The Chicago Bears are entering a new era with linebacker Brian Urlacher retiring, as Lance Briggs will now take over full time and will be calling plays on defense for the team this upcoming season.
According to NFL.com, Urlacher was the primary play caller as the middle linebacker, but Briggs has felt that he needs to step up as a leader and the playcalling is one way to do that. Urlacher decided to call it quits after not being able to find a team and now for the first time in 11 seasons, Briggs will be without his fellow linebacker.
Briggs said that he had been spoiled playing with Urlacher for a decade and that he is trying to get more vocal as Urlacher and linebacker Nick Roach are gone, as Roach signed with the Raiders. The team has a number of new linebackers and players, including DJ Williams and Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene and Briggs is now the appointed leader.
The Bears missed the playoffs last season despite winning 10 games and Lovie Smith was fired to make way for Marc Trestman, who is trying to improve the defense by making it younger.
"I'm just more vocal now," Briggs said, via the Chicago Tribune. "We have a lot of great players, so for me it's just getting guys aligned and getting them in best position to compete."
