The Rams are ready to pounce on an evolving NFC West

The NFC West, what many consider to be the National Football League’s toughest division, took on some serious changes this offseason that will surely have an effect on the St. Louis Rams moving forward.

Let’s take a look into some of the deeper cuts and how they factor into where the Rams may sit when it’s all said and done…

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The San Francisco 49ers may have seen the largest changes of any team in the division. A team so close to the brink of implosion finally came off the tracks this spring. The match that lit the fuse was former head coach Jim Harbaugh. His power struggle with ownership resulted in him being forced to find employment elsewhere and return to collegiate football. That’s great news for the Rams. As unorthodox as his style may have been, Harbaugh was a winner and returned the Niners to relevancy in his time there.

Notable departures also include a franchise rusher in Frank Gore, Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati, and free agents Stevie Johnson and Perrish Cox. Add on the retirement of superstar Patrick Willis and rookie sensation Chris Borland and you’ve lost a serious chunk of your star power. The band-aid signings of Torrey Smith and Darnell Dockett wont be enough to stop the bleeding as San Fran is poised to take a huge step backwards in 2015.

The Arizona Cardinals are out to prove last year was no fluke and improve on their first-round playoff exit. A team that was exposed by a weak depth chart didn’t do much to convince the masses they are ready to take to the next level.

They added the likes of the aforementioned Iupati from the division-rival 49ers. Lamarr Woodley brings experience, as does waiver claim Alfonzo Dennard from the New England Patriots. Losses include the release of Dockett, Ted Ginn and Larry Foote. The biggest blow may prove to be the loss of defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Bowles was one of the most aggressive, and successful, coordinators in the league last year and quickly found himself a head coaching position with the New York Jets. Their Super Bowl chances rest on the fragile shoulders of Carson Palmer. Yikes.

Next: How about Seattle and Arizona?