Cheese curds, 7/23: Deep Packers D-line may offset other questions on defense

In an offseason filled with free agent activity, the Packers’ biggest acquisition might still be defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. He’s gotten plenty of press throughout the Packers media landscape, and this week we finally get to see what a Mike Pettine defense could look like in Green Bay.

Pettine’s biggest weapon is the Packers’ defensive line, unquestionably the strength of the entire unit. If Pettine can push the already stellar defensive line to new heights this season, he’ll go a long way towards returning the defense to respectability, or at least competence.

The fly in the ointment may yet be the secondary, which is largely untested. Could that be enough to prevent the Packers from meeting their goals this season? One writer in today’s Curds thinks so.

Packers’ defensive line could spearhead pass-rush attack under Mike Pettine | Packers News

Pettine has always benefited from plenty of talent on the defensive lines he’s coached, and this year should be no different. His use of the Packers’ deep line group will be one of the fascinating storylines of this season.

Why the Packers will come up short in 2018 | Lombardi Ave

The defensive line will be solid, but the secondary is still a question mark. That’s one reason the Packers could fall short of the ultimate prize this season.

5 important Packers entering a contract year in 2018 | Packers Wire

A handful of Packers starters are in contract years this season. If they all get a performance boost motivated by a pending payday, the Packers could be sitting pretty. If not, it could make decisions next spring that much easier.

Aaron Rodgers’ deep dive into Shark Week airs Monday on ‘Monster Tag’ | Packers News

Rodgers added a new use for “cage free” to the lexicon this offseason, spending a bit of time swimming with sharks without the benefit of a protective cage. You can catch his swim tonight on the Discovery channel.

Former Packers coach Mike Sherman reunites with Johnny Manziel

Midway through his first season with the Montreal Alouettes, former Packers head coach Mike Sherman will be getting a boost from a familiar face. Johnny Manziel, who was at Texas A&M in 2011 with Sherman, was traded to Montreal this weekend after failing to unseat Jeremiah Masoli as the starting quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats