FanPost

5 Reasons The St. Louis Rams COULD Win the NFC West in 2014.

Could the Rams actually overcome their "brutal" schedule and crest "prohibitively insurmountable" summit of the NFC West? It's not as laughable as one might think.

I've been a die-hard Rams fan for roughly 30 years, so I'm well versed in the ups and downs, the elation and disappointment that comes with that designation. In years past, I've tried to sell this team's potential to anyone who'd listen (myself included). And in year's past, there have been both hits and misses in my prognostication. Of course, in recent years, it's been less of the former and much more of the latter. So, you'll forgive me if I've opted to enter the 2014 NFL season with curbed enthusiasm. Last year, I said anything less than 10-6 would be a monumental failure. And we all saw how that went.

This year, however, I go in with only one true belief... that the Rams likely won't regress. Sure, another 7-9 finish would sting, but at the same time, I'm not going to start booking airfare to Arizona in February. That said... this is not a list of my "expectations" for the Rams, but rather, the possibilities ahead of them that could signal a major step forward and maybe a division crown to go along for the ride.

5. Parity

Ask any beat writer, sports network talking head, power ranking conjurer, or fan of a Super Bowl champion team during the offseason, and they'll tell you that every NFL season obviously follows the exact same course of the previous season, every year, without fail. Which of course means the Seattle Seahawks will inevitably defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLIX and the season really doesn't need to be played.

Of course, in the parity riddled NFL, where the NFC South has never had repeat champions, roughly 5 to 8 teams that make the playoffs fail to return the following year (since 1988) and nearly half of Super Bowl runner-ups since 2000 have posted losing records the next season, we know that's just not the case.

4. The Blueprint

It can't be overlooked that the Rams are on an eerily similar path as two of their division rivals, both the 49ers and Seahawks, have taken before them.

The ‘Niners spent 8 straight years at, or near the bottom of the division (just like the Rams). Then, over time, built up a defense (just like the Rams). Were told that they needed to give up on their QB (who, unlike Bradford, wasn’t an injury risk, but just flat-out played awful) if they ever wanted to make a playoff run (just like the Rams). Who had no "bonafide" #1 WR, or even a 1000 yard WR, but rather, a group of "decent" ones (just like the Rams).

As far as the Seahawks go... the similarities are even more striking. New coach brought in to rebuild a team and makes an immediate improvement in the first season (Pete Carroll by 2 wins, Fisher by 7) while molding a team in their image. In that time both adopt a run-first mentality. Carroll puts together an elite secondary, while Fisher opts to make the front end of the defense his calling card, instead.

...And both Carroll's (2012) and Fisher's (2014) teams were largely dismissed as contenders league wide for their 7-9 records a year before. A 7-9 team... competitive the very next season?? Unheard of! I mean, that's just crazy talk... Isn't it?

3. Sam Bradford

Before Bradford went down with a season ending achilles injury, he was a top 5 rated QB with a 60% completion percentage, 14 TDs to 4 INTs, 1,687 yards and a 90.9 QB rating. Basically, he was outperforming every QB not named Manning, Brees, Romo, or Rivers. No matter what you may think of the guy, I think it's pretty safe to say that even without the upgrades made to the offense over the offseason, having Bradford in the lineup playing alongside Zac Stacy and the revamped running game would have easily been good for at least two wins last year (at home vs. Seattle and Tennessee), possibly even 3. For those who can't count, that's 10-6, "as-was". If Bradford picks up where he left off last year, the offense should be more than capable.

2. Gregg Williams

The Rams defense was pretty damn good last year. At times... nothing short of elite. But, last year's D was a rudder-less ship with the clueless Tim Walton at the helm and often in over his head. Forget the addition of Aaron Donald, or Lamarcus Joyner... the biggest defensive offseason acquisition was Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams has presided over some really good, agressive, relentless defenses over the years... and he's never had the individual talent that he now has at his disposal. If Williams puts his hallmark on this already tight-knit and talented group... it may not even matter what the offense does.

1. "Year 3"

The Rams are a very young team. Of course, that's to be expected with such a massive roster turnover. The core ofthis youth, however, is going into that critical year three in Jeff Fisher's system. A year when youth is now paired with experience. A year when players have bought into the system and the learning curve is shallow and yields to talent. Players know what the coaching staff wants, plays faster and more instinctively and instead of thinking, are merely reacting.

Historically, year 3 under a new regime in the NFL is pivotal. Especially during a youth movement. Just ask the '72 Steelers, '81 49ers, '91 Cowboys, '01 Patriots or, yes... the 2012 Seattle Seahawks.

Honorable Mention

Three asteroids could crash into Earth's atmosphere and wipe Seattle, Glendale and Santa Clara off the map... but that one finished just outside of my top ten.

Of course, this doesn't mean the Rams' path to glory is set in stone. Even I have to see it to believe it. But, there are a lot of factors that go in their favor. And when you start adding things up, unless you're stuck in 2013, a sizable leap forward isn't really all that far fetched of a notion after all.