by Mike Klis , The Denver Post

Mike Klis: Yes, although it's not too early to name the leading candidate for NFL coach of the year. If the vote were held today, the Broncos' Josh McDaniels would be a unanimous choice. Let's look at the other four undefeated coaches through Week 5: New Orleans' Sean Payton, the New York Giants' Tom Coughlin, the Indianapolis Colts' Jim Caldwell and the Minnesota Vikings' Brad Childress.

Coach of the year votes usually go to new coaches who make the most immediate impact. That eliminates veterans Payton, Coughlin and Childress. That leaves Caldwell and McDaniels. Caldwell inherited a team that seemingly starts 10-0

every year, so he won't get much consideration.

McDaniels' primary competition would be the New York Jets' Rex Ryan, the San Francisco 49ers' Mike Singletary and maybe Cincinnati's Marv Lewis - given the

Bengals' turnaround.

Not so fast, Elvis. Is it too early to place Elvis Dumervil near the top of the list for potential defensive player of the year candidates?

Ben, Chicago

Mike: Yes, yes, 11 more times yes, it's too early. Besides, with all due

respect to Dumervil, my nomination from the Broncos for top defensive honor would be Brian Dawkins. I've said this before and I'll say it again: Television does not do justice to Dawkins' play. You have to watch him live to understand the energy he brings to his defense, and the intimidating presence he poses to the enemy offense. Besides those intangibles, Dawkins remains a crushing tackler who still has great range.

If this 3-4 Broncos defense was built around anyone, it's Dawkins.

Fearful of fading. Not many years ago, didn't the Broncos field a defense that was stellar to start but faded as the season progressed? What will make it different this year with our brutal schedule? Scheme, personnel, training, luck?

K.B., Kodiak, Alaska

Mike: You speak about the 2006 defense. Through the first six games that season, the Broncos were allowing a league-best 7.3 points per game. They're allowing a league- best 8.6 points per game now.

So, yes, we have seen this before, and not that long ago. Caution comes from the final 10 games of the 2006 season, when the Broncos allowed a league-high 26.1 points.

While the Broncos likely aren't going to surrender less than double-figure points a game the rest of the season, don't expect a 2006-

like collapse, either.

For several reasons. One, this defense plays a unique 3-4 scheme that is far more aggressive than the 4-3 defense Mike Shanahan employed in 2006. Two, this team has Brian Dawkins; that team didn't.

Three, the 2006 defense was never the same after middle linebacker Al Wilson suffered what turned out to be a career-ending neck injury in Game 12 against Seattle - otherwise remembered as Jay Cutler's NFL debut.

More horsepower. Part of the new style of Broncos Football is what they call the "wild horse" formation. Can you explain it?

Dro, New York

Mike: Until the Broncos broke out the formation Sunday, the "wild horse" was known as the "wildcat." It's actually not a new twist, but a very old formation. We're talking way back in the leather helmet and no-face-mask days.

Back then, it was called the single wing. It was a shotgun snap to the quarterback, who was really more of the team's star running back back then. Now it's a shotgun snap to the star running back.

Looking for Larsen. Can we look forward to Spencer Larsen's return to the lineup as the fullback in short-yardage situations?

Christian, Fort Worth, Texas

Mike: Maybe you have the answer to the Broncos' lone consistent weakness this year - third-

and-inches. They have tried power packages with three tight ends and guard Russ Hochstein as a lead fullback. They have tried Knowshon Moreno from a single-back set. Too often, third-and-inches has been the Broncos' drive killer.

Larsen, out since wrenching his shoulder after slipping on the training-room floor minutes before

Denver's season opener, perhaps can provide that 6-inch push the Broncos have been lacking. Expect him back after the Week 7 bye.

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Name game

Is Knowshon Moreno's last name pronounced Mo-RAY-no or Mo-REE-no? Announcers have been saying both ways all season, and Joe Buck said it one way while Troy Aikman would say it the other.....David, Golden

Mike: It's Mo-RAY-no. The confusion derives from, first, the spelling of Moreno's name - the vowel in question is an "e," not an "a." And second,

pronunciation guides used in his team media guides over the years have listed Mor-EE-no.

The Broncos are in the process of correcting the pronunciation of Mo-RAY-no's name.

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