1956 Los Angeles Rams
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1956 Los Angeles Rams

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The 1956 Los Angeles Rams had a season of improvement but still faced struggles in competing at the top of the NFL. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their year:

Team Overview (1956 Los Angeles Rams):

  • Record: 4-8
  • Finish: 5th in the Western Division
  • Head Coach: Joe Stydahar (7th season as head coach)

The 1956 season was another challenging year for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite several key players returning and showing flashes of brilliance, the team finished with a disappointing 4-8 record, marking another losing season. The Rams finished 5th in the tough Western Division, far behind the top teams in the division.

Key Players:

  1. Norm Van Brocklin (Quarterback):

    • Van Brocklin continued to be the starting quarterback, but his performance in 1956 showed signs of decline. He was still a capable leader, but his struggles with consistency and turnovers were issues for the team.
    • Although he could still make big plays, Van Brocklin could not carry the team to success in a season that was filled with offensive and defensive inconsistency.

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

    • Hirsch was still the Rams’ top receiving threat, and his big-play ability was a bright spot for the offense. However, like other key offensive players, his impact was limited by the team’s overall struggles to generate consistent production on offense.

  3. Tom Fears (Wide Receiver):

    • Fears, a consistent and reliable receiver, continued to play a vital role in the Rams’ passing game. His performance remained solid, but he wasn’t able to offset the offensive struggles that plagued the team as a whole.

  4. Les Richter (Linebacker/Fullback):

    • Richter remained one of the team’s most versatile and important players. He contributed both offensively and defensively, though his efforts were not enough to elevate the team above its challenges.

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

    • Lane continued to be one of the NFL’s premier defensive players. His physical play and ability to make game-changing turnovers were essential for the Rams’ defense, but the overall defense wasn’t strong enough to compensate for the team’s offensive problems.

Season Summary:

  • Offensive Struggles: The Rams’ offense continued to struggle in 1956. Van Brocklin had trouble with consistency, and the offensive line was not effective in creating enough time for the quarterback to execute plays. Hirsch and Fears were still excellent playmakers, but they were often unable to generate enough production due to the offense’s overall inefficiency.

  • Defensive Play: The defense, led by Lane and Richter, was solid but couldn’t carry the team. The Rams were competitive defensively in many games, but as the offense struggled to score points, the defense was often put in difficult situations.

  • Key Games: The Rams had some narrow defeats and competitive games, but they were unable to win key matchups, particularly against their divisional rivals like the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers. Their inability to win games within the division prevented them from reaching the playoffs.

Missed Playoffs:

  • With a 4-8 record, the Rams finished 5th in the Western Division, well behind the top two teams in the division. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions were significantly better, and the Rams were not in contention for the postseason.

Aftermath:

  • The 1956 season marked another year of decline for the Rams, who were struggling to regain their competitive edge. Joe Stydahar’s tenure as head coach was under increasing scrutiny, and many changes were needed for the team to return to success. Despite the presence of some standout players like Van Brocklin, Hirsch, Lane, and Richter, the Rams were not able to put everything together to become a contender.

  • The team would make some changes in the years following 1956, looking to rebuild and improve both offensively and defensively. While there were still key pieces in place, the Rams were not able to compete at the level of the top teams in the league.

Legacy:

  • The 1956 season is seen as another step in the Rams’ decline after their competitive years in the early 1950s. While the team had some star players, their inability to put it all together led to another disappointing year.

  • Despite the struggles, the team’s key players like Van Brocklin, Hirsch, Fears, and Lane would go down as some of the franchise’s most notable figures, and their individual performances were part of the Rams’ rich history.

In the following years, the Rams would work on rebuilding and retooling their roster in hopes of returning to contention. However, the 1956 season was yet another reminder that success in the NFL required more than just individual talent—it needed a strong, cohesive team effort.

Head Coach: *Sid Gillman

  • 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
E/DB Bob Boyd 12 6 03/07/1928 ‘ “ Loyola Marymount
QB Rudy Bukich 3 2 03/15/1932 ‘ “ Southern California
DB Don Burroughs 12 2 08/19/1931 ‘ “ Colorado State
E Bob Carey 7 3 02/08/1930 ‘ “ Michigan State
DB/HB Jim Cason 12 6 07/25/1927 ‘ “ Louisiana State
DB Jesse Castete 3 R 09/03/1933 ‘ “ McNeese State
E/WR Leon Clarke 12 R 01/10/1933 ‘ “ Southern California
G/LB/C Dick Daugherty 12 4 03/29/1928 ‘ “ Oregon
G/LB Jack Ellena 9 2 10/27/1931 ‘ “ UCLA
TE/DB * Tom Fears 2 9 12/03/1923 ‘ “ UCLA
G/LB/DB Sid Fournet 12 2 08/27/1932 ‘ “ Louisiana State
T/G Bob Fry 12 2 11/11/1930 ‘ “ Kentucky
LB Bob Griffin 6 4 02/12/1929 ‘ “ Arkansas
T/G Art Hauser 12 3 06/19/1929 ‘ “ Xavier (OH)
E/RB/DB * Crazy Legs Hirsch 12 8 06/17/1923 ‘ “ Michigan
G/T John Hock 12 4 03/07/1927 ‘ “ Santa Clara
DB Bob Holladay 4 1 03/13/1932 ‘ “ Tulsa
T/DT Glenn Holtzman 12 2 10/09/1930 ‘ “ North Texas
FB/RB Joe Marconi 12 R 02/06/1934 ‘ “ West Virginia
DT/DG/G/LB Bud McFadin 12 4 08/21/1928 ‘ “ Texas
DE Paul Miller 12 3 11/08/1930 ‘ “ Louisiana State
E Ron Miller 7 1 04/17/1933 ‘ “ Southern California
LB/RB Larry Morris 7 2 12/10/1933 ‘ “ Georgia Tech
C/G/DE John Morrow 12 R 04/27/1933 ‘ “ Michigan
HB/FB/E/DB Brad Myers 5 2 02/14/1929 ‘ “ Bucknell
T/DT Ken Panfil 6 1 09/16/1930 ‘ “ Purdue
LB Hugh Pitts 9 R 04/08/1934 ‘ “ Texas Christian
G/LB Duane Putman 12 5 09/05/1928 ‘ “ University of Pacific
HB Skeets Quinlan 2 5 06/22/1928 ‘ “ San Diego State
LB * Les Richter 12 3 10/06/1930 ‘ “ California
DB/RB Will Sherman 12 4 10/20/1927 ‘ “ Southern California
DB Rex Shiver 8 1 01/01/1932 ‘ “ Miami (FL)
DT/T/G Charlie Toogood 7 6 07/16/1927 ‘ “ Nebraska
QB * Norm Van Brocklin 12 8 03/15/1926 ‘ “ Oregon
QB Billy Wade 12 3 10/04/1930 ‘ “ Vanderbilt
HB Ron Waller 9 2 02/14/1933 ‘ “ Maryland
DE Duane Wardlow 9 2 07/02/1932 ‘ “ Washington
DB Jesse Whittenton 12 R 05/09/1934 ‘ “ Texas – El Paso
HB/FB Tommy Wilson 12 1 09/01/1932 ‘ “ none
FB/LB/HB Tank Younger 12 8 06/25/1928 ‘ “ Grambling State

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