D.J. Williams "just trying to be myself"

D.J. Williams is the new guy in town, even though the 10-year veteran linebacker already has made a name for himself around the NFL as an aggressive tackler with the Denver Broncos.

When the Chicago Bears moved on from their longtime relationship with future Hall of Fame middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, the urgency heightened for Williams to fill the void.

“Coming in here, I am not trying to be him. Just trying to be myself,” Williams said Tuesday following the team’s first day of minicamp in the Walter Payton Center. “I'm just trying to blend in and fit in with the guys and help them win games. I don’t think any player ever tries to be like anybody else.”

Williams, 30, played just seven games last season because of a suspension for failing a mandatory league drug test.

“It’s a rebirth (with the Bears). Last year I didn’t have the greatest year,” Williams acknowledged. “I got suspended multiple games. I get the opportunity now to play a full season and just get out there and play some ball.”

The once familiar linebacking trio of Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Nick Roach now has only Briggs returning this season.

“Lance has been a staple here for many years, a great player, a Hall of Fame player. He has a lot of knowledge and he is a play-maker. Whenever I do have a question, he is able to answer for me,” said Williams, who has played in both a 3-4 and 4-3 defense in the past.

“Most (teams) play the same defenses, just different terminology. But I'm playing a different position. I played (middle) linebacker before. Now I just have to get used to the reads and the position.”

With a new team and coaching staff, Williams is confident it will not take him long to get up to speed with the Bears’ way of doing things.

“Things are going pretty well. I’ve gotten in a few extra days with the coaches and the defense,” Williams said. “Football is football."

Williams, who started his college career as a fullback at Miami, was drafted in the first round by the Broncos in 2004. He has 20.5 career sacks. In 2007 as a middle linebacker he was credited with 106 tackles and in 2010 he had 94 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a left inside linebacker.

“I'm a physical player," he said. "I run to the ball and cover (on pass plays). I consider myself able to do just about everything.”


(chicagotribune.com)