The 1978 Los Angeles Rams had a strong season that continued to build on the team’s defensive dominance while still facing challenges offensively. The team made it back to the playoffs and showed considerable progress, even though they faced stiff competition in the NFC.
1978 Los Angeles Rams Overview:
- Regular Season Record: 10–6
- Head Coach: Chuck Knox
- Key Players:
- Pat Haden (Quarterback): Haden continued to improve as the team’s starting quarterback. Although not an explosive passer, he managed the offense well and showed leadership in key situations.
- Jack Youngblood (Defensive End): One of the league’s premier pass rushers, Youngblood was again a key contributor to the Rams’ outstanding defense.
- Fred Dryer (Defensive End): Alongside Youngblood, Dryer helped form a dominant defensive line that was critical to the Rams’ success.
- Isaiah Robertson (Linebacker): Robertson was an essential part of the Rams’ defense and continued to be one of their leaders on that side of the ball.
Key Achievements:
- Playoff Berth: The Rams finished the regular season at 10–6, earning a spot in the NFC Playoffs. They continued to be a competitive team in the NFC, but their inability to consistently win against top-tier teams hurt their postseason positioning.
- Strong Defense: The Rams’ defense remained one of the best in the NFL, ranking near the top in several key categories, including points allowed. Their pass rush, led by Jack Youngblood and Fred Dryer, was among the most feared in the league.
- Balanced Offense: While the offense wasn’t elite, Pat Haden did just enough to keep the team moving and sustain drives. The Rams had some talent in their running game, but they were never a team that could rely on offensive firepower to dominate games.
Playoffs:
- NFC Wild Card Game: The Rams faced the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Game for the second year in a row. Unfortunately for the Rams, they were defeated again by the Cowboys, this time with a 28–0 score. Despite their strong defense, they were unable to keep up with the Cowboys’ offense, which dominated the game. The Rams’ inability to generate any offense in the postseason was a major issue.
Offensive Struggles:
- Despite Pat Haden’s development, the Rams’ offense was still a work in progress. They lacked the kind of high-powered attack that would have allowed them to consistently compete with top NFC teams in both the regular season and the playoffs.
- The team had some talent at running back, but they never had a dynamic, game-changing back, which limited their offensive potential.
Defense:
- The Rams’ defense continued to be their biggest strength. The defensive line, led by Jack Youngblood and Fred Dryer, was one of the best in the league at applying pressure on the quarterback and stifling opposing offenses.
- The Rams finished among the best teams in the NFL in points allowed and were able to keep games close even when the offense struggled.
Notable Moments:
- The 1978 season was another year where the Rams showcased their elite defense but struggled offensively. While Pat Haden continued to improve, the Rams still lacked a true playmaker at the quarterback position to elevate the team to the next level.
- The Rams also showed inconsistency in their ability to beat elite teams, which was a key factor in their early exit from the playoffs.
Summary:
The 1978 Los Angeles Rams finished with a 10–6 record and made the playoffs but were once again eliminated in the NFC Wild Card Game by the Dallas Cowboys in a 28–0 defeat. Their defense, as usual, was the heart of the team, but the lack of offensive explosiveness held them back from advancing further in the postseason. While they were competitive, especially on defense, they struggled to take the next step toward a Super Bowl appearance.
