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Von Miller embracing new diet, believes Broncos will be top defense

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Von Miller's 2014 campaign ended in profound disappointment after the Indianapolis Colts upset the Denver Broncos in January. 

Miller's Broncos are perennial Super Bowl contenders and falling short of the team's ultimate goal motivated the star outside linebacker to change his diet. 

The 26-year-old drinks only water and spoke about the changes he made along with the expectations he set for the Broncos' defense entering 2015. 

"I think I’ll be in better shape than I was last year," Miller said Wednesday to ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I was in pretty good shape last year, but go to another level of it. It’s always about how far you can push yourself, better yourself."

Miller recorded 14 sacks playing in all 16 games for the Broncos and was named a second-team All-Pro. 

"I know I'm going to carry it over to the season," Miller said. "Every time I eat now I just think about what this is going to do for me … When the fourth quarter rolls around I don't want to be thinking about the ice cream I had the night before," Miller said. "I want to be thinking I’m in the best situation I can possibly be in."

The Broncos' star said he cut his weight down from 252 pounds during the season to 242. 

Denver is switching its base defense from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 formation, one where Miller will be the unquestioned centerpiece. As a result, Miller believes the Broncos could be the NFL's top defense next season. 

"Every year I play out here, every time we come into a new season, I feel like we'll be the No. 1 defense," Miller said to the Denver Post's Nicki Jhabvala "I've never been on any team, back in college or little league football, where I've gone into a season thinking, 'Oh, we're going to be all right this year.' I've always had that positive mindset, 'We're going to be the best defense,' 'We're going to be the best team out there,' or 'I'm going to be the best player in the NFL this year.' I always go into the season with that mindset, and this year is no different."

Motivated by January's crashing halt, Miller could make a strong push towards winning his first Defensive Player of the Year Award. 

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