Quick Quotes Week 9: Previewing Wisconsin
10/23/2019 11:51:16 AM | Football
Greg Mattison, Co-Defensive Coordinator
On Wisconsin’s offense and why it’s so effective:
They’re very well coached. This is a very good coaching staff. They do an outstanding job. They recruit big, strong players up front for their system, and now they got some great skill with it. They’re just a very talented team and a very well-coached coached team, and they’ll play extremely hard.
On how Day has evolved as a head coach:
I don’t know how he’s evolved. He’s just good. He’s really good. He comes in everyday, I don’t care who we’re playing, where you are in your season, he’s the same guy. He expects us to do a great job. He does a great job. He’s very true to his players. He expects his players to continue to be great characters, great in the classroom, and great on the football field. He demands that, and nothing has changed since the first day until now.
Tommy Togiai, DT
On facing Wisconsin’s run game and running back Jonathan Taylor:
I think we’re really excited to just have this type of competition with the back that he is and the o-line they have. They’re a really good o-line and he’s a strong, physical back. I think this game will come down to the front seven, linebackers, and d-line.
On what it takes to be successful as a defensive tackle:
You can have all the attributes in the world, but if your technique’s not good with what we’ve been taught here with Coach J then you’re not going to be a successful player.
Tuf Borland, LB
On stopping the run and importance of the guys up front:
Any time you play behind a great defensive line like that, it makes your job easier. They’re always in the backfield being disruptive, knocking the line back. They’re awesome.
On proving themselves on defense against Wisconsin:
I think every week, especially this week, is a week to come out and prove what you can do. Obviously they’re very talented, have great players, and are great offensively and defensively. Anytime you get a chance to come out and compete against a team like this, you have to come out and show up.
Robert Landers, DL
On wanting a challenge:
There’s always that element because you work so hard throughout the week, and the amount of time in the film room, the amount of time and banging that we put on our bodies in practice to get to the game and compete at a high level. Of course you yearn for that competitiveness. Especially for us here from the start of practice until the end of practice, it’s nonstop competition. When you get to the game, you appreciate the work and the preparation that went into it. That competitive excellence in all of us, of course you want to play the full game.
On confidence going into a close game situation:
We always say when adversity hits, you always need and you’re going to revert back to your training. Your level of capacity that you trained at on a Tuesday and a Wednesday practice will show up in the fourth quarter.
Justin Fields, QB
On what impresses him about KJ Hill:
He’s definitely easy to read. I worked with him a lot in the summer and off-season, so I definitely know where he’s going to be at all times. He’s very smart. I think he’s one of the smarter receivers we have when it comes to finding those zones and finding those places where the defenders are. He’s really good at doing that and he’s really good at route running. He’s just a great all-around receiver.
On reading defenses and protection:
As soon as I got here Coach Day emphasized the protection, so I worked really hard on that right when I got here.
I think the o-line and I are on the same page, and I think we see defenses well, and we see who’s coming and who’s not. As long as we’re on the same page and I know who they’re blocking and who I have to account for, I think we should be good going into the future.
Branden Bowen, OL
On going against a tough defense in Wisconsin:
They look like a great defense. They’re disciplined, they’re energetic, they’re all these things you want in a number one defense. I have a lot of respect for them.
On Wisconsin’s loss to Illinois:
I was surprised. It just teaches you that you have to go into every game with the same discipline and the same mindset that everyone is going to give you their best shot. Us and Wisconsin and the bigger names in the Big Ten, all the other schools are going to come for your head. They’re all going to want a piece of what you got.
KJ Hill, WR
On how much more dangerous Wisconsin is after losing to Illinois:
They’re going to come in here and try to prove something. They’re a tough team already, but I feel like after a loss this practice week has been different for them. We know that as a team, so we try to out-practice them each day.
On Brian Hartline:
What makes him good is he’s done it before. He wouldn’t put us in the position that he knew when he was a player that he didn’t want to be in. We all follow him, and he helps us prepare the right way as a pro. He takes a pro approach to everything.
Pete Werner, LB
On what the defense is keyed on besides Wisconsin’s run game:
Other than the running back, we’re seeing the best of what we’ve seen so far as receivers and offensive line and even quarterback. The quarterback has been doing really well this year. Us linebackers are more focused on the offensive line, not necessarily the receivers. They’re physical, all of them are over 300 pounds and aren’t scared to put you in the ground and we take that into account.
Malik Harrison, LB
On facing a physical team:
The way that we practice is always physical. Coach Washington is a physical guy, so if he doesn’t see you playing physical then he’s going to call you out, and that’s just going to keep you going and going.