Head Coach: Ray Malavasi
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT | Larry Brooks | 14 | 7 | 06/10/1950 | ‘ “ | Virginia State | |||||
| DB | Eddie Brown | 1 | 5 | 02/19/1952 | ‘ “ | Tennessee | |||||
| LB | Bob Brudzinski | 16 | 2 | 01/01/1955 | ‘ “ | Ohio State | |||||
| RB | Cullen Bryant | 16 | 6 | 05/20/1951 | ‘ “ | Colorado | |||||
| RB | John Cappelletti | 14 | 5 | 06/09/1952 | ‘ “ | Penn State | |||||
| K | Frank Corral | 16 | R | 06/16/1955 | ‘ “ | UCLA | |||||
| DB | Nolan Cromwell | 16 | 2 | 01/30/1955 | ‘ “ | Kansas | |||||
| RB | Anthony Davis | 2 | 2 | 09/08/1952 | ‘ “ | Southern California | |||||
| WR | Preston Dennard | 11 | 1 | 11/28/1955 | ‘ “ | New Mexico | |||||
| DE/DT | Reggie Doss | 16 | R | 12/07/1956 | ‘ “ | Hampton (VA) | |||||
| DE | Fred Dryer | 16 | 10 | 07/06/1946 | ‘ “ | San Diego State | |||||
| LB | Carl Ekern | 16 | 3 | 05/27/1954 | ‘ “ | San Jose State | |||||
| DB | Dave Elmendorf | 16 | 8 | 06/20/1949 | ‘ “ | Texas A&M | |||||
| DT/DE | Mike Fanning | 16 | 4 | 02/02/1953 | ‘ “ | Notre Dame | |||||
| QB | Vince Ferragamo | 9 | 2 | 04/24/1954 | ‘ “ | Nebraska | |||||
| T | Doug France | 16 | 4 | 04/26/1953 | ‘ “ | Ohio State | |||||
| G | Ed Fulton | 4 | 1 | 01/27/1955 | ‘ “ | Maryland | |||||
| QB | Pat Haden | 16 | 3 | 01/23/1953 | ‘ “ | Southern California | |||||
| G/C | Dennis Harrah | 15 | 4 | 03/09/1953 | ‘ “ | Miami (FL) | |||||
| G/C | Greg Horton | 2 | 3 | 01/07/1951 | ‘ “ | Colorado | |||||
| WR | Ron Jessie | 16 | 8 | 02/04/1948 | ‘ “ | Kansas | |||||
| RB | Jim Jodat | 16 | 2 | 03/03/1954 | ‘ “ | Carthage | |||||
| DE/DT | Cody Jones | 16 | 5 | 05/03/1951 | ‘ “ | San Jose State | |||||
| RB | Jerry Latin | 14 | 4 | 08/25/1953 | ‘ “ | Northern Illinois | |||||
| G | * | Tom Mack | 16 | 13 | 11/01/1943 | ‘ “ | Michigan | ||||
| DB/RB | Larry Marshall | 3 | 7 | 03/02/1950 | ‘ “ | Maryland | |||||
| RB | Lawrence McCutcheon | 8 | 7 | 06/02/1950 | ‘ “ | Colorado State | |||||
| LB | Kevin McLain | 16 | 3 | 09/15/1954 | ‘ “ | Colorado State | |||||
| WR | Willie Miller | 16 | 3 | 04/26/1947 | ‘ “ | Colorado State | |||||
| TE | Terry Nelson | 13 | 6 | 05/20/1951 | ‘ “ | Arkansas – Pine Bluff | |||||
| DB | Dwayne O’Steen | 13 | 1 | 12/20/1954 | ‘ “ | San Jose State | |||||
| DB | Rod Perry | 16 | 4 | 09/11/1953 | ‘ “ | Colorado | |||||
| RB | Rod Phillips | 15 | 4 | 12/23/1952 | ‘ “ | Jackson State | |||||
| LB | Jack Reynolds | 16 | 9 | 11/22/1947 | ‘ “ | Tennessee | |||||
| LB | Isiah Robertson | 13 | 8 | 08/17/1949 | ‘ “ | Southern | |||||
| C | Dan Ryczek | 16 | 6 | 08/24/1949 | ‘ “ | Virginia | |||||
| C/G/T/LB | Rich Saul | 16 | 9 | 02/05/1948 | ‘ “ | Michigan State | |||||
| WR | Dwight Scales | 13 | 3 | 05/30/1953 | ‘ “ | Grambling State | |||||
| DB | Bill Simpson | 16 | 5 | 12/05/1951 | ‘ “ | Michigan State | |||||
| T | * | Jackie Slater | 16 | 3 | 05/27/1954 | ‘ “ | Jackson State | ||||
| C/G/T | Doug Smith | 16 | 1 | 11/25/1956 | ‘ “ | Bowling Green State | |||||
| WR | Ron Smith | 16 | R | 11/20/1956 | ‘ “ | San Diego State | |||||
| DB | Pat Thomas | 16 | 3 | 09/01/1954 | ‘ “ | Texas A&M | |||||
| RB | Wendell Tyler | 2 | 2 | 05/20/1955 | ‘ “ | UCLA | |||||
| WR | Billy Waddy | 11 | 2 | 02/19/1954 | ‘ “ | Colorado | |||||
| P | Glen Walker | 16 | 2 | 01/16/1952 | ‘ “ | Southern California | |||||
| DB | Jackie Wallace | 14 | 5 | 03/13/1951 | ‘ “ | Arizona | |||||
| T/G/DE | John Williams | 16 | 11 | 10/27/1945 | ‘ “ | Minnesota | |||||
| TE | Charle Young | 16 | 6 | 02/05/1951 | ‘ “ | Southern California | |||||
| DE | * | Jack Youngblood | 16 | 8 | 01/26/1950 | ‘ “ | Florida | ||||
| LB | Jim Youngblood | 16 | 6 | 02/23/1950 | ‘ “ | Tennessee Tech |
