Wilde Roster cont'd: http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/f...8892ba74e.html
Defense: Gets 24 or 25, Specialists 3
Locks:
DL (5 or 6): Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Ricky Jean Francois
LB (9 or 10): Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Kyler Fackrell, Joe Thomas, Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez
DB (10 or 11): Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Kentrell Brice, Josh Jones, Davon House, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, Kevin King, Josh Hawkins
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby
Looking good: Brett Goode, Justin Vogel
That's 20 claimed spots for Defense. Need 4-5 more from bubble. Wilde had Biegel, Martinez and Ryan as looking good. Both ILBs had a good camp and will stick. Biegel might find out the rules of PUP early this year.
Wilde also had Hawkins, Evans and Gunter as looking good. They need another 2 CBs on his roster above the locks listed earlier to get to the now normal 6. I think Hawkins is #5 and put him above under locks.
Emphasis on hybrid safety play might change final numbers. I think Evans is a better prospect than Gunter and if they go safety heavy, he might be DB 10 (5 S, 5 CB) ahead of Gunter. Specialists are just a question of Goode's continued health and Vogel not getting more unpredictable.
Defensive line (need 1 or 2)
On the bubble: Montravius Adams, Christian Ringo, Brian Price, Izaah Lunsford, Calvin Heurtelou (bet my bottom dollar Adams gets IR)
Linebackers (need 2 or 3)
On the bubble: Vince Biegel, Jordan Tripp, Reggie Gilbert, Johnathan Calvin, Cody Heiman, Josh Letuligasenoa, Derrick Matthews, David Talley (bet that Biegel, unless ultra ready, starts on PUP)
Defensive backs (need 1)
On the bubble:: LaDarius Gunter, Marwin Evans, Demetri Goodson, Donatello Brown, Daquan Holmes, Lenzy Pipkins, Raysean Pringle, Aaron Taylor, Jermaine Whitehead (Gunter has been better in practice of late, and if they carry 6 CBs, which they have before, its his spot. But I think Evans is the better player overall)
Specialists (need 0)
On the bubble: Derek Hart (Hart only makes it if Goode collapses or gets hurt. Vogel has the job unless he falls to pieces and another functional punter becomes available. So he is essentially still auditioning for his job)