EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the seventh part of a nine-part series previewing the 73rd annual National Football League draft of college players. Today, the defensive linemen are previewed.

FOXBORO - Years ago, when the world was a more innocent place, defensive ends were defensive ends and tackles were tackles.

That certainly won't be how Bill Belichick will be looking at the crop of defensive linemen in this year's NFL Draft, particularly the ends. In many cases, when the Patriots' coach sees a defensive end, he's actually seeing a pass-rushing outside linebacker in his 3-4 alignment.

Much has been made of how Belichick never drafts linebackers above the last few rounds, and that's true. He's been much more comfortable finding them through free agency, coming to the Patriots with some experience and seasoning under their belts.

The other time-tested way of getting an outside linebacker for a 3-4 scheme is to draft a productive collegiate defensive end and convert him into a stand-up pass-rusher. That was the path that Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest took to the NFL, and Belichick certainly wouldn't be upset if, sometime after 4 p.m. Saturday, he found himself being given the opportunity to take Ohio State's Vernon Gholston down that same road. Belichick has the No. 7 pick in the first round, and there's a chance that Gholston (6-3, 266; 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash) will be available to the Patriots at that selection. Dominant in the Big Ten over the past two seasons with 23 sacks and 29 more tackles for losses, Gholston looks every bit the part of a potentially dominant pro, but will need some measure of instruction to pick up the nuances of playing outside linebacker at the next level.

Unfortunately, the top defensive end/outside linebacker prospect will be long gone before the Patriots come up. Virginia's Chris Long (6-31/4, 274; 4.79) is the son of former Raider Howie Long, and the apple didn't fall far from the tree. He has the physical size and strength, the fundamentals and the mental toughness to follow in his father's footsteps, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he's off the draft board before the third pick.

Beyond that, there are other collegiate defensive ends that might be of value to the Patriots if they can be successfully converted into edge rushers.

Wake Forest's Jeremy Thompson (6-41/4, 264; 4.76) had a strong Combine workout and has already displayed the ability to drop back in coverage despite playing end for the Demon Deacons. Eastern Michigan's Jason Jones (6-5, 273; 4.8) played more interior tackle than end as a collegian, but worked out at the Combine as an OLB and showed an aptitude for the position. Both are more likely to be available as the Patriots will be considering their late second-round pick (No. 62) and their early third-rounder (No. 69).

If Belichick is looking for a more traditional defensive end that can back up Richard Seymour or Ty Warren, there are plenty of opportunities for him to add one after the first round.

Florida's Derrick Harvey (6-41/2, 271; 4.89) has explosive first-step quickness, is tenacious in pursuit and has the frame to get bigger without losing a step. Clemson's Phillip Merling (6-4, 276; 4.8) has shown the athleticism to break off a rush and recover to stop a runner in his tracks. Both will be gone late in the first round, and might be a New England target if Belichick swings a deal to move down from No. 7.

Southern Cal's Lawrence Jackson (6-5, 268; 4.91), a larger player who might be versatile enough to make the move to linebacker as McGinest did, and Miami's Calais Campbell (6-73/4, 290; 5.09), who may be a "project" because of his size and raw, unpolished abilities, are possibilities at the Patriots' second and third picks.

Other defensive ends worth considering are Iowa's Kenny Iwebema, Hampton's Kendall Langford, West Virginia's Johnny Dingle, TCU's Chase Ortiz and Buffalo's Trevor Scott.

The Patriots already have one of the strongest end-to-end defensive line corps in the NFL, but they could benefit from finding another backup to nose tackle Vince Wilfork or a trusted reserve in the Jarvis Green vein.

LSU's Glenn Dorsey (6-11/2, 297, 5.0) is the top-rated interior tackle, but he doesn't have the bulk or stopping power to become a Wilfork-like nose. A more likely backup prospect would be Southern Cal's Sedrick Ellis (6-01/2, 309; 5.28), who seems most at home when playing in traffic. Both are potential late first-round picks. Texas A&M's Joseph Bryant (6-4, 318; 5.08) has the look of a Jarvis Green as a 4-3 tackle, but also may be versatile and athletic enough to get a look as a 3-4 end or even a larger-than-average outside linebacker. North Carolina's Kentwan Balmer (6-41/2, 308; 5.31) lacks the edge speed to be a top-shelf pass-rusher, but can take up space adequately as a 4-3 tackle. They join Notre Dame's Trevor Laws (6-01/2, 304; 5.1), Maryland's Dre Moore (6-4, 305; 4.92) and North Carolina State's DeMario Pressley (6-3, 301; 5.17) as worthy of selection in the third or fourth rounds.

Also worth consideration are Auburn's Patrick Sims, Arkansas' Marcus Harrison, Texas' Frank Okam, Wisconsin's Nick Hayden, Florida State's Letroy Guion and Andre Fluellen and Virginia Tech's Carlton Powell.

The scouting services suggest that only two college nose tackles have what it takes to make the transition to the pros without a position change. They're Iowa State's Ahtyba Rubin (6-21/2, 315; 5.24) and Fresno State's Jason Shirley (6-51/4, 338; 5.1), both clearly second-day selections.

From New England colleges, the pickings are extremely slim. Only Yale's Brandt Hollander, a nose tackle, figures to have a chance to be invited to a pro training camp.

FRIDAY: Defensive backs.