1983 Los Angeles Rams
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1983 Los Angeles Rams

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The 1983 Los Angeles Rams had a significant turnaround and a strong season, marked by the arrival of Eric Dickerson, who would go on to become one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

Here’s an overview of their 1983 campaign:

Record:

  • Regular Season Record: 9–7
  • The Rams finished 2nd in the NFC West, which was a competitive division, behind the San Francisco 49ers.

Playoffs:

  • Wild Card Playoff: The Rams made it to the 1983 NFC Wild Card playoffs but were defeated in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys, losing 24–17.

Head Coach:

  • Ray Malavasi continued as head coach, now in his 8th year with the Rams. Malavasi had been with the team through ups and downs and would guide them to a stronger position in the mid-1980s, even though 1983 ended with an early playoff exit.

Key Players:

  • Eric Dickerson (RB):

    • The standout of the 1983 season, Eric Dickerson was selected by the Rams as the 2nd overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact. He was an absolute force in the backfield, rushing for a rookie record 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns.
    • Dickerson’s breakout year marked the beginning of his storied career, and he would go on to set the NFL single-season rushing record the following year in 1984 (2,105 yards).

  • Vince Ferragamo (QB):

    • Ferragamo remained the starting quarterback for the Rams, but he was inconsistent at times. While he did manage to lead the team to the playoffs, his performance wasn’t spectacular. The focus of the offense, by design, shifted more to Dickerson and the running game.

  • Jack Youngblood (DE):

    • The defensive leader of the team, Youngblood continued to be a dominant force on the defensive line, anchoring a defense that had a strong reputation throughout the early 1980s.

  • Tom Mack (G):

    • One of the Rams’ most consistent and reliable offensive linemen, Mack helped pave the way for Dickerson’s success. The offensive line was key in creating lanes for Dickerson to exploit.

  • LeRoy Irvin (CB):

    • Irvin, one of the top defensive backs for the Rams, had a solid season and contributed to the team’s defensive efforts.

Offensive Overview:

  • The Rams’ offense in 1983 was very much Eric Dickerson-centric. With a strong offensive line and a star running back, the Rams focused on the ground game, allowing Dickerson to dominate and control the tempo of games.
  • Vince Ferragamo, while not a top-tier quarterback, was effective enough to manage the offense and keep defenses honest, although the offense was built around Dickerson’s incredible ability.
  • The Rams averaged over 25 points per game, which was respectable but also highlighted how much of the offensive burden Dickerson carried.

Defensive Overview:

  • The Rams’ defense was solid but not elite. It had some standout players, like Jack Youngblood and LeRoy Irvin, who made key plays throughout the season.
  • The Rams finished the year ranked 10th in total defense, which was decent, though their ability to stop the run and create turnovers was crucial in keeping them competitive.

Season Overview:

  • The 1983 season was a major improvement over the previous years. Eric Dickerson’s arrival transformed the Rams’ offense, and his individual performances became the cornerstone of their attack.
  • The Rams made the playoffs for the first time since 1981, showing significant improvement. However, their postseason run was short-lived as they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round.
  • Despite the early playoff exit, the Rams were positioned well for the future with Dickerson’s talent in the backfield, and they would become a stronger contender in the years to come.

Post-1983:

  • The 1983 season marked the beginning of a new era for the Rams with Eric Dickerson leading the offense. Over the next few years, Dickerson would continue to set records and become one of the top players in NFL history.
  • The Rams’ offensive line and coaching staff would continue to focus on maximizing Dickerson’s abilities.
  • The team would continue to improve and eventually make it to the Super Bowl in 1984, though they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV.

In summary, the 1983 Los Angeles Rams were a strong team with a rising star in Eric Dickerson, whose exceptional talent revitalized the franchise and laid the groundwork for future success. While their playoff run was short, the team’s future looked much brighter heading into the mid-1980s.

