BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Free agent pickup Pernell McPhee has one goal for the Chicago Bears’ 2015 defense.

“That’s what we’re going to do this year; put fear in other teams’ offenses,” McPhee said on Friday.

The Bears haven’t scared anybody on defense since Lovie Smith left town after 2012. In the two years under former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, Chicago’s defense ranked near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every statistical category.

McPhee is determined to fix that.

“When they see us come out there, [we want them to think], ‘Whoa, those guys are playing, everybody flies to the ball, everybody’s being very aggressive,’” McPhee said. “Me and the guys talk and I’ll be like, ‘We need to be aggressive. We need to be the attackers, not the ones being attacked.’ That’s our mindset right now and that’s what we’re working toward.”

Part of a ferocious outside linebacker rotation in Baltimore alongside Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, McPhee is comfortable being the star attraction in Chicago after signing a five-year, $38.750 million contract with $15.5 million guaranteed.

“That’s one of my goals is to come out and bring that image of being violent, being a leader, being a great guy, and that’s my focus right now,” McPhee said.

“My attitude is hey, I know what time it is; time to be a dog and every play I’ve got to be one.”