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Iowa / Stanford updates

I have no idea what was done so far to decide the current line up. But, nothing about the Brands leads me to believe nepotism is any kind of a factor. I will happily defer to any insider input, but I would be very shocked if guys are getting the better of Nelson in the room and he is still getting the starts….
Most people know that, but are understandably frustrated by how bad Nelson has looked in his first two matches.
 
Most people know that, but are understandably frustrated by how bad Nelson has looked in his first two matches.
I get that. But, what were the coaches supposed to do? Not start him because his style isn’t entertaining?

Look, I want the best guys on the mat when it matters as much as anyone does. I just don’t leap to judgement in November, especially when it comes to starting a returning AA over freshmen or a guy like Kennedy who simply hasn’t got it done at NCAA’s.

With that said, I REALLY hope they all end up in the same weight class at the Soldier Salute and one guy can visibly separate himself from the rest…
 
I think Brands at 174 is a bad call.

But I also think it will work itself out. It’s 11/9.
Brands did a great job peaking in March a couple years ago. Definitely think the starts should be 50/50 between him and kennedy. Gabe seems to be solid at 84
 
Brands did a great job peaking in March a couple years ago. Definitely think the starts should be 50/50 between him and kennedy. Gabe seems to be solid at 84
Wonder if PK took a little bit of a break from peaking for U23s and will be available for SS and rest of season.
 
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Tom's comments on KXIC:

Re Ayala: Gotta create opportunities--make the most of little snippets of opportunities. Can't roll around with guys that roll around.

Re Block: Didn't go to him until there was a minute left.

Re Caliendo: Attitude & hustle. Being down 9-2 isn't as bad as 9-2 used to be (due to 3-point TDs). He needed to wake up that left foot.

Re Nelson: He went out a little bit asleep.
 
We didn't see Peterson but unless he really surprises 125 will be a maybe qualify and no points.

Drake stinks at scrambling, you better protect your legs and get to your shots if that's the case. There are a lot better guys than this guy, no weight cutting excuses this year. Definitely not a title contender at this point.

Block has never had much of a go to shot. 141 is in a similar boat as 125.

Parco, Teemer and Buchanan all look good. Thankfully they learned how to scramble and finish before getting here.

Garvin has always had a gas tank problem, I could tell he wasn't going to last at the end of the first. Announcer talking about him dreaming of wrestling for Iowa. It was his choice to go elsewhere, Iowa didn't pass on him.
I wasn't too concerned with Brands after last week but now two matches and zero take downs. What really concerns me is previously he was a bull when he got in on someone, today he had nothing, no horsepower.

Gabe did what he should vs an average guy

Kueter got there eventually but I would like to see him get a go to shot. Also the body lock is there but he is very hesitant to use it. His opponent today was bad, the ISU true freshman about made him quit from exhaustion.

Any thoughts about potentially challenging PSU can be tucked back away. It's not happening.
 
Brands did a great job peaking in March a couple years ago. Definitely think the starts should be 50/50 between him and kennedy. Gabe seems to be solid at 84
Or he squeaked out a nail biter against a lower seeded opponent, then won a few 1 td matches in favorable match-ups to place. Nothing I've seen before or since convinces me that's not his ceiling again but only if the stars align.
 
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Good matches by the six who won, including Caliendo.

It's early, but Ayala has shown he's still prone to inconsistent performances, as he has been his prior three seasons. I'm disappointed but not shocked.

Block is only two matches into his collegiate career, but so far he's not looking like I hoped a 2-time Fargo champ would look. I hoped he would look as good as Stanford's RS freshmen looked today (Knox & Norman). Hope for the best, I guess.

As for Nelson Brands, he's looking very much like a guy whose goal is not to cap his career by winning an NCAA title, but to coast comfortably into another top-6 finish while enjoying his new marriage and grad school. Not only has he not improved since two years ago, he has lost a step. It's actually hard to tell how many steps he's lost, because he has barely taken a shot.

I know many of you are on the "wait-and-see-give-him-a-chance-it's-still-early" train. Personally, I'm on the "you're-a-seventh-year-senior-in-a-competitive-weight-class-who-has-looked-like-crap-for-your-first-two-matches-of-the-season-and-you-should-be-benched-in-favor-of-Kennedy" train. And I don't think I'm getting off that train unless maybe he majors Kennedy at Soldier Salute. But you're welcome to stay on the train that suits you.
 
Good matches by the six who won, including Caliendo.

It's early, but Ayala has shown he's still prone to inconsistent performances, as he has been his prior three seasons. I'm disappointed but not shocked.

Block is only two matches into his collegiate career, but so far he's not looking like I hoped a 2-time Fargo champ would look. I hoped he would look as good as Stanford's RS freshmen looked today (Knox & Norman). Hope for the best, I guess.

As for Nelson Brands, he's looking very much like a guy whose goal is not to cap his career by winning an NCAA title, but to coast comfortably into another top-6 finish while enjoying his new marriage and grad school. Not only has he not improved since two years ago, he has lost a step. It's actually hard to tell how many steps he's lost, because he has barely taken a shot.

I know many of you are on the "wait-and-see-give-him-a-chance-it's-still-early" train. Personally, I'm on the "you're-a-seventh-year-senior-in-a-competitive-weight-class-who-has-looked-like-crap-for-your-first-two-matches-of-the-season-and-you-should-be-benched-in-favor-of-Kennedy" train. And I don't think I'm getting off that train unless maybe he majors Kennedy at Soldier Salute. But you're welcome to stay on the train that suits you.
100 percent.
 
I love what we see when we recruit athletes — Parco, Teemer, Caliendo, Arnold, Buchanan, and Keuter are all athletes. They will also be hard to beat.

These kids didn’t learn how to scramble before they came to Iowa at their other programs — these skills were about of their tool set for years.

The reason these kids are going to excel in our room is because know they are in top shape. A skilled athlete in great shape is scary good.

As for 74/84 — I love Gabe Arnold but he needs to be at 74. I fear his athleticism will be wasted when he goes out against the top 84 pounders.

I say drop him to 74 and let Ferrari and Brands battle it out for 84. Arnold/Ferrari or Kennedy/Ferrari are the options I would love to see.
 
I'm not worried at 33...Drake has to learn not to shoot into another guy's wheelhouse and that kid is a vary good scrambler. For example, look at how Teemer wrestled their 157...kid is a big move guy and not afraid to pull the trigger at all. Teemer stayed away and got in where he could completely finish. Same thing at 65...I think we spent too much time up high giving away body locks. Garvin is as tough as they come in the first period.

At 141, Valencia is a killer...just finishes and stays in great position. Also is a guy that translates in both styles. I think he'll finish high this year. I think once Block learns to use his length, he'll be ok.

At 174, Brands needs to sh*t or get off the pot. I also think their 174 is a guy that will surprise a few folks but yea...Can't be doing the zombie walk in the last 10 secs trying to score.
 
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