"When Mike Munchak replaced Jeff Fisher as head coach of the Tennessee Titans last February, he had to wait to make an impression on his team.

More than five months later, when he stood before his players for the first time after the NFL lockout, Munchak made it clear there would be changes. During the 2011 season, he followed through with his promise.

And while there was no storybook ending to Munchak's first season — the Titans finished 9-7 but missed the playoffs — another thing became apparent: The fingerprints left behind by Fisher have faded.

It's Munchak's team now. His mantra has been accountability, discipline and camaraderie.

"He definitely changed the culture," fullback Ahmard Hall said. "Coach Munchak did things his way, with his own style, and guys really bought in. If anyone was skeptical at first, they have to feel better about things now. Things are definitely heading into the right direction."

After serving 17 years as an assistant coach, Munchak stepped right into the fire after being selected by owner Bud Adams to replace the only NFL head coach the city had ever known. Munchak took over a team in transition, coming off a 6-10 season that was filled with controversy.

In 2011, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck established himself as the face of the franchise on the field. On the sideline and at the top, however, it was the no-nonsense approach Munchak put into motion that made the biggest impression on the team.

When players cleaned out lockers on Monday to start the offseason, the message hadn't been forgotten. Players believe it will carry into 2012."