ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller has always balanced on-field success with a free-spirit demeanor away from football. He followed a Super Bowl 50 MVP with an appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" after all.

But 14 unflinching words refocused him this offseason and set the table for the 2019 season. Fourteen words that have teammates saying they've seen a more serious side of Miller this summer.

"I'm 30, it's my ninth year -- ninth year already," Miller said. "I just want to be the best I can be. I feel like I'm the same Von, but a little older maybe. But I don't want to waste any time, maybe that's why people think it's more serious or whatever, but I don't want to waste time."

Vic Fangio had been the Broncos coach for all of a matter of hours in January when, in the middle of introducing himself to the region in a gathering broadcast live throughout the state, he finished off a long answer about the prospect of coaching Miller and Bradley Chubb with the 14 words everybody seems to remember -- "I think Von Miller can play even better than he's played in his career."

Fangio was just as matter-of-fact when training camp opened. Asked again about Miller, Fangio doubled down: "I think he's got more to give. I think we can make him be a better player. He's got to make himself be a better player. Let me rephrase that: With us guiding him and being a resource for him, I think he has more in him that he can even be better and better. He is a guy that should be in the mention for player of the year award and stuff like that."

Miller has yet to argue one syllable of what Fangio has said. In fact, as the Sept. 9 regular-season opener in Oakland approaches, he has heartily agreed with Fangio over and over again.

Miller has 98 career sacks, already the franchise record and more than any other player in the league since his rookie year in 2011, but is now quick to point out he didn't make 100 before that 30th birthday. He has been a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, a three-time first-team All Pro, but he'll now quickly add that he hasn't won the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award, that he has never led the NFL in sacks.

"I haven't done those things. I want to be in those conversations because that means I'm making plays we need me to make," Miller said. "I did say that it hit me in the gut that I didn't get [100 sacks] before I was 30 and I couldn't do some of this other stuff yet ... but you know I don't want Super Bowl 50 to be the peak. I've never wanted that -- I want there to be more."

Teammates say Miller has tried to grow into the leadership role as others, such as Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware, moved into retirement. Some have said it becomes natural as more candles get added to the birthday cake.

If there was ever a coach who could get more out of Miller, it is Fangio, a 61-year-old, tell-it-to-you-straight sort, who waited decades for his opportunity to be a head coach. Fangio also happens to have one of the league's most proven résumés when it comes to helping defensive players -- pass-rushers in particular -- flourish.

"Coach Fangio has challenged everybody, I think," Chubb said. "And in the big picture, you have to look at it like if he’s going to say Von can be better, then we all know that means us too. And Von has done so many things already, but he wants to be better too. That's what I see from him every day."

Miller knows Fangio has coached players who are enshrined in Canton, players such Rickey Jackson, Kevin Greene and Ray Lewis. Miller has heard the endorsements of friends like former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, who has called Fangio an "evil genius."

He wants to be in that group, wants to be on that list when people look back on how all this went.

"Everybody knows, he has coached all the great ones, he coached some great ones last year, like Khalil as well, and he always has success," Miller said. "I'm just at a point where I know what to worry about and what not to worry about, what matters to me and what doesn't matter to me, what helps me and what doesn't help me. ... Whatever he tells me to do, I go out there and do it. It's simple -- it's not complicated. I feel that if I can stick to that game plan, all that stuff will happen for me."