Rams ’93 / Season Preview : Los Angeles Rams: Turning Point?
The Rams doubled their 1991 victory total in 1992, going 6-10. After a solid draft, Coach Chuck Knox hopes for further improvement.
The Depth Chart The defense, shored up by free agency, will have to carry the team in the early going until the offense gets into sync. When that happens, quarterback Jim Everett could very well be joined in the backfield by Jerome Bettis and Russell White and be throwing to wide receivers other than Henry Ellard and Flipper Anderson.
Starters: In and Out The Rams gained as much as they lost in the offseason as a result of free-agency. Gone among the regulars are popular linebacker Kevin Greene (Pittsburgh), offensive lineman Gerald Perry (Raiders) and running back Robert Delpino (Denver). But five of the team’s projected starters were acquired through free-agency: offensive linemen Irv Eatman (N.Y. Jets) and Leo Goeas (San Diego), linebackers Shane Conlan (Buffalo) and Henry Rolling (San Diego) and defensive lineman Fred Stokes (Washington).
Defensive Starters (projected) Robert Young (76) Marc Boutte (96) Sean Gilbert (90) Fred Stokes (60 Shane Conlan (56) Henry Rolling (59) Roman Phifer (58) Todd Lyght (41) Darryl Henley (20) Michael Stewart (23) Anthony Newman (26) Don Bracken (15)
Offensive Starters (projected) Henry Ellard (80) Irv Eatman (75) Tom Newberry (66) Bern Brostek (61) Leo Goeas (79) Jackie Slater (78) Pat Carter (88) Flipper Anderson (83) Jim Everett (11) Tim Lester (34) Cleveland Gary (43) Tony Zendajas (10)
The Art of It All
The year was 1947. Fred Gehrke, a running back and an art major, said he was tired of looking at plain, unadorned helmets worn by the players. “So I took home with me on Sunday the team’s whole supply of helmets, and painted on a sweeping Ram’s horn in royal blue and gold.” Gehrke’s idea was an instant hit with owners and fans.
The Boss A nine-victory season would tie Chick Knox with Chuck Noll. Regular season victories:
Wins Losses Ties Pct. George Halas 319 148 31 .672 Don Shula 300 136 6 .686 Tom Landry 250 162 6 .605 Curly Lambeau 226 132 22 .624 Chuck Noll 186 139 1 .572 Chuck Knox 177 124 1 .588 Paul Brown 166 100 6 .621 Bud Grant 158 96 5 .620 Steve Owen 151 100 17 .595 Hank Stram 131 97 10 .571
Battering Rams Knox, sometimes known as Ground Chuck because of his fondness for a strong running attack, used two of his draft picks in April to boost that area. * Jerome Bettis : Top pick is big (5-11, 243 pounds), fast and a key to the team’s plan to balance the offense. He rushed for 825 yards and 10 touchdowns in 154 carries, averaging 5.4 yards, last year at Notre Dame. * Russell White : The former Encino Crespi High School star might have been a steal in the third round. His 5.2 rushing average (1,069 yards for 206 carries) yielded nine scores at Cal in 1992.
Getting Situated * Home stadium: Anaheim Stadium. * Location: 2000 State College Blvd., Anaheim, 92803. * Headquarters: Rams Park, 2327 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, 92801. * Phone: (714) 991-2100. * 1992 home attendance: 480,249. * 1992 home average (10 games, including two exhibitions): 48,025. * 1992 largest crowd: 65,858, Nov. 22 vs. San Francisco 49ers. * Parking: Stadium parking lot opens at 10:30 a.m. on game days (2 1/2 hours before kickoff). Parking is $6. Stadium gates open 1 1/2 hours before kickoff. * Advance ticket purchases: Single game regular-season tickets are $35, $30 and $23. The ticket office at Gate 9 is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets also sold at Ticketmaster outlets at Music Plus, Robinsons-May and Tower Records. * Telephone ticket orders: Contact the Rams directly at (714) 533-5800 or (800) 2GO-RAMS or Ticketmaster at (714) 740-0535, (714) 740-2000, (213) 480-3232, 805-583-8700 or (619) 278-8497. * Group sales: Groups of 25 or more can receive discounts and scoreboard and program recognition. Call (714) 533-5800 or (800) 2GO-RAMS.
Where and When (All starts are Pacific time) Sunday, Sept. 5, at Green Bay (Milwaukee), 10 a.m.* Sunday, Sept. 12, PITTSBURGH, 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at New York Giants, 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, at Houston, 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, NEW ORLEANS, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, bye Thursday, Oct. 14, at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m.** Sunday, Oct. 24, DETROIT, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at San Francisco, 1 p.m.** Sunday, Nov. 7, bye Sunday, Nov. 14, ATLANTA, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, WASHINGTON, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, SAN FRANCISCO, 1 p.m.** Sunday, Dec. 5, at Phoenix, 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at New Orleans, 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, CLEVELAND, 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, CHICAGO, 1 p.m. * Milwaukee ** National telecasts
Wouldn’t Miss It 49ers are biggest draw at the Big A.
Attendance Game 67,959 1989 vs. San Francisco 49ers 67,037 1984 vs. N.Y. Giants 66,676 1985 vs. Raiders 66,351 1985 vs. Dallas Cowboys 66,070 1983 vs. 49ers 65,858 1992 vs. 49ers 65,619 1990 vs. 49ers 65,579 1988 vs. Chicago Bears 65,481 1984 vs. 49ers 65,450 1988 vs. 49ers
Source: Los Angeles Rams