Head Coach: John Robinson

  • 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 Robert Alexander 15 2 04/21/1958 ‘ “ West Virginia
LB George Andrews 16 5 11/28/1955 ‘ “ Nebraska
G/T Bill Bain 16 8 08/09/1952 ‘ “ Southern California
TE/WR Mike Barber 16 8 06/04/1953 ‘ “ Louisiana State
DE/C Doug Barnett 16 2 04/12/1960 ‘ “ Azusa Pacific (CA)
NT/DE Richard Bishop 2 8 03/23/1950 ‘ “ Louisville
G/T Russ Bolinger 16 7 09/10/1954 ‘ “ Long Beach State
LB Howard Carson 16 3 02/11/1957 ‘ “ Howard Payne (TX)
LB Jim Collins 16 3 06/11/1958 ‘ “ Syracuse
DB Kirk Collins 4 3 07/18/1958 ‘ “ Baylor
DB Nolan Cromwell 16 7 01/30/1955 ‘ “ Kansas
DT Charles DeJurnett 10 7 06/17/1952 ‘ “ San Jose State
WR Preston Dennard 14 6 11/28/1955 ‘ “ New Mexico
RB Eric Dickerson 16 R 09/02/1960 ‘ “ Southern Methodist
DE/DT Reggie Doss 16 6 12/07/1956 ‘ “ Hampton (VA)
LB Carl Ekern 16 7 05/27/1954 ‘ “ San Jose State
WR Henry Ellard 12 R 07/21/1961 ‘ “ Fresno State
WR George Farmer 16 2 12/05/1958 ‘ “ Southern
QB Vince Ferragamo 16 6 04/24/1954 ‘ “ Nebraska
WR Otis Grant 16 R 08/13/1961 ‘ “ Michigan State
RB Mike Guman 16 4 04/21/1958 ‘ “ Penn State
G/C Dennis Harrah 15 9 03/09/1953 ‘ “ Miami (FL)
DB Eric Harris 16 4 08/11/1955 ‘ “ Memphis
TE David Hill 16 8 01/01/1954 ‘ “ Texas A&M – Kingsville
G/T Kent Hill 16 5 03/07/1957 ‘ “ Georgia Tech
DB LeRoy Irvin 15 4 09/15/1957 ‘ “ Kansas
DB Monte Jackson 5 9 07/14/1953 ‘ “ San Diego State
LB Mark Jerue 16 1 01/15/1960 ‘ “ Washington
DE/DT Gary Jeter 16 7 01/24/1955 ‘ “ Southern California
DB Johnnie Johnson 16 4 10/08/1956 ‘ “ Texas
RB A. J. Jones 9 2 05/30/1959 ‘ “ Texas
WR Gordon Jones 11 5 07/25/1957 ‘ “ Pittsburgh
QB Jeff Kemp 4 2 07/11/1959 ‘ “ Dartmouth
T/G Gary Kowalski 15 R 07/02/1960 ‘ “ Boston College
K Mike Lansford 4 2 07/20/1958 ‘ “ Washington
NT/DE/DT Myron Lapka 4 3 05/10/1965 ‘ “ Southern California
LB Dave Lewis 13 7 10/15/1954 ‘ “ Southern California
TE James McDonald 16 1 03/29/1961 ‘ “ Southern California
NT/DE Greg Meisner 16 3 04/23/1959 ‘ “ Pittsburgh
P John Misko 16 2 10/01/1954 ‘ “ Oregon State
K Chuck Nelson 12 R 02/23/1960 ‘ “ Washington
S Vince Newsome 16 R 01/22/1961 ‘ “ Washington
LB Mel Owens 16 3 12/07/1958 ‘ “ Michigan
RB Barry Redden 15 2 07/21/1960 ‘ “ Richmond
G/C Joe Shearin 16 1 04/16/1960 ‘ “ Texas
WR Jeff Simmons 3 R 07/06/1960 ‘ “ Southern California
T * Jackie Slater 16 8 05/27/1954 ‘ “ Jackson State
C/G/T Doug Smith 14 6 11/25/1956 ‘ “ Bowling Green State
DB Ivory Sully 16 5 06/20/1957 ‘ “ Delaware
LB Mike Wilcher 15 R 03/20/1960 ‘ “ North Carolina
LB Eric Williams 11 7 06/17/1955 ‘ “ Southern California
DB Henry Williams 5 2 12/02/1956 ‘ “ San Diego State
DB Mike Williams 2 9 11/22/1953 ‘ “ Louisiana State
DE * Jack Youngblood 16 13 01/26/1950 ‘ “ Florida
LB Jim Youngblood 7 11 02/23/1950 ‘ “ Tennessee Tech

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