Rockne's Roundtable

On the impact of the BCS Championship Game on winter conditioning:

-- After watching more of the game...

"We're a lot closer than I thought."

-- If there was one thing that stood out in the game, ND lacked depth at some positions. That changes the recruiting process to continue to add that depth.

-- Also, continue to develop the program physically and increase the overall strength.

On leadership:

"I think it's starting to show itself in a number of different areas. Lo Wood has been terrific in terms of leadership. Jarrett Grace ... Tyler Stockton."

On leadership:

-- Lo Wood, Jarrett Grace, Tyler Stockton (despite being a guy that hasn't played much) ... all guys who have been leaders through the offseason.

On DaVaris Daniels:

-- This is just a matter of him deciding whether he's going to do it. He knows he's the guy in the mix. Sometimes it's just a matter of maturation. We think he can be great. But he knows he has to move up to get there. Coaches feel he has shown some great early signs, but has to keep working.

"You have different personalities. I think every year you have to change the way you address the team."

Entire staff returning:

"It says a lot about Notre Dame and what a great place it is to work at. All these coaches had opportunities [elsewhere]."

On offensive structure:

-- Going to find out a lot more about that as the team goes through the spring. Have some players that can complement the offense - don't know if the team has the same singular great players that stand out. But there are a lot of good players.

-- The goals in spring is to continue to work the offensive line to find a center, develop the center position and get the running back position sorted out as well. Those are the three key things this spring relative to the offense.

On players responding after NCG loss:

"You want to get back there because there's no atmosphere like it."

On the defensive line:

-- Getting to the point where you have desired depth.

Kona Schwenke is a veteran. People would to have him as a guy that hasn't started a lot.

Think a lot of Jarron Jones. He's a 300 pounder.

Talked about how important it is for Chase Hounshell to step up and he has. He's working to get to 280 pound range.

With Tony Sprigmann, Louis Nix, Stephon Tuitt... there's a lot of support in the position group.

And feel Justin Utupo will be able to help. He's up to 280 pounds.

-- Sheldon Day is a guy that has played a lot of valuable minutes so he's a guy that's expected to step right in to that position (as it relates to the opening with Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt at the other DL spots).

On if Gunner Kiel is still enrolled:

"I believe he is..."

-- The last understanding was that he would finish out the semester.

You would think if Kiel was given a chance to participate in spring ball, even if he had every intention of leaving, he would take the reps. No matter where you go the practice time is invaluable.

Sapp,
Who are the 5th year players?

Wow. That's cool. Marcus Pollard Jr.