Rockne's Roundtable

Baratti's work fits perfectly into my plans for him because it can only help him become the first great middle linebacker in pass coverage since Stonebreaker and Bolcar. (I hope others find my reference to my plans for him a least a little funny.)

My plan: redshirt freshman year, add significan strength and weight, increase flexibility and speed (.1) and study film, getting ready to play middle linebacker. A great run stopper and pass defender and a stealth QB sacker.

This is almost too silly to post, but since I actually think about stuff like this, I might as well say it out loud. No harm intended.

One of my favorite things to watch with ND coaches is how they change player's positions.

Does anyone have any breaking news on Heggie?

Dan, did not mean to change the subject. Just happened. Obviously, I enjoyed reading your article.

To help us all make it to two-a-days:

Which players in the last 25 years had the greatest impact after switching positions?

Which player will have the greatest impact in 2012 after changing positions since the day he signed his LOI?

Good Question 65too, one that I am sure Lou is much more qualified to answer than I am, but the name that pops into my head right away is Reggie Brooks. Brooks started his career as a defensive back in 1989 because of a log jam in the Irish backfield before becoming an All-American running back.

In the past 10 years, Arnaz Battle has probably had the most success after moving from QB to wide receiver after two seasons and putting together a long pro career at the WR position.

Current players are a little tougher obviously, but I think Cam McDaniel is a darkhorse candidate. He's got great speed and adjusted to playing cornerback a lot faster than anyone expected.

Nicky Baratti sounds like he's ready to add his name to a historic list of famous "Nicks" who played football for the Irish:

Nick Setta: 4-year starter at kicker, 2000-2003

Nick Rassas: Returned 3 punts for TDs in 1965 (which is still a record matched only by Allen Rossum and Tim Brown) and led the nation in punt returning that year.

Nick Eddy: RB/Kick Returner on the 1966 Championship team who finished 3rd in the Heisman race behind Steve Spurrier and Bob Griese.

Nick Buoniconti: Two-time Super Bowl Champion as well as a boisterous and vocal member of the famed - and undefeated - 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Nick Pietrosanti: NFL Rookie of the Year in 1959 who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated that year. Annually, one Irish football player is awarded the Nick Pietrosante Most Inspirational Player Award in his honor.

Nick Baratti: The sky's the limit, kid.

Denson was actually recruited as a running back. He switched to CB in training camp as a freshman, but after one game there (a 17-15 upset loss to Northwestern) Holtz moved him back to RB where he ended up starting by the end of the year. The next year Holtz moved him to WR to add some depth there. That lasted for one half before he was back at RB again. We had a chance to catch up with Autry this winter. Here's a story about his career at ND and how he is doing now as an assistant coach. I believe he's in South Bend this week helping out at the ND Fantasy camp.