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Gridiron Glory: The 1972 Rams Season Unveiled

A comprehensive analysis of the Los Angeles Rams' 1972 campaign, detailing their performance, roster, key games, and standings within the NFC West.

Season Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Game Schedule ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ

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Season Overview

A Season of Transition

The 1972 Los Angeles Rams season marked the team's 35th year in the National Football League and their 27th season based in Los Angeles. Under Head Coach Tommy Prothro, the team aimed to build upon their 8โ€“5โ€“1 record from the previous year and secure a playoff berth for the first time since 1969. Despite a promising start and a mid-season surge, the Rams ultimately finished with a 6โ€“7โ€“1 record, placing third in the NFC West and failing to qualify for the postseason. This season represented a challenging period before the Rams' subsequent dominance throughout the 1970s, which included seven consecutive NFC West titles from 1973 to 1979.

Key Personnel

The Rams were led by Head Coach Tommy Prothro. The team's roster featured notable players such as quarterback Roman Gabriel, defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, and defensive end Jack Youngblood. The ownership structure also saw a significant change during the offseason.

Performance Context

The 1972 season concluded without a playoff appearance, a stark contrast to the team's later success. The 6โ€“7โ€“1 record was a step back from the previous year's performance. This season is often viewed as a transitional period, preceding the team's sustained success in the latter half of the decade.

Offseason Developments

Ownership Change

A pivotal event occurred on July 13, 1972, when Robert Irsay and Willard Keland acquired the Los Angeles Rams. In a significant transaction, they transferred ownership of the Rams to Carroll Rosenbloom in exchange for ownership of the Baltimore Colts. This complex deal reshaped the leadership of both franchises.

Coaching Transition

Following the conclusion of the 1972 season, Head Coach Tommy Prothro was dismissed in January 1973. He was succeeded by Chuck Knox, who had previously served as the offensive line coach for the Detroit Lions. This coaching change marked a new direction for the team.

NFL Draft

The Rams participated in the 1972 NFL Draft, selecting players to bolster their roster. While specific draft picks are detailed in the source, the draft is a critical component of team building and player development in professional football.

Key Roster Personnel

Offensive Unit

The offensive side of the ball featured a mix of established and developing talent. Key players included:

  • Quarterbacks: Pete Beathard, Roman Gabriel
  • Running Backs: Jim Bertelsen, Willie Ellison, Larry Smith, Bob Thomas
  • Wide Receivers: Dick Gordon, Lance Rentzel, Jack Snow, Joe Sweet
  • Tight Ends: Pat Curran, Bob Klein
  • Offensive Linemen: Ken Iman, Mike LaHood, Tom Mack, Rich Saul, Harry Schuh, Joe Scibelli, John Williams

Quarterbacks (QB): Pete Beathard, Roman Gabriel

Running backs (RB): Jim Bertelsen, Willie Ellison, Les Josephson, Larry Smith, Bob Thomas

Wide receivers (WR): Dick Gordon, Lance Rentzel, Jack Snow, Joe Sweet

Tight ends (TE): Pat Curran, Bob Klein

Offensive linemen (OL): Ken Iman (C), Mike LaHood (G), Tom Mack (G), Rich Saul (C), Harry Schuh (T), Joe Scibelli (G), John Williams (T)

Defensive and Special Teams

The defensive unit was anchored by formidable players, complemented by specialists:

  • Defensive Linemen: Coy Bacon, Larry Brooks, Fred Dryer, Merlin Olsen, Phil Olsen, Jack Youngblood
  • Linebackers: Ken Geddes, Dean Halverson, Marlin McKeever, John Pergine, Jim Purnell, Jack Reynolds, Isiah Robertson
  • Defensive Backs: Al Clark, Dave Elmendorf, Gene Howard, Jim Nettles, Roger Williams
  • Special Teams: David Chapple (Punter), David Ray (Kicker)

Defensive linemen (DL): Coy Bacon (DE), Larry Brooks (DE), Fred Dryer (DE), Merlin Olsen (DT), Phil Olsen (DT), Jack Youngblood (DE)

Linebackers (LB): Ken Geddes (OLB), Dean Halverson (OLB), Marlin McKeever (MLB), John Pergine (OLB), Jim Purnell (OLB), Jack Reynolds (MLB), Isiah Robertson (OLB)

Defensive backs (DB): Al Clark (CB), Dave Elmendorf (SS), Gene Howard (CB), Jim Nettles (FS), Roger Williams (CB/S)

Special teams (ST): David Chapple (P), David Ray (K)

Practice Squad/Reserve: Hank Allison (G), James Harris (QB), Ike Hill (WR), John Love (WR), Lawrence McCutcheon (RB), Bill Nelson (DT), Willie Parker (G/C), Charley Cowan (T - IR), Clancy Williams (CB - IR), Travis Williams (RB - IR)

1972 Game Schedule & Results

Game-by-Game Breakdown

The Rams navigated a challenging schedule throughout the 1972 season. Their performance included notable wins, a crucial tie, and several close losses that ultimately defined their 6โ€“7โ€“1 record.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 17 New Orleans Saints W 34โ€“14 1โ€“0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 66,303
2 September 24 at Chicago Bears T 13โ€“13 1โ€“0โ€“1 Soldier Field 55,701
3 October 1 at Atlanta Falcons L 3โ€“31 1โ€“1โ€“1 Atlanta Stadium 57,122
4 October 8 San Francisco 49ers W 31โ€“7 2โ€“1โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 77,382
5 October 15 at Philadelphia Eagles W 34โ€“3 3โ€“1โ€“1 Veterans Stadium 65,720
6 October 22 Cincinnati Bengals W 15โ€“12 4โ€“1โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 73,385
7 October 29 at Oakland Raiders L 17โ€“45 4โ€“2โ€“1 Oaklandโ€“Alameda County Coliseum 54,660
8 November 5 Atlanta Falcons W 20โ€“7 5โ€“2โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 75,018
9 November 12 Denver Broncos L 10โ€“16 5โ€“3โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 65,398
10 November 19 Minnesota Vikings L 41โ€“45 5โ€“4โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 77,982
11 November 26 at New Orleans Saints L 16โ€“19 5โ€“5โ€“1 Tulane Stadium 64,325
12 December 4 at San Francisco 49ers W 26โ€“16 6โ€“5โ€“1 Candlestick Park 61,214
13 December 10 at St. Louis Cardinals L 14โ€“24 6โ€“6โ€“1 Busch Memorial Stadium 36,873
14 December 17 Detroit Lions L 17โ€“34 6โ€“7โ€“1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 71,761

NFC West Standings

Divisional Performance

The Los Angeles Rams competed in the NFC West division. Their final record of 6 wins, 7 losses, and 1 tie placed them third in the division standings.

NFC West
Team W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Francisco 49ers 8 5 1 .607 3โ€“2โ€“1 6โ€“4โ€“1 353 249 W2
Atlanta Falcons 7 7 0 .500 3โ€“3 5โ€“5 269 274 L2
Los Angeles Rams 6 7 1 .464 4โ€“2 5โ€“5โ€“1 291 286 L2
New Orleans Saints 2 11 1 .179 1โ€“4โ€“1 2โ€“8โ€“1 215 361 L3

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 1972 Los Angeles Rams season Wikipedia page

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