The combine is one of the most underrated events on the NFL calendar. A rare opportunity for the media to meet with top-flight prospects, coaches, personnel men and agents, it’s the real kickoff to an offseason that will continue with the start of free agency, league meetings and the draft.

The Patriots enter this week’s event in Indianapolis with a pretty good idea of the draftable players on their radar screen. By this point in the process, the list of prospects New England started with during the college season as been pared considerably, allowing the franchise to focus on a very specific list of candidates when they fly into Indianapolis, one that will get adjusted accordingly over the course of the week as the New England braintrust gets a chance to speak with individual prospects and watch them work out.

From a media perspective, each day at the combine is given over to a particular group of players. Interviews and workouts run from Thursday through Sunday, with specialists, offensive linemen and tight ends set to meet the media on Thursday; quarterbacks, running backs and receivers talking on Friday; defensive linemen and linebackers speaking on Saturday; and cornerbacks and safeties in the media spotlight on Sunday. (We’ve already assembled a growing database of players the Patriots will likely be most interested in watching this week at Lucas Oil Stadium.)

Here are five things to look for at the combine this week, most of which are from a Patriots’ perspective:

The Patriots and the 3-cone drill: While New England covets speed, it’s also looking for players to be quick. To that end, the Patriots have traditionally put a lot of stock — maybe more than most teams — in events like the 3-cone drill in their pre-draft workouts that measure shiftiness and an ability to turn on a dime. At the combine, the drill goes like this: Three cones are placed in an L shape. Players go 5 yards to the first cone and back, then to the second cone and back. Then, they run a loop around the third cone, switch direction and come back around the second cone. If you can finish the process in less than seven seconds, you’re looking at someone with good foot speed.

Through the years, several Patriots’ picks excelled at the 3-cone drill, whether it was at the combine or at their respective Pro Day. Julian Edelman had a 6.62 second time in the 3-cone drill as a collegian, while Devin McCourty’s 6.7 at the 2010 combine put him second among all corners. Deion Branch clocked a 6.71 (at the 2002 combine), Chad Jackson (at the 2006 combine) was 6.74 and Wes Welker was 7.06 as a collegian. If you’re looking for a prospect to distinguish him in the eyes of the New England brass, this drill is a good one to look for.

New England’s Alabama connection: Belichick has always shown a predilection to go after prospects who come from programs run by former Belichick assistants or close friends, including Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. This season should be no exception, as Saban’s Alabama team has at least two prospects that could appeal to the Patriots.

While it appears unlikely they would be in the market for running back Trent Richardson, safety Mark Barron could be a good fit for New England at the end of the first round. As we learned here, the Patriots should be in the market for a playmaking safety to complement Patrick Chung, and Barron could be appealing at No. 27 or No. 31. In addition, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is also a possibility for a New England team that is looking to build some depth in the secondary. And finally, linebacker Courtney Upshaw is another name to keep an eye on as a possibility for the Patriots.

Sitdowns: It’s one thing to marvel at a 40 time or to see the sort of numbers they can put up in the bench press, but in the past, the Patriots have put just as much import on the interview as they have the other aspects of the week. New England director of player personnel Nick Caserio said that the reason the Patriots went so hard after Pat Chung in the 2009 draft was because of their experience speaking with him at the combine. “After 15 minutes, we were ready to run through a wall,” Caserio would later say of their time with Chung. “It was like, ‘Sign me up.’”

What are the Patriots looking for? It’s not necessarily the same thing out of each prospect. In the past, they’ve asked about character questions. They’ve also put on game film and asked the prospect to break down a particular play. Or they want to push buttons to see how a prospect might react to a given situation. Players who have gone through the process with New England describe a fairly intense session with some members of the coaching staff and the front office peppering the player with a wide variety of questions. Regardless of the outcome, the interview process allows the Patriots to gain more of a complete picture when it comes to a prospect.

A state of the Patriots address: The combine, coming a couple of weeks after the end of the season, is usually enough of an opportunity for the franchise to comment about the season that just concluded, as well as make a few statements about what lies ahead when it comes to free agency and the draft. In 2009, coach Bill Belichick gave an epic 22-minute address -- the bulk of which can be seen here -- and in 2010, Caserio also gave his take on the state of the team. There was no such opportunity last year.

Vontaze Burfict: Last year, Ryan Mallett’s appearance with the media was must-see stuff. The quarterback stood in front of reporters and faced questions about drug use and character issues. It was compelling for several reasons, not the least of which was Mallett’s opportunity poise in the face of some difficult questioning.

Burfict appears to be the likeliest candidate for a rough sit-down with the media this year. A first-round talent out of Arizona State described by many as a physical freak of a linebacker, there are questions about his discipline, academics and overall football IQ, all of which have some wondering if he will be able to succeed on the next level. (On the surface, Burfict does not appear to be a fit with the Patriots, but New England has surprised before.) Expect Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd and North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins -- two highly-touted prospects who have had brushes with the law -- to also come in for some questioning about the past decisions.