While most of our tech notes focus on upcoming matches, in the case of Adam Coon's recent 3-1 decision win over Kyle Snyder, it is important to take a look back at what, exactly, happened between the heavyweight rivals this past weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In a certain sense, this edition of tech notes is a preview if you consider that Snyder, an Ohio State senior, and Coon, a senior at Michigan, will more than likely be the last two heavyweights standing at both Big Tens and NCAAs. 

It’s difficult to express just how infinitesimally the small the windows of opportunity are when you’re at the level of Snyder and Coon, who have now swapped the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the 285lb rankings. The entire match hinged on two very specific positions.

Kyle Snyder Didn't Clear Ties

Before everyone starts a five-alarm fire sale of Snyder stock, let’s keep in mind a few things. 

Coon is one of the biggest people I’ve ever stood beside. (Granted, I'm not Nomad when it comes to sizing people up. However, I think I have a fair amount of experience.) Snyder just won the Yarygin… again. Also, Snyder has been training with Turkish world champion Taha Akgul. Those things may seem unrelated, but make no mistake, they can have a dramatic effect on the way that you wrestle and the way that you prepare. 

One thing that Snyder has been able to do better than anyone in the world over the last few years is clear collar ties. His over-tie snap is second to none; however, it was largely ineffective against Coon. 

I’m certainly not insinuating that because Snyder took a tour overseas and has been training with Akgul that he has suddenly lost his over-tie snap. I will say that when you get into a habit of wrestling and reacting a certain way for a certain amount of time it takes a little while to change the habit — longer than the seven minutes allotted to beat Coon.

Take a look at this two-minute go between Snyder and Akgul. Count how often Akgul keeps his hands in the position of a collar tie for more than a two count. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t happen. 

When you spend the better part of two months dealing with people like Akgul and the Russians that Snyder had to go through to win his second straightt Yarygin title, you get used to a certain pace of hand fighting. 

When you have a giant like Coon pulling on your ears with every bit of 285lb, let’s just say that the change in pace is significant. That is more than likely the reason Snyder had such a hard time getting to Coon’s ankles. 

Coon Got His Hands Locked

Yup, that’s it. It’s that simple. Coon has not been able to lock his hands around Snyder’s back once in their previous meeting. Every other time that the two wound up chest-to-chest Coon would dig in and try and jack Snyder up enough to get his hands locked, but Snyder was always able to punch the underhook, pivot, and in some instances even turn the position into an offensive one for him. 

Watch here as Coon makes three serious attempts to lock his hands around Snyder's back in the 2016 Big Ten finals and how Snyder evades the situation. In the last exchange, Coon starts by taking a leg attack, and as he gets his hands locked he immediately gets heavy on the overhook side and runs Snyder toward the line where he doesn’t have a chance to scramble out. 

Don't be surprised if the NCAA finals go in weight order, because the 285lb weight class just got far more interesting.