NFL Draft 2011: Mark Ingram Set To Visit With New England Patriots

According to the Boston Herald, and confirmed by Mark Ingram's Twitter account, the former Heisman Trophy running back is set to visit Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots sometime this week.

The Alabama running back is projected to be a first-round selection, and the Patriots have three picks in the top 33—so they'll have some chances at drafting the guy.

As of late, there have been some concerns about Ingram's surgically repaired knee, and that could cause Ingram's draft stock to fall a bit and even knock him out of the first round.

If the Patriots determine this week that Ingram's knee is indeed healthy, will Bill Belichick pull the trigger and draft him with one of his top 33 picks?

What kind of "wrinkles" would Ingram bring to New England's offense?

Strengths

Standing in at 5'10" and weighing 215 lbs., Ingram has the ideal frame for an NFL running back.

Ingram was a standout at Alabama, as he was the Heisman Trophy winner in 2009. He leaves Alabama with 3,261 career rushing yards over three seasons and scored a total of 42 touchdowns—17 coming in his award-winning season. 

Ingram's running style is ideal—he gives the hit rather than absorbing the hit. He runs with great vision and is very patient at letting blocks develop, and once there's a hole, Ingram accelerates into the second layer of the defense.

He runs with a great center of gravity and stays very low to the ground, which causes defenders to struggle when tackling the 215-pounder.

Ingram is definitely a well-rounded back, as he can beat defenders to the corner and has no problem running between the tackles. Also, Ingram is a satisfactory receiver—he's caught 60 passes and has a career average of 11.2 yards per reception.

One of the key attributes that the New England Patriots look for is ball security, and Ingram is one of the best.

When all is said and done, his style of play will translate well into the NFL, if he's healthy.

Weaknesses

Ingram's speed is not elite. He's not fast—he's "game fast."

Another minor weakness that Ingram has that he must improve is his pass-blocking skills. If Ingram wants to be a key member in New England's offense, he must learn how to pass-protect for quarterback Tom Brady.

Conclusion

There's nothing to make out of New England's visit with Ingram. Each NFL team is allowed 30 visits with draft prospects, and there's really nothing to them—especially when you're dealing with Belichick. 

However, if Ingram was to be drafted by the Patriots, he'd definitely be great support for Brady and would be much needed to take some pressure off the 2010 MVP.

Each and every pick Belichick and company try to trade, unless someone is available that they've had their eyes on for a while. The Patriots will sit there until the final minute waiting for other teams to call in and trade for that current pick; if there's no call, the Patriots will select the best available player with the most value.

So essentially, if Ingram is the best player available at 17th, 28th or 33rd overall, Belichick will not pass him up.

This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.