NFL: Tennessee Titans will be in the playoffs in 2014 if…

And: Tennessee’s new-look defense comes together sooner than later. Ray Horton is one of the more highly-regarded defensive coordinators in the league and he and Whisenhunt go back some years with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cardinals.

Just like the Tennessee running attack, the Titans defense was also ranked 14th in the league this past season. A year after surrendering a franchise-record 471 points (which was also the most in the NFL in 2012) the club reduced that number by 90 points (381). Still, inconsistency was the trademark for the club. The Titans allowed a mere 105 points in their seven victories (15.0 points per game) but allowed a whopping 276 points in their nine setbacks (30.7 points per game).

With Horton comes to the 3-4 and thanks in part to general manager Ruston Webster, some help to make the transition easy. Free agency brings a pair of former Denver Broncos with inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips. The latter spent the majority of his career in the 3-4 with the San Diego Chargers and last year played defensive end for the eventual AFC champions, leading the Broncos with 10 sacks in 2013.

Horton will also have linebackers such as Akeem Ayers, Kamerion Wimbley and Zach Brown at his disposal. The Titans produced only 36 sacks this past season and nearly one-third of those came from Jurrell Casey, who makes the transition from defensive tackle to nose tackle this season.

A little increased heat could also help Tennessee improve on its takeaway totals of recent years. The last time the club forced at least 30 turnovers in a season was 2008 (31), which is also the last time the team reached the playoffs.