2011 NFL Draft: How Dante Scarnecchia Lets Patriots Draft Mark Ingram at No. 17

Dante Scarnecchia is the Patriots' long term wily veteran offensive line coach that has turned wrestler projects into All-Pro starters like Nick Kazur and Steven Vollmer into versatile impact players as rookies. He has also let the Patriots take a guard on the first round in Logan Mankins and have him turn into an all world guard.

Scarnecchia lets the Patriots roll the dice for a great running back because he will do his magic and reshuffle the offensive line to get the best out of his players as individuals and a cohesive group. He encourages them to support run blocking, the preferred lineman approach of being aggressive versus defensive on pass blocking. Last year, his approach was calmly positive to get BenJarvus and Danny Woodhead unleashed on other teams, despite being low ranked players in the draft and in NFL ratings.

This fits in with protecting Tom Brady by running more as well as realizing his best years may be behind him since he has recently had end-of-season nagging injuries, a sure sign of wearing down. A great stud running back, which former Alabama star Mark Ingram has the potential to be, can give the Patriots a real shot at the Super Bowl again by keeping the team healthy and strong for the final playoff run. Ingram can be critical in keeping Brady healthy while Scarnecchia gets his lineup to speed to support that effort.

Few things benefit a defense more than being kept off the field by long running back oriented drives, especially against the elite teams where it really matters. Ingram can give the Patriots the fire power and Scarnecchia lead the charge to do the tough run blocking. This will let Woodhead and BenJarvus to come in fresh as a change of pace and give Ingram needed rest as well.

Curtis Martin was the last young stud running back the Patriots had, except for the tragic accident to Robert Edwards that kept his greatness confined to one season. Corey Dillon brought it again but as a running back on the back nine of his career. I can still remember the roar of fan appreciation when he made two yards on his first run because, normally, a running back would have been stopped for a small loss or no gain. Corey commented on appreciating that support because it was such a tough grind-it-out run. Mark Ingram can do the same.

To see Scarnecchia's great coaching attitude and skill, one incident stood out for me against the Panthers in the second quarter of that Super Bowl, where almost no scoring happened in the first 25 minutes of the game.

NFL films shows him encouraging his players to keep the offense on the field so the Defense could rest for the needed push at the end of the game. He stressed protecting their All-World quarterback.

He calmly tells his offensive line, "We need the best blocking you can do. There isn't a heck of a lot I can say you are doing wrong." No screamer looking for the quick impact; a calm reasoned way to keep his line together, focused, proud of their efforts, and not waste emotion in the second quarter. On the defensive line you see and hear some Patriots coaches yelling, getting emotional, and the like. Did it help? It may have.

But the offensive line is about calm teamwork while the defensive line is about disruptive behavior. Scarnecchia is perfectly tuned to that requirement for an offensive Line coach.

And if the Patriots do draft Ingram, Scarnecchia is just the kind of coach that may be able to calmly get Logan Mankins head back into the game after his disappointments. The same attitude might get Matt Light to stick around.

Big upside. As one reader said when I was pushing Ingram as a draft choice, "Great upside; could be a great disappointment." A couple of others said, "We have bigger needs."

Maybe, maybe. But it feels like this is the year to roll the dice since we have a late 20s pick and one at the top of the second round. No certainty. But that's why we put "our trust in Bill."

The Patriots aren't going to get another Brady any more than Denver got another John Elway or Dallas another Troy Aikman. They occasionally got good ones, but not the real deal.

As in military campaigns, you need to take calculated gambles from time to time to win big. Yes, the Patriots might be safer with a big pass rusher, but a stud running back could help the Patriots roll the table again.

At a minimum, it would make for a great season for the fans.