National Football League

Mario Haggan back at linebacker, tutoring rookies

Published Aug. 15, 2011 7:00 p.m. ET

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Mario Haggan's role this year is part mentor, part tormenter.

The versatile ninth-year pro opened the Broncos' training camp at defensive end as new coach John Fox reinstalled the 4-3 scheme that Josh McDaniels had ditched during his short stint in Denver.

Within a week, though, the Broncos had signed former first-round pick Derrick Harvey to serve as a swing backup defensive end to Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil.

That sent Haggan back to linebacker, where he's tutoring rookie Von Miller at his natural strongside position and rookie Nate Irving on the inside.

Haggan has started all 16 games during his two seasons in Denver after spending five years in Buffalo as a special teamer. In 2009, he was the left outside linebacker and in 2010 he was the right inside linebacker.

So, it's no surprise that the rookies are picking his brain.

''Once in the NFL, you're here for a reason and you got physical ability. The rest is knowing the game,'' Haggan said. ''And it's not just about knowing the plays, it's about knowing what other people are doing and just slowing the game down. Everybody pushes upon knowing your own defensive plays. It's more than that. It's about knowing what's coming, how you're being attacked. And so those are the things that young guys have to learn.''

Haggan remembers when he was in their cleats and seeking the sage advice of the veterans, hoping they'd share their knowledge and not shut him out.

''I had two of the best veterans ever in Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher,'' Haggan said. ''I mean, I got drafted in Buffalo, third round, they showed me how to stay, they showed me how to play the game. They showed me how to look for different things. And right now we're the best of friends and we still talk about different things. They're a big impression on me still.''

So, Haggan is the go-to guy in the linebacker meeting room even though Miller is already starting ahead of him on the strong side and a bulked-up Joe Mays is the starting middle linebacker.

''And my thing is, if I can help them, I'll help them,'' Haggan said. ''I'm not one of those guys (who won't help), even if he is at my position and I have to take a back seat to him, I'm going to do whatever I can to make him successful.''

Haggan plans to get plenty of snaps himself. After all, he was Denver's most productive defender last season, setting career highs with 75 tackles and five sacks.

But if his role ultimately is to back up everyone and give advice on the side, then so be it.

''I personally feel that I'm a good football player and if a guy beats me out, he's going to have to work pretty damn hard to get it, so he deserves it,'' Haggan said. ''And if he's in front of me, he'd better be a pretty damn good football player, too, because I'm going to make him work.''

Haggan took Miller under his wing from the moment the Broncos selected the powerful pass-rusher out of Texas A&M with the second overall pick in the draft. They got to know each other while training together in Dallas during the lockout.

''He's more than just a football player. He has a great family,'' Miller said. ''That's something I want to have in the future. He's an awesome husband, awesome father, he's somebody who I can get some points from. So, it's just bigger than football. He's an amazing dude.''

Miller was thrilled when Haggan was moved back to linebacker.

''It's good to have a dude that I can see do it first, because it's all new,'' Miller said.

Haggan couldn't hide his smile over the switch, either.

''I'm definitely in love with being a linebacker. That's what I've played my whole life and that's what I've been playing my whole career in the NFL,'' Haggan said. ''Personally, they see I have the ability to do different things and if they ask me to do different things, then that's what I'm going to do.''

Haggan prepared during the lockout for the switch to defensive end but he never strayed far from his linebacker roots. In addition to muscling up in the weight room, he worked on agility drills on the football field to maintain his speed and quickness.

''I actually prepared for both,'' Haggan said. ''It made my work double-time. I figured once I got here, at some point they would ask me to play linebacker. That opportunity has come faster than I thought.

''I never gave up on it. I was going to always put my heart into defensive end if that's where I was going to be, but now that I'm back at linebacker, I'm going to put my heart back there. And my goal is to be coming out of that tunnel on Sunday with the first 11.''

And if he's not a starter, he'll gladly serve as a tutor.

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Connect with AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton at http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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