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Discussion Topic: MN Coaching Philosophy - Impact on C.P. and Dustin
Ethan Moore added to this discussion on July 15, 2007
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It is obvious that MN is a top 5, perhaps a top 2, program in the country. It is also obvious that the stable of coaches and workout partners Coach Robinson has assembled is amazing.
That out of the way, I am curious about their strategy with C.P. and Dustin last year.
I remember Dustin and C.P. as two of the most impressive offensive machines in Ohio history, always looking to score no matter the situation or opponent. For this reason I was mystified watching the two of them clam up in situations that screamed for offense throughout last season. C.P. is a national champ in waiting. Even in matches he loses he is usually in control early in the match, when on the offensive, only to let people back in the match by blocking and refusing to go on the offense the entire third period.
Since I don't recall these two wrestling in this form before their arrival in MN, was this a strategy the coaches employ? To get a lead and then to protect at all cost?
Or is there something deeper in play here? Perhaps wrestling the likes of Becker and Lawrence in the room has lead to a lack of offensive confidence?
I know it is almost impossble to criticize the MN coaching staff, since they are coming off a National Title, but I was confused watching two noted offensive MACHINES clam up in crunch time.
I truly felt for C.P. when he lost in the nationals last year. I thought he was clearly the better wrestler. If he opens up he is a national champ.
Thoughts? Opinions?
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Discussion Topic: MN Coaching Philosophy - Impact on C.P. and Dustin
Chris Shepherd added to this discussion on July 15, 2007
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I agree wholeheartedly and was wondering exactly the same thing throughout the season last year. Anyone know why?
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Discussion Topic: MN Coaching Philosophy - Impact on C.P. and Dustin
Ken Ramsey Sr. added to this discussion on July 15, 2007
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Ethan:
In college each weight class has 8-10 in each weight class capable of winning and another 10-12 in each weight class that could upset the top guys if everything goes right for them. Most college wrestlers are so sound defensively that they are able to shut down even the best wrestlers most of the time and this tends to frustrate even the best of the offensive wrestlers. College matches usually come down to the second and third periods and if you are not sound on top/bottom you can be easily beat. Wrestlers who were great high school champions tend to be so good on their feet that they have not developed the top/bottom skills that a good wrestler who is not so offensive on his feet and has had to develope his mat skills to win in high school. This is why you see many good high school wrestlers develope into great college wrestlers, while the great wrestlers sometime tend to struggle for a few years until they develope the needed mat skills. C.P. tends to fit in this group. Dustin however seems to be a more rounded wrestler who may have been suffering injuries this year that slowed him down.
See if you can remember a great explosive offensive wrestler in high school, who also didn't do much mat wrestling, and went to college, started as a freshman and was a big winner immediately. Not many.
Most the ones I can name were also great mat wrestlers. Fried, Heskett, Rowlands, Sanderson, to name a few. The lone exception I can remember to this was Randleman.
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Discussion Topic: MN Coaching Philosophy - Impact on C.P. and Dustin
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on July 16, 2007
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Mr Ramsey--Thanks for a great post that's loaded with insight. I think it's as well thought out as any post ever written on the topic of hs vs college wrestling.
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Discussion Topic: MN Coaching Philosophy - Impact on C.P. and Dustin
Mark Viviani added to this discussion on July 19, 2007
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Wasnt dustin wrestling with a hurt knee?
Probally a possible reason why he was wrestling more defensively.
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Discussion Topic: MN Coaching Philosophy - Impact on C.P. and Dustin
Aaron LaBatt added to this discussion on July 20, 2007
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Yeah I believe he had a partially torn ACL in his knee, impressive
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