Tim Twentyman: NFL Insider

Defense boosts Denver Broncos

First-year Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels deserves all the credit he's getting for the Broncos' early 5-0 start. When the Broncos replaced longtime head coach Mike Shanahan with McDaniels, 33, a lot of people questioned the choice of a rookie coach taking charge of an underachieving team that finished 8-8 last year.

McDaniels has made all the right moves thus far this season, but his most important move dates to his first weeks on the job when he hired Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator.

In just one offseason, a once maligned defense that ranked 29th last season has been transformed into one of the league's best.

Talk about a miracle worker.

Nolan implemented a 3-4 scheme, brought in some veteran leaders, and alongside McDaniels, has completely changed the Broncos' culture on defense.

A year ago next week, Nolan was fired as the San Francisco head coach after 3 1/2 years of futility. Nearly 12 months later, he has been the most valuable assistant in the league through the first five weeks.

The Broncos ranked 26th against the pass, 27th against the run and surrendered an average of 28 points a game last season. This season, the Broncos are fifth against the pass, sixth against the run, are allowing only 8.6 points per game and have allowed the second-fewest yards in the league.

Nolan and McDaniels cleaned house on the defense and brought in eight new starters, including veterans Brian Dawkins and Vonnie Holliday.

It just goes to show that some assistant coaches are never meant to be head coaches in the NFL. So many times we see successful assistants fail at being head coaches because they are forced to micromanage every aspect of the team instead of focusing solely on what they're good at. When coaches are allowed to do what they do best -- you get the success Nolan is having in Denver.

Fashion nightmare

The Broncos should just go ahead and just throw away Sunday's throwback uniforms. It's always nice to honor the past, but what the Broncos did Sunday was an obvious fashion faux pas.

The NFL is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the American Football League (AFL) by having its original members wear throwback uniforms.

The Tennessee Titans sported the old powder blue unis with Oilers oil derrick helmets, which were very cool. I even liked the old State of Texas emblem on the helmets of the Kansas City Chiefs, who started as the Dallas Texans. But the brown and yellow get-up with the striped socks worn by the Broncos was just wrong.

Henne impressive

Chad Henne was pressed into service by the season-ending shoulder injury to Dolphins starting quarterback Chad Pennington two weeks ago.

Henne, in his second year out of Michigan, responded by guiding the Dolphins to two straight victories after an 0-3 start. Henne's quarterback rating over the past two weeks -- 111.2.

He was most impressive against the Jets Monday night, completing 20 of 26 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns.

"I've seen him for five years in pressure situations," former Michigan teammate and Dolphins starting left tackle Jake Long told USA Today. "He's very confident. He stays calm and does his thing. He's going to do great."

Jets coach Rex Ryan said after the game that his defense made Henne look like Dan Marino .

Marino? Not quite.

But one thing is certain; Henne has taken over the reins of the Dolphins offense and doesn't look like he'll be relinquishing them anytime soon.

By the numbers

5 Number of teams (Denver, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New Orleans and New York Giants) undefeated after the first five weeks of the season. The most in NFL history

23-8 Combined record of teams with a 300-yard passer this season

1991 The last time the Lions won at Lambeau Field in Green Bay

Top of the heap

The most 300-yard passing games by a quarterback in NFL history.

Twentyman's top five

• 1. New York Giants (5-0)

• 2. Indianapolis (5-0)

• 3. New Orleans (4-0)

• 4. Minnesota (5-0)

• 5. Denver (5-0)

Twentyman's bottom five

• 28. Cleveland 1-4)

• 29. Kansas City (0-5)

• 30. Tampa Bay (0-5)

• 31. Oakland (1-4)

• 32. St. Louis (0-5)

ttwentyman@detnews.com