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Patchick started this thread prior to the 2008 draft. Instead of resurrecting the whole thread, I’ve just updated the portion on the research I did on the players who could be considered coming from the “pipeline”. In previous years, I had reviewed the Pats picks strictly in terms of Saban because his was the only name being mentioned as part of the "pipeline." I did some more research and have now included the likes of Urban Meyer, Pat Hill, Kirk Ferentz, and Charlie Weis to this list. It was made know to me that Hill and Ferentz were on the Browns staff with BB, so I have updated those two in particular.
In the past, I have felt that the "pipeline" theory was a myth and, well, it kind of is if you just look at Saban or just players from teams that the coaches have coached. However, when you look at it from a broader perspective of whether or not the pipeline coaches might be giving the Patriots information on players their teams have played against, there is clearly something to be said. And that is that the BB and his staff DO rely on the “pipeline coaches” for information.
Here are the picks that Saban either coached or coached against (Bold are players who have contributed to the Patriots) prior to his joining Miami:
Jarvis Green, Rohan Davey, TJ Turner, Greg Robinson-Randall, Marquise Hill, Ben Watson, Guss Scott, David Givens, Matt Light, Cedric Cobbs, Brock Williams, Jabari Holloway, Tom Brady, and David Nugent.
Since Saban returned to the college ranks, here are the picks he might have had insight on because he coached against them: Jerod Mayo - Tennessee and Jonathan Wilhite - Auburn.
The Patriots have not drafted anyone that Saban has coached since he returned to the college ranks.
Saban could have had a hand in on Eric Alexander and Randall Gay, UDFA, as well.
For the purpose of this post and to keep it in line with other posts on the subject I've done, I am including players came directly from teams or who the coach's team played against. Players in RED mean that more than one coach in the pipeline have seen them play.
Pat Hill - (Started in 1997 at Fresno State.)
Logan Mankins and James Sanders - Fresno State, Clint Oldenburg - Colorado State, Daniel Graham – Colorado, TJ Turner – Michigan State, Ryan Claridge - UNLV, Justin Rogers - SMU
Charlie Weis (Started in 2005 at Notre Dame)
Mike Richardson - Notre Dame , Shawn Crable- Michigan, Jerod Mayo - Tennessee, Matt Cassel - USC, Dan Stevenson - Notre Dame, Oscar Lua, USC, Matt Slater - UCLA,
Kirk Ferentz - (Started at Iowa in 1998.)
Mike Elgin - Iowa, Ellis Hobbs - Iowa State, David Thomas- Texas, Shawn Crable - Michigan, Laurence Maroney - Minnesota, Eugene Wilson – Illinois, Matt Light – Purdue, Tom Brady – Michigan, J.R. Redmond – AZ State, Greg Robinson Randall – Michigan State, David Nugent – Purdue, Christian Morton – Illinois, Guss Scott – Florida, Marquis Hill - LSU
Urban Meyer - (Utah & Florida , Not sure when he and BB became friends)
Chad Jackson - Florida, Jeremy Mincey - Florida, Mike Elgin - Iowa, Jerod Mayo - Tennessee, Jonathan Wilhite - Auburn, Shawn Crable - Michigan
What I find interesting is that Shawn Crable, Jerod Mayo, and Jonathan Wilhite show up on the list of at least 2 coaches.
What is also interesting is the number of players that Kirk Ferentz could have had input on. Its as many as Nick Saban.
Something to keep in mind is that these coaches are probably feeding information to the Pats on a lot more players than this. They are probably feeding both positive and negative to the Pats. Which probably influences who, in particular, they stay away from. So this is really just the tip of the iceberg.
In the past, I have felt that the "pipeline" theory was a myth and, well, it kind of is if you just look at Saban or just players from teams that the coaches have coached. However, when you look at it from a broader perspective of whether or not the pipeline coaches might be giving the Patriots information on players their teams have played against, there is clearly something to be said. And that is that the BB and his staff DO rely on the “pipeline coaches” for information.
Here are the picks that Saban either coached or coached against (Bold are players who have contributed to the Patriots) prior to his joining Miami:
Jarvis Green, Rohan Davey, TJ Turner, Greg Robinson-Randall, Marquise Hill, Ben Watson, Guss Scott, David Givens, Matt Light, Cedric Cobbs, Brock Williams, Jabari Holloway, Tom Brady, and David Nugent.
Since Saban returned to the college ranks, here are the picks he might have had insight on because he coached against them: Jerod Mayo - Tennessee and Jonathan Wilhite - Auburn.
The Patriots have not drafted anyone that Saban has coached since he returned to the college ranks.
Saban could have had a hand in on Eric Alexander and Randall Gay, UDFA, as well.
For the purpose of this post and to keep it in line with other posts on the subject I've done, I am including players came directly from teams or who the coach's team played against. Players in RED mean that more than one coach in the pipeline have seen them play.
Pat Hill - (Started in 1997 at Fresno State.)
Logan Mankins and James Sanders - Fresno State, Clint Oldenburg - Colorado State, Daniel Graham – Colorado, TJ Turner – Michigan State, Ryan Claridge - UNLV, Justin Rogers - SMU
Charlie Weis (Started in 2005 at Notre Dame)
Mike Richardson - Notre Dame , Shawn Crable- Michigan, Jerod Mayo - Tennessee, Matt Cassel - USC, Dan Stevenson - Notre Dame, Oscar Lua, USC, Matt Slater - UCLA,
Kirk Ferentz - (Started at Iowa in 1998.)
Mike Elgin - Iowa, Ellis Hobbs - Iowa State, David Thomas- Texas, Shawn Crable - Michigan, Laurence Maroney - Minnesota, Eugene Wilson – Illinois, Matt Light – Purdue, Tom Brady – Michigan, J.R. Redmond – AZ State, Greg Robinson Randall – Michigan State, David Nugent – Purdue, Christian Morton – Illinois, Guss Scott – Florida, Marquis Hill - LSU
Urban Meyer - (Utah & Florida , Not sure when he and BB became friends)
Chad Jackson - Florida, Jeremy Mincey - Florida, Mike Elgin - Iowa, Jerod Mayo - Tennessee, Jonathan Wilhite - Auburn, Shawn Crable - Michigan
What I find interesting is that Shawn Crable, Jerod Mayo, and Jonathan Wilhite show up on the list of at least 2 coaches.
What is also interesting is the number of players that Kirk Ferentz could have had input on. Its as many as Nick Saban.
Something to keep in mind is that these coaches are probably feeding information to the Pats on a lot more players than this. They are probably feeding both positive and negative to the Pats. Which probably influences who, in particular, they stay away from. So this is really just the tip of the iceberg.
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