INDIANAPOLIS — With this rookie award by Von Miller, the Broncos have final confirmation.

They didn’t blow their No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Miller was named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year Saturday, an honor the former Texas A&M star received during the league’s awards ceremony at the Murat Theatre.

“First of all, the award is all for him,” said John Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations. “He’s the guy who went out and did it. Considering he didn’t have an offseason for us, learning the defense — with the year he had, there’s just so much more upside for him that he’s just going to get better and better.”

Still, for all the guff the Broncos have received for using first-round draft picks on disappointments such as Knowshon Moreno, Jarvis Moss, George Foster, Willie Middlebrooks and Marcus Nash, the team’s new administration of Elway, coach John Fox and general manager Brian Xanders knows it got the first one right.

Miller gave considerable credit to Denver linebackers coach Richard Smith for pushing him so hard — “my best wasn’t good enough” — and to defensive end Elvis Dumervil for teaching him the intricacies of NFL play.

“I want all the awards, but this one was really up there because you only get one chance to get it,” Miller said after his news conference. “I really wanted this one.”

With the Carolina Panthers taking Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, the Broncos had their choice of defensive players.

Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus would have answered a need. If only LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson were available to the Broncos in this year’s draft.

Dareus, who was drafted No. 3, had a superb rookie year for the Buffalo Bills, getting 5½ sacks. Peterson, the No. 5 pick, was a playmaking machine. Aldon Smith, the No. 7 pick by San Francisco, had 14 sacks — 2½ more than Miller, but the Broncos were better than most at defensive end with Dumervil and Robert Ayers.

“We just thought that the pass rush Von had and his athletic ability to play outside linebacker that Von was the best fit for us,” Elway said. “That’s not saying Marcell or those other guys wouldn’t have been a fit because they’re all great players and it was indicative by the kind of years they had.”

Miller produced 10½ sacks in the first 11 games, then suffered a broken right thumb that drastically curtailed his production. As Miller slowed, so did the Denver defense.

The feeling may have been that the 49ers still would have had a strong defense without the rookie Smith while Miller carried the Denver defense.

“I have a whole lot of room to get better,” Miller said. “I need to cut down on all the mental errors. Coach Smith will coach me hard, I’m sure.”

Broncos were named on other ballots. Fox placed third for the NFL coach of the year, behind San Francisco’s John Harbaugh and Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy.

And quarterback Tim Tebow received the “never say never” award. Tebow, 8-5 in starts this season for the Broncos, was the clear choice because of his five late-game comebacks.

“I think it definitely helps when you have a feel for things,” Tebow said. “I think your conditioning plays a role in it. Hopefully your heart and your will plays a role in it. Wanting it more at the end. Not giving in to fatigue, and feel for the game more. Feel the defense and the players you’re playing against”