Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak is in the minority. While an old-school coach in some ways (he still appreciates paper playbooks), he’s unafraid of new technologies.

So hearing him say he finds comfort in having Mitch Tanney, the team’s director of football analytics, stationed in the coaches’ booth during games should come as no surprise.

“When you’re calling plays and involved in the game and yet you’re involved in the time, all of a sudden, you’ve got somebody up there who is totally involved in that,” Kubiak told local media last Friday. “I just listen to him, ‘Hey, Mitch, talk to me here. What do you think?’ He’s in my ear the whole time. It’s a very comforting thing.”

Tanney was hired by the Broncos in March after spending two seasons in a similar role with the Bears and earlier serving as a manager of football products and sports analytics for STATS, LLC.

Five games into the season, Tanney’s knowledge has been embraced by Kubiak.

As my colleague Troy Renck wrote last week, Kubiak isn’t hesitant to take risks during a game — when it makes sense to do so. He relies on statistics and experience as a guide to decision-making.

In fact, Kubiak and the Broncos have relied on advanced technologies, perhaps, more than most NFL teams.

The Broncos were among the first NFL teams to use PlayerLync’s digital playbook technology, and they still use it in conjunction with their paper notebooks.

And in practice, many players are seen wearing Catapult devices on the back of their jerseys. The devices have GPS tracking and three inertial censors to collect data on players’ movements and exertion in real time to help prevent injuries and overuse.

In recent years, more and more NFL teams have turned to advanced statistics and technologies to improve the performance and health of their players. But not all coaches see their value.

“Sometimes they view technology as threatening the way they coach,” said Brian Kopp, Catapult’s president of North America. “It’s like anything new, especially anything with data or technology that may cause a disruption to their workflow, there’s a hesitancy.”

On Fridays, following practice and media availability, Kubiak meets with Tanney to review the ways teams’ handled certain situations and how, in looking at the statistics, they would have handled them. Kubiak stays aware, and open.

“I think it’s a new addition that’s very much warranted,” Kubiak said of Tanney. “I’m glad to have him.”

CRAZY STATS

• Broncos cornerback Chris Harris has not allowed a touchdown in coverage since Nov. 24, 2013, when the Broncos lost to the Patriots in overtime. That’s 28 games. No touchdowns.

• Through Sunday, Denver owns the league’s third-worst passer rating (64.3) in the red zone in 2015. Only the Cardinals (60.7) and Eagles (55.9) are worse.

• Talk of Peyton Manning’s decline isn’t all subjective. Here are his numbers through the first five games of each season with the Broncos:

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Season Record TDs Interceptions Sacks Yards/pass att. 2015 5-0 6 7 12 6.53 2014 4-1 15 3 6 8.01 2013 5-0 20 1 5 9.52 2012 2-3 11 3 10 7.61

CHEW ON THIS

• Watch NFL reporter Troy Renck’s Week 6 Broncos report.

• That satin purple suit Von Miller wore to Oakland? ” Just a little swag thing.” No big deal.

• Adorable.

• The Rockies need to identify their future catcher.

• Broncos’ superb defensive backs are making marks on foes.

• Avs’ first-year winger Jack Skille is making an impact and playing well on Colorado’s fourth line.

• Deadspin’s and SB Nation’s Twitter accounts were suspended Monday after NFL complaints.

• College football’s coaching landscape changed this week as USC fired Steve Sarkisian and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier announced his retirement.

WATCH THIS

Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has a flair for the dramatics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

“Weapon X” turns 42 today. I know.

Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or @NickiJhabvala