’t happen. No one is more upset than the person that it does.

And every time something like that happens, we still always have — I think there was a response off of that, but it makes it harder. It certainly makes it more difficult.