If there is a down-side to having a still-young, undefeated four-time champ, and offensive juggernaut as a workout partner, could it be that it tends to make you a more defensive wrestler? Varner is the best defensive wrestler in college, but that style caught up with him on Saturday night. Is he that way in part because he spends his practices staving off attacks from one of the best offensive wrestlers ever?

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Originally Posted by ISU2008

I think part of the reason he has such great defense is that he does go against Cael. But, I'm sure it's not just Cael drilling TDs and Varner drilling defense. I believe that they will focus (have to focus) on getting Varner's offense better. You know what they say, defense wins championships, but they also say, the best defense is a good offense.

I'll say this, Varner was 5 seconds away from winning nationals with his limited offense, if he focuses on that during the offseason, he will be a beast.

If he focuses on that, he'll get out slickered every year. Varner better take a listen from Metcalf and pick up the intensity level a few notches. Right now he's shows less action than the heavies.

His style is horrendous. Did he even attempt a legitimate shot during that match? For that matter, did Pucillo? If either of them did it must have been when I nodded off. Seems like Varner is a bigger version of Dustin Schlatter. When you wrestle that many close matches, eventually it catches up to you. Thankfully there were guys like Metcalf and Jenkins who actually tried to score points in the finals.

It's very difficult to be a great defensive wrestler and a great offensive wrestler. It's kind of like, if you want to be very aggressive and be offensive, you have to sacrifice some position, which takes away from your great defense. So, you could conceivably do them at separate times depending on the situation/mood, but I think it would be nearly impossible to be as defensively dominant as he is now and also be an offensive wrestler.

I am a big varner critic, not a big fan, but the way he lost saturday rubbed me the wrong way. He may not have tried any leg attacks, but he was trying his shrugs and upper body manuevers whereas pucillo REALLY did nothing at all. I don't think it is a fair way to determine who the best wrestler is by having one more second of riding time...does anyone else feel that that is a crappy way to end a match? Especially one of that magnitude.

is he going to move up or stay and try to out do Jake Herbert next year?

Originally Posted by vaisforlovers

I am a big varner critic, not a big fan, but the way he lost saturday rubbed me the wrong way. He may not have tried any leg attacks, but he was trying his shrugs and upper body manuevers whereas pucillo REALLY did nothing at all. I don't think it is a fair way to determine who the best wrestler is by having one more second of riding time...does anyone else feel that that is a crappy way to end a match? Especially one of that magnitude.

It is definitely a crappy way to see any match end. I mean, it sure does get the adrenaline rushing for the fans, but it's not really very fair. With that said, I don't really know a better way to do it. I guess it's better than watching them circle for 2 more hours until someone gets a TD or a stall point. Anyone have any ideas for the rules committee?

Originally Posted by NUwildcats

is he going to move up or stay and try to out do Jake Herbert next year?

I don't know that either Varner or Pucillo will be able to handle Herbert next year, but I hope they Pucillo is. Also, I imagine it would be pretty tough for Varner to make 184 again--he looked huge compared to Pucillo out there. It's really kind of hard to believe they are in the same weight class.