C.J. Anderson never sounds different.

Pull up a seat next to him and he’s your friend at a diner or your buddy at the barbershop.

C.J. Anderson looks different.

His jersey fits looser, a symbol of how seriously he has taken his metamorphosis from an undrafted free agent to Pro Bowler. In the weeks leading to the Denver Broncos‘ organized training activity, Anderson modified his diet, ran hills and tracks in Colorado and California.

WATCH: C.J. Anderson no one-hit wonder for the Broncos

Former Broncos’ offensive coordinator Adam Gase can save the “chubby” remarks. They don’t apply anymore. At this time a year ago, Anderson weighed 243 pounds. He checked in at 221 on Monday, two pounds less than he carried in the final few weeks of his breakout 2014 season.

“I am taking this to the next level,” Anderson said on a bench just off the Broncos’ Dove Valley practice field. “Everybody — fans, media, coaches — has this huge expectation of me. And I have huge expectations of myself. My motto this year is: ‘Prove everybody right.'”

When Gary Kubiak took over as Broncos coach, he brought a reputation for providing diesel power to the ground game. From Terrell Davis to Arian Foster to Justin Forsett, a stable of running backs has blossomed in his zone blocking offense. Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison told Anderson to carry himself as the lead back when the team returned to practice this spring.

WATCH: C.J. Anderson loses weight, Bradley Roby grades himself and more

Anderson, Montee Ball, also leaner and faster, and Ronnie Hillman have all had bursts of production over the past two seasons. But this offense prefers a bell cow, a three-down back.

“C.J. showed flashes of doing that,” Kubiak said recently. “He did a heck of a job at the end of the year, and he sees himself as a starter. I think he and Ronnie and all of them as a group know they’re going to get a fair opportunity.”

Anderson devoured his added responsibility by eating less and training more this off-season. On the verge of establishing himself as an impact player, he understands there are no second first impressions. He has buried himself in the playbook — he received pointers from Forsett, a friend because of their Cal-Berkley connection — unwilling to concede anything to his competitors.

“That’s what I am playing to do, be that guy. That’s what (Kubiak) wants me to do. But it’s the same confidence that I carried as a rookie. I know that I can play this game at a high level,” Anderson said. “I know what my ability can do. I am going to go out here everyday and continue to show the coaches they are right.”

At 5-foot-8, Anderson is a bowling ball with legs. His bruising style produced 455 yards after contact a season. However, he does his best work in pads, leaving this time of the year critical to understanding the nuances of the offense.

“I am not going to impress anybody in sweats and shorts because that’s not my game,” said Anderson, who is quick to credit running backs coach Eric Studesville for helping his development. “Just me picking the right spots and getting the blocking schemes down is important so we can come into (training camp) camp rockin’ and rolling.”

Davis represents the gold standard in the zone blocking system. He turned the one-cut into a Sunday ballet of breathtaking geometry, the line moving one direction, with Davis bolting the other. Davis believes Anderson’s style fits after watching him show good vision and patience last season.

“C.J. is going to love this offense with the way he runs. All running backs do,” Davis said. “I am curious how the offense is going to look, but they should be able to run the ball.”

Anderson finished with 849 yards rushing last season, including 648 over the final six games. His 10 touchdowns ranked seventh among all NFL running backs. That was last season, his second year in the pros.

He wants to control the future through how hard he works, what he eats (chicken and fish) and how he performs behind a revamped offensive line. He left last season as the starter.

It was a good look.

“It’s my job to make the line look right with the right cuts,” Anderson said. “Even this summer, I am going to lose even a little more weight, and get a little leaner. Sure I miss the burgers, the ice cream. Sometimes it tastes like I am eating the same thing everyday, but I know what it’s going to do for me and the team in the long run.”

Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck