1954 Los Angeles Rams
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1954 Los Angeles Rams

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The 1954 Los Angeles Rams had a mixed season, showing both strong and inconsistent performances. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their year:

Team Overview (1954 Los Angeles Rams):

  • Record: 6-6
  • Finish: 3rd in the Western Division
  • Head Coach: Joe Stydahar (fifth season as head coach)

The 1954 season was a bit of a downturn for the Rams after several seasons of success. Their 6-6 record was .500, which placed them in third place in the competitive Western Division, far behind the top two teams, the Detroit Lions (9-3) and Chicago Bears (8-4). The Rams missed the playoffs, and the season marked a transition for the team.

Key Players:

  1. Norm Van Brocklin (Quarterback):

    • Van Brocklin continued to be the starting quarterback, but his performance was a bit inconsistent during the 1954 season. Despite his solid leadership and passing ability, he wasn’t able to carry the Rams as effectively as in previous years.

  2. Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch (Wide Receiver):

    • Hirsch remained one of the top wide receivers in the league, still being the go-to option for the Rams’ passing attack. However, like Van Brocklin, his performance was affected by the team’s overall inconsistency.

  3. Tom Fears (Wide Receiver):

    • Fears continued to contribute as a key receiver, but the passing game didn’t have the same level of explosiveness as it had in previous seasons.

  4. Les Richter (Linebacker/Fullback):

    • Richter was one of the Rams’ more reliable all-around players, providing stability both offensively and defensively. He was one of the standout performers during a season marked by ups and downs.

  5. Dick “Night Train” Lane (Cornerback):

    • Lane remained a key figure in the Rams’ defense, known for his playmaking ability and leadership in the secondary. His presence helped bolster the defense, but it wasn’t enough to elevate the team into playoff contention.

Season Summary:

  • Offensive Struggles: Despite having a capable quarterback in Van Brocklin and playmakers like Hirsch and Fears, the Rams’ offense was unable to match the high-scoring performances of previous seasons. The team struggled with consistency and wasn’t able to produce enough points to compete consistently in a tough division.

  • Defensive Performance: The Rams’ defense, anchored by Lane and Richter, had some strong individual performances, but overall, it wasn’t enough to make up for the offensive struggles. The defense couldn’t carry the team through all their challenges, and they lost several close games due to this imbalance.

  • Key Games: The Rams were competitive throughout the season but had several tough losses, especially within their own division. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions were simply better teams that year, and the Rams could not keep up in terms of overall performance.

Missed Playoffs:

  • With a 6-6 record, the Rams finished in third place in the Western Division, missing out on the NFL playoffs. The playoffs at the time were limited to the top two teams from each division, so the Rams were left on the outside looking in, despite being competitive in many of their games.

Aftermath:

  • The 1954 season was a disappointing one for the Rams, as it marked a downturn after several strong years. Norm Van Brocklin and Elroy Hirsch were still valuable players, but the team couldn’t sustain the same level of excellence that they had enjoyed in the previous years.

  • Joe Stydahar, the head coach, was under increasing pressure, as the team had failed to make the playoffs despite having talent on the roster. The following years would see the Rams continue to face challenges in returning to the elite level of the NFL.

Legacy:

  • The 1954 season highlighted the fact that the Rams’ roster, while talented, was not quite cohesive enough to contend for a championship or even the playoffs. The team needed to adjust both offensively and defensively if they hoped to return to their prior success.

Though it wasn’t a particularly successful season, the Rams would eventually turn things around in the years to come, with a few key changes and new players making an impact in the following seasons.

Head Coach: Hamp Pool

  • To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
  • * Hall of Fame
  • + Primary starter

Pos # Player GP GS Start Pos Exp DOB Ht Wt College
DB Bill Bowers 8 1 10/31/1928 ‘ “ Southern California
E/DB Bob Boyd 12 4 03/07/1928 ‘ “ Loyola Marymount
E Bob Carey 2 2 02/08/1930 ‘ “ Michigan State
T/DT Bobby Cross 12 2 04/04/1931 ‘ “ Stephen F. Austin State
T Tom Dahms 12 4 04/19/1927 ‘ “ San Diego State
DB/HB Don Doll 12 6 08/29/1926 ‘ “ Southern California
DB Jack Dwyer 11 4 01/15/1927 ‘ “ Loyola Marymount
TE/DB * Tom Fears 10 7 12/03/1923 ‘ “ UCLA
LB Bob Griffin 12 2 02/12/1929 ‘ “ Arkansas
T/G Art Hauser 12 R 06/19/1929 ‘ “ Xavier (OH)
DB/HB Hall Haynes 11 3 10/03/1928 ‘ “ Santa Clara
E/RB/DB * Crazy Legs Hirsch 12 6 06/17/1923 ‘ “ Michigan
DB Ed Hughes 11 R 10/23/1927 ‘ “ Tulsa
DB/E Woodley Lewis 12 5 06/14/1925 ‘ “ Oregon
DT/DE Big Daddy Lipscomb 11 2 08/09/1921 ‘ “ none
HB Tom McCormick 9 2 05/16/1930 ‘ “ University of Pacific
DT/DG/G/LB Bud McFadin 12 2 08/21/1928 ‘ “ Texas
C Leon McLaughlin 12 4 05/30/1925 ‘ “ UCLA
DE Paul Miller 12 1 11/08/1930 ‘ “ Louisiana State
LB/C Don Paul 12 7 03/18/1925 ‘ “ UCLA
G/LB Duane Putman 11 3 09/05/1928 ‘ “ University of Pacific
HB Skeets Quinlan 11 3 06/22/1928 ‘ “ San Diego State
LB * Les Richter 12 1 10/06/1930 ‘ “ California
DE * Andy Robustelli 12 4 12/06/1925 ‘ “ Arnold
DB/RB Will Sherman 12 2 10/20/1927 ‘ “ Southern California
LB/DT Harland Svare 10 2 11/15/1930 ‘ “ Washington State
G/DE/LB/DG Harry Thompson 12 5 01/08/1926 ‘ “ UCLA
DT/T/G Charlie Toogood 12 4 07/16/1927 ‘ “ Nebraska
FB Dan Towler 12 5 03/06/1928 ‘ “ Washington & Jefferson
QB * Norm Van Brocklin 12 6 03/15/1926 ‘ “ Oregon
QB Billy Wade 10 1 10/04/1930 ‘ “ Vanderbilt
DE Duane Wardlow 12 1 07/02/1932 ‘ “ Washington
DG/G/C Stan West 9 5 09/22/1926 ‘ “ Oklahoma
FB/LB/HB Tank Younger 8 6 06/25/1928 ‘ “ Grambling State

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