LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Most Bears fans would be thrilled if their favorite team’s defense performed this season like it did in 2005-06, but linebacker Lance Briggs has even higher expectations.

“I don’t want to revert back to that form,” said the four-time Pro Bowler. “I want to revert to a better form. I think that’s what we all want. We’re all aiming toward something better.

“That’s what we’re working on. You hear coaches out here [at practice] yelling at everybody every play. That’s what we need. We’ve got to be yelled at. We have to put our grind in if we want to be successful.”

Linebacker Lance Briggs and the Bears defense will look to improve upon last season's performance.

After ranking second and fifth in the NFL in total yards in 2005 and 2006, respectively, the Bears defense slid to 28th in 2007 before rebounding a bit to 21st last season. 

In ratings created by former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman that weigh several key statistical categories, the Chicago defense ranked 14th in 2007 and eighth in 2008.

The Bears made significant changes to their defensive coaching staff this offseason. They added two veteran assistants in Rod Marinelli (line) and Jon Hoke (secondary), moved Bob Babich into the role he once occupied as linebackers coach and announced that head coach Lovie Smith will assume play-calling duties.

Given those upgrades, Briggs feels that the pressure to perform is squarely on the players’ shoulders.

“That’s why they pay us the big bucks,” he said. “We might have had some down years, but they pay us big bucks because they believe in us, and we’ve got to show up this year.”

Pick two: Cornerback Zackary Bowman had two more interceptions in Thursday’s OTA practice—one in 7-on-7 drills and the other in a red zone situation. By one observer’s count, the 2008 fifth-round pick from Nebraska now has a team-high seven interceptions in 10 OTA workouts.

“Those are plays I’ve got to make,” Bowman said. “When they come, I’ve got to make them. But overall I’m hard on myself. I always feel like I can do better.”

Bowman appeared in only one game as a rookie last season, recovering a muffed punt for a touchdown and making a late interception to preserve a 48-41 win over the Vikings. The 6-1, 193-pounder picked off the pass after he had sustained a biceps injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Bowman was briefly switched to free safety this offseason, but he’s back at cornerback and is determined to emerge as a contributor on defense in his second season in the system.

“I feel a little bit more comfortable than last year,” Bowman said. “Now that they moved me back, I’m still trying to feel my way around as far as my technique and trying to be more consistent. That’s the biggest thing for me right now.”

Sign here: Third-round pick Juaquin Iglesias was relieved and excited to sign his first NFL contract Wednesday. But the rookie receiver is more focused on what transpires on the field than off of it.

“To be honest with you, I haven’t even been thinking about it,” Iglesias said following Thursday’s OTA practice. “I’ve just been thinking straight football. It’s just one of those steps that you’ve got to go through and get done with, and I got it done with. I put that behind me. I’m very excited, though.”

What was Iglesias thinking about when he signed his name on the dotted line?

“That it’s a dream come true,” he said. “As soon as I got done, I texted everybody that I’m happy to be a Bear, I’m happy to be here. There’s no better place for me than here. Now that I signed it I can start to play and just relax and know the stuff that will make me relax and help me play.”

Iglesias is pleased with the progress he’s made in OTAs, but he knows he still has a long way to go.

“I need to work on a lot of stuff,” he said. “But I think I’m getting better as the days go on, and that’s all I can ask for and that’s what the coaches want me to do. I struggled at the beginning a little bit with all the terminology and all that, but it’s coming along real good. I’m starting to settle down and play, but there’s always room for improvement.”

No worries: Fourth-year linebacker Jamar Williams, a fourth-round pick in 2006 from Arizona State, credits his impressive performance in OTA practices to peace of mind.

“The biggest things is I stopped worrying about outside circumstances and things I really can’t control, just try to come out here every day and get better and let the rest have God handle,” Williams said.

“So far it’s been working out really well. I trust these coaches in making the right decision, and whenever I’m out on the field I’m just going to try to work hard and make some plays.”