1976 Los Angeles Rams

The 1976 Los Angeles Rams season was a significant one in the team’s history. It was a year of transition, as the team faced both struggles and opportunities for improvement. While the Rams remained competitive, they had noticeable challenges that affected their overall performance.

1976 Los Angeles Rams Overview:

• Regular Season Record: 6–7–1
• Head Coach: Chuck Knox
• Key Players:
  • Pat Haden (Quarterback): 1976 marked the beginning of Pat Haden’s era as the Rams’ starting quarterback. Haden took over the starting role after Roman Gabriel’s decline and was tasked with leading a team in transition.
  • Jack Youngblood (Defensive End): Youngblood remained a dominant force on the defensive line and continued to be a major player for the Rams’ defense.
  • Fred Dryer (Defensive End): Dryer, along with Youngblood, was a mainstay on the Rams’ fearsome defensive line.
  • Isaiah Robertson (Linebacker): Robertson was another key defensive leader for the Rams in 1976.

Key Achievements:

• Solid Defensive Play: The Rams’ defense was still among the best in the NFL, as it had been for much of the decade. They finished with one of the top defensive units in the league, but they were not quite as dominant as in previous seasons.

Struggles:

• Offensive Inconsistency: The Rams continued to struggle offensively in 1976, particularly in the quarterback position. Pat Haden, while talented, was still a young player and had trouble leading a team that was largely built around defense. The offense lacked the firepower needed to keep pace with higher-scoring teams, and their passing game was inconsistent.
• Running Game Issues: The Rams’ running game was not as effective as in past seasons, and the team struggled to generate the kind of balanced attack necessary to compete at a high level.

Key Games & Moments:

• The Rams had an underwhelming 6–7–1 record in 1976, a noticeable decline from the more successful seasons in the early 1970s.
• The tie, a 24-24 game against the New York Giants, was an oddity for the season and highlighted the team’s inconsistency, as they were able to avoid a loss but still failed to capitalize on a win.

Playoffs:

• Missed Playoffs: The Rams did not make the playoffs in 1976. With a record of 6–7–1, they were not competitive enough to make a postseason run, marking the end of their playoff streak from the previous seasons.

Transition Period:

• Quarterback Change: The 1976 season marked the beginning of a significant transition at the quarterback position for the Rams. Pat Haden became the full-time starter after Roman Gabriel’s decline. This shift was part of the team’s attempt to rejuvenate the offense.
• The Rams were in a period of change, as they began to move away from the older generation of players (like Gabriel) and started to develop younger talent for the future.

Summary:

The 1976 Rams experienced a downturn after several strong years, finishing with a 6–7–1 record and missing the playoffs. Their once-feared defense remained a strength, but the team struggled with offensive inconsistency. The season marked the beginning of a rebuilding phase for the Rams, as they transitioned from Roman Gabriel to Pat Haden at quarterback. While the defense remained strong, the lack of offensive balance ultimately kept the Rams from competing at the highest levels in 1976.

Head Coach: Chuck Knox

• 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
RB			Jim Bertelsen	14			5	02/26/1950	‘ “		Texas
DT			Larry Brooks	14			5	06/10/1950	‘ “		Virginia State
RB			Cullen Bryant	14			4	05/20/1951	‘ “		Colorado
RB			John Cappelletti	14			3	06/09/1952	‘ “		Penn State
K			Tom Dempsey	14			8	01/12/1941	‘ “		Palomar College (JC – CA)
DE			Fred Dryer	14			8	07/06/1946	‘ “		San Diego State
LB			Carl Ekern	14			R	05/27/1954	‘ “		San Jose State
DB			Dave Elmendorf	14			6	06/20/1949	‘ “		Texas A&M
DT/DE			Mike Fanning	14			2	02/02/1953	‘ “		Notre Dame
T			Doug France	14			2	04/26/1953	‘ “		Ohio State
WR			Tom Geredine	10			3	06/17/1950	‘ “		Northeast Missouri State
QB			Pat Haden	10			1	01/23/1953	‘ “		Southern California
G/C			Dennis Harrah	14			2	03/09/1953	‘ “		Miami (FL)
QB			James Harris	7			7	07/20/1947	‘ “		Grambling State
G/C			Greg Horton	14			1	01/07/1951	‘ “		Colorado
WR			Harold Jackson	14			9	01/06/1946	‘ “		Jackson State
DB			Monte Jackson	14			2	07/14/1953	‘ “		San Diego State
P			Rusty Jackson	14			1	11/17/1950	‘ “		Louisiana State
QB			Ron Jaworski	5			3	03/23/1951	‘ “		Youngstown State
WR			Ron Jessie	14			6	02/04/1948	‘ “		Kansas
WR			Freeman Johns	2			R	12/20/1953	‘ “		Southern Methodist
DE/DT			Cody Jones	14			3	05/03/1951	‘ “		San Jose State
LB			Rick Kay	3			3	11/10/1949	‘ “		Colorado
TE			Bob Klein	14			8	07/27/1947	‘ “		Southern California
G		*	Tom Mack	14			11	11/01/1943	‘ “		Michigan
RB			Lawrence McCutcheon	14			5	06/02/1950	‘ “		Colorado State
LB			Kevin McLain	14			R	09/15/1954	‘ “		Colorado State
TE			Terry Nelson	14			4	05/20/1951	‘ “		Arkansas – Pine Bluff
DT		*	Merlin Olsen	14			15	09/15/1940	‘ “		Utah State
DB			Rod Perry	14			2	09/11/1953	‘ “		Colorado
RB			Rod Phillips	14			2	12/23/1952	‘ “		Jackson State
DB			Steve Preece	14			8	02/15/1947	‘ “		Oregon State
C			Geoff Reece	14			1	05/16/1952	‘ “		Washington
LB			Jack Reynolds	14			7	11/22/1947	‘ “		Tennessee
LB			Isiah Robertson	14			6	08/17/1949	‘ “		Southern
LB			Mel Rogers	11			4	04/23/1947	‘ “		Florida A&M
C/G/T/LB			Rich Saul	14			7	02/05/1948	‘ “		Michigan State
WR			Dwight Scales	14			R	05/30/1953	‘ “		Grambling State
RB			Rob Scribner	14			4	04/09/1951	‘ “		UCLA
DB			Bill Simpson	14			3	12/05/1951	‘ “		Michigan State
T		*	Jackie Slater	14			R	05/27/1954	‘ “		Jackson State
DB			Pat Thomas	14			R	09/01/1954	‘ “		Texas A&M
T/G/DE			John Williams	14			9	10/27/1945	‘ “		Minnesota
DE		*	Jack Youngblood	14			6	01/26/1950	‘ “		Florida
LB			Jim Youngblood	14			4	02/23/1950	‘ “		Tennessee Tech