NFL: Cleveland Browns will be in the playoffs in 2014 if…

And: The Cleveland defense goes from pretty good to borderline great. In any case, it has to be better in several areas.

In 2013, the Browns ranked ninth in the league in terms of fewest total yards allowed. However, despite their best performance against the run since returning to the league in 1999, the team allowed 111.3 yards per game on the ground, a mediocre 18th in the league in that department.

To aid that cause are the additions of inside linebacker Karlos Dansby and strong safety Donte Whitner, who come over from the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Both figure to be big factors when it comes to slowing down the opposition on the ground. The former takes over for D’Qwell Jackson, released by the team this offseason, while Whitner replaces Pro Bowler T.J. Ward, who left for Denver via free agency.

Speaking of new faces and Pro Bowlers, veteran cornerback Joe Haden will have a new bookend in rookie Justin Gilbert, the team’s first pick in May and the eighth overall pick in the 2014 draft. They hope to benefit from a pass rush that produced 40 sacks last season, led by outside linebackers Jabaal Sheard (5.5), Barkevious Mingo (5.0) and Paul Kruger (4.5). The Browns forced only 21 turnovers in 2013, the fifth straight season the team managed fewer than 30 takeaways.