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NFL: Houston Texans will be in the playoffs in 2014 if…

By Russell S. Baxter

Jun 17, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) goes through drills during mini camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 17, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) goes through drills during mini camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

If: New defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel can elevate his unit to new heights in terms of this franchise. Under Wade Phillips, the Texans set team records for with 44 sacks in both 2011 and 2012. But Houston had a problem when it came to making the big play, forcing only 56 turnovers in 32 regular-season games over that span.

This past season, the Texans totaled an NFL-low 11 takeaways. And their seven interceptions as a team, the fewest in the league, was one less than Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman managed by himself in 2013.

Meanwhile, could the addition of first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney be the difference in terms of forcing turnovers? He joins a unit that already includes is fair share of standouts in the form of defensive end J.J. Watt (the league’s defensive player of the year back in 2012), inside linebacker Brian Cushing and emerging outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, as well as former Pro Bowl cornerback Johnathan Joseph?

All told, Houston allowed the seventh-fewest total yards in the league in 2013, although that 23rd-ranked rushing defense is cause for a little concern. Look for Crennel to come up with enough to fix what ails this group and make it one of the more feared units in the league.

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