You don't hear Brian Urlacher's name called for making tackles or forcing turnovers like you used to. The 2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has seemingly disappeared for portions of Bears games this season. But his statistical decline may have more to do with a defensive scheme that fails to maximize his skills more than an erosion of those skills. In fact, opposing players who have gone up against Urlacher this season still rank him among an elite group of NFL middle linebackers and insist he's a major factor when it comes to designing their blocking schemes and game plans.

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