Training Camp Primer: Linebackers

Editor's Note: In the weeks leading up to training camp, DenverBroncos.com will take you inside the roster, position-by-position. The fourth installment in the eight-part series examines the linebackers.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Last season, the NFL's sack leader, the Broncos' leading tackler and the team's leaders in forced fumbles all resided in one position group -- the linebacker corps.

The unit led by defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale helped set the tone for a defense that ranked seventh in the league in total yards per game allowed in 2009. With a secondary behind them that helped the team rank third in the NFL in passing yards per game allowed in 2009 and a beefed-up front line featuring the likes of , and , the linebackers are looking for even better numbers in 2010.

The unit added and through free agency and through the draft, re-signed , claimed off waivers from the New England Patriots and picked up and as college free agents.

But the moves didn't end there.

, a team captain who started all 16 games at outside linebacker last season, has moved to the inside. At 6-foot-3, 267 pounds, Haggan feels he is built for the part and is excited to play at the Mike position alongside .

"I love the opportunity," Haggan said. "That's where I've always wanted to play. Even though I felt like I was athletic enough and built so I could play outside linebacker, I feel like I'll be positive on the inside. I'm just trying to embrace the opportunity and trying to make some plays at it this year."

Head Coach Josh McDaniels said the team is looking to to step into the strongside linebacker position -- "we believe he can and he will" -- opposite Dumervil, and he spoke highly of the depth at the position. Alexander and both saw time with the first-unit defense during OTAs, and 2009 team captain remains in the rotation.

"Because of some of the things we will try to do in our nickel and dime and third-down packages, we may try to rest a guy here and there so they can play on third down also," the head coach said.

"We've got a pretty solid group there in terms of our linebackers."

MEET THE LINEBACKERS

Kevin Alexander: Did not miss a game in his college career at Clemson, totaling 125 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Baraka Atkins: The former fourth-round pick has 28 tackles, 2 sacks, a pass breakup and two fumble recoveries in his career.
Robert Ayers: The sophomore posted multiple tackles six times for the Broncos as a rookie, including in five consecutive games. His 54-yard touchdown return on a fumble recovery was the longest by a Broncos rookie in team history.
Akin Ayodele: The ninth-year linebacker has played all 128 possible regular-season games in his career and has started at least 10 games during each of the last seven seasons.
Devin Bishop: The college free agent totaled 66 tackles and 2.5 sacks at Cal, earning the Ken Cotton Award for the most courageous player on defense as a senior.
Bruce Davis: The 2008 third-round pick saw time in five games with the Steelers as a rookie before spending most of the 2009 season on the Patriots' practice squad.
Elvis Dumervil: Earned his first Pro Bowl selection -- he was a starter -- after becoming the first Bronco in team history to lead the league in sacks with a franchise-record 17.
Nick Greisen: Greisen, who spent 2009 on injured reserve, has started 34 games in his career and posted at least 70 tackles during three consecutive seasons from 2004-06.
Mario Haggan: Registered a career high in tackles as a 16-game starter for the first time in his career, also finishing tied for fourth on the team with nine special-teams stops.
Jammie Kirlew: The two-time All-Big Ten Conference player left Indiana third on the school's all-time sacks list and tied for second on its all-time tackles for loss list.
Spencer Larsen: The two-way player is also the only fullback on the roster, and his four solo tackles on special teams at Kansas City last season tied for the most by a Bronco in a game since at least 1994.
Jarvis Moss: The fourth-year linebacker, who earned reps with the first-team defense during OTAs, has accumulated 39 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble as a Bronco.
Darrell Reid: Has not missed a game in the last three years while averaging 12.8 special-teams tackles per season.
D.J. Williams: Owns four 100-tackle seasons, including last season when he paced the team with 122 stops en route to being named a Pro Bowl alternate.
Wesley Woodyard: Woodyard, who was named a team captain in 2009 just one season after joining the club as a college free agent, leads the team in special-teams tackles since his rookie campaign.