All-Time Ram Team : Bob Waterfield Is Top Selection in Three Categories
Bob Waterfield, who led the Rams to National Football League championships in Cleveland (1945) and Los Angeles (1951), was named in three categories to the Rams’ 40th anniversary all-time team, chosen by Times readers.
In a vote of 5,229 readers during July, Waterfield was selected as the Rams’ all-time quarterback, kicker and punter.
Waterfield received 1,921 votes in the quarterback category, beating Norm Van Brocklin with 1,399 and Roman Gabriel with 836.
Frank Corral was a distant second to Waterfield as the all-time kicker, as was Pat Studstill in the punting category.
Including 28 write-in votes Waterfield received as a defensive back, he got a total of 5,132 votes.
Defensive lineman Merlin Olsen got the most votes in a single category, 4,483, and current Ram defensive back Nolan Cromwell finished just behind Olsen in total votes for one category with 4,385.
Deacon Jones and Rosey Grier, Olsen’s linemates in the Rams’ Fearsome Foursome defensive front in the 1960s, also made the all-time team, as did current Ram Jack Youngblood. Jones got 4,010 votes, Youngblood got 3,331 and Grier 2,690.
Not surprisingly, the most popular current Ram, running back Eric Dickerson, was the top vote-getter at running back with 3,263. Dickerson, who last season set the NFL’s single-season rushing mark with 2,105 yards, easily finished ahead of second-place Dick Bass, who polled 2,113 votes.
Lawrence McCutcheon edged Jon Arnett by 35 votes for the third running back spot.
The other team members are wide receivers Elroy (Crazy Legs) Hirsch with 3,128 votes, and Tom Fears, 1,922; center Rich Saul, 2,081; offensive linemen Tom Mack, 3,490; Charlie Cowan, 2,436; Joe Scibelli, 2,398, and Dennis Harrah, 2,155; tight end Bob Klein, 1,135; linebackers Jack Reynolds, 2,750; Jack Pardee, 2,546, and Les Richter, 1,723; defensive backs Ed Meador, 2,728; Dave Elmendorf, 2,152, and Dick (Night Train) Lane, 1,902; kickoff return specialist Arnett, 2,234, and punt return specialist LeRoy Irvin, 1,272.
A ceremony will be held at halftime of Saturday night’s exhibition game between the Rams and Houston Oilers at Anaheim Stadium. The game is sponsored by Times Charities.
THE TEAM
SELECTED BY READERS OF THE TIMES
OFFENSE DEFENSE POSITION PLAYER POSITION PLAYER Quarterback Bob Waterfield Lineman Merlin Olsen Running Back Eric Dickerson Lineman Fred Dryer Running Back Dick Bass Lineman Deacon Jones Running Back Lawrence McCutcheon Lineman Jack Youngblood Lineman Tom Mack Lineman Rosey Grier Lineman Charlie Cowan Linebacker Jack Reynolds Lineman Joe Scibelli Linebacker Jack Pardee Lineman Dennis Harrah Linebacker Les Richter Center Rich Saul Back Nolan Cromwell Tight End Bob Klein Back Eddie Meador Receiver Elroy Hirsch Back Dave Elmendorf Receiver Tom Fears Back Dick (Night Train) Lane Punter Bob Waterfield Punt Returner LeRoy Irvin Kicker Bob Waterfield Kick Returner Jon Arnett