Cheese Curds, 7/30: Mike Pettine is enjoying Packers defense’s progress to start year 2

The Green Bay Packers return to practice on Tuesday, but Monday’s day off saw the team’s coordinators speak to the media for the first time since camp got underway last Thursday. With their matching bald heads taking the podium one after another, Mike Pettine, Nathaniel Hackett, and Shawn Mennenga look a bit like a trio of brothers.

Pettine is the cranky oldest brother, Mennenga is the no-nonsense middle brother, and Hackett is the energetic, slightly goofy youngest. But while all three men have their own distinct styles, it will be critical for each of their units to perform when week one rolls around.

It seems that Pettine’s unit is the most solid group by a significant margin at this point in camp, however. That makes sense — he is the only coordinator who is in his second year on the job, and that continuity brings a better understanding of his schemes for his players. One way that has been evident so far in camp is in the defense’s communication, which was one of the many topics that Pettine addressed in Monday’s presser.

As we await the team’s return to the practice field later this morning, here are a few notable items from Monday.

Pettine: 'If guys are quiet, it's a problem' | Packers.com
The Packers' defensive coordinator is very happy with the communication on his defense right now; his players are talking pre-snap a lot, which is a sign that they are taking a big step forward mentally in their second year with him in charge.

Packers like ‘savvy’ Tramon Williams at slot cornerback | Packers Wire
Pettine also discussed the team's oldest defensive player, who looks like a lock to be the team's slot corner when preseason action begins. His intelligence and ability to communicate make him an ideal fit in that spot.

Northwestern connection: Packers’ Lancaster, Lowry revisit campus roots | Packersnews.com
The two former Wildcats were starters together in Evanston in 2015, Lowry’s senior season and Lancaster’s sophomore season. This summer they went back to check out the new facilities improvements that Pat Fitzgerald and company have implemented.

Business (and DQ Blizzards) aside, Packers' Aaron Jones sets sights high - ESPN
Jones was holding an Oreo Blizzard in the locker room after receiving it from his bike kid's mom after practice. He apparently tried to give it away to teammates, citing his oft-discussed new diet.

Landon Collins says he'd run over Giants GM Dave Gettleman on sideline | SI.com
Considering the moves that Gettleman has made in the past few years, I don't blame him; he and Jon Gruden seem like they're trying to take football back 30 years.

Battle the Infamous Florida Man in Dungeons & Dragons | Comicbook.com
Have you ever wanted to do battle with the nebulous concept of Florida Man? Now you can!