1985 Los Angeles Rams
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1985 Los Angeles Rams

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The 1985 Los Angeles Rams had another competitive season, though it ended in a way that was all too familiar: a playoff exit. The team continued to rely on the legendary Eric Dickerson, but the results in both the regular season and playoffs showed some of the limitations in their roster outside of their star running back.

Here’s a detailed look at their 1985 season:

Record:

  • Regular Season Record: 10–6
  • The Rams finished 2nd in the NFC West, again behind the San Francisco 49ers (who had another dominant season at 10–5–1).

Playoffs:

  • NFC Wild Card Playoff: The Rams made it to the NFC Wild Card playoffs but were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round, losing 20–0 in a shutout. This was a disappointing playoff exit for the Rams, who had expectations of advancing further after a solid regular-season performance.

Head Coach:

  • Ray Malavasi continued as the Rams’ head coach. While he had found some success with the team, including playoff appearances, he was still unable to guide the team past the first round of the playoffs in the 1980s, which led to growing frustration among fans and management.

Key Players:

  • Eric Dickerson (RB):

    • Once again, Eric Dickerson was the main offensive weapon for the Rams in 1985. He finished the season with 1,234 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. While his rushing totals were down from his historic 1984 season, Dickerson remained one of the most dominant players in the league.
    • He continued to carry the Rams’ offense on his back, as they were heavily reliant on his performance to move the ball and score points.

  • Vince Ferragamo (QB):

    • Vince Ferragamo was still the starting quarterback for the Rams in 1985, but his performance remained inconsistent. He threw for 2,345 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Ferragamo was serviceable, but he was not the type of quarterback who could consistently lead a high-powered offense, especially when the running game wasn’t clicking.
    • Ferragamo’s struggles in the postseason were part of the reason the Rams’ offense failed to produce in the 1985 playoffs.

  • Jack Youngblood (DE):

    • The iconic defensive end, Jack Youngblood, continued to be a force on defense. Known for his leadership and intensity, Youngblood was one of the best defensive players in franchise history and played a crucial role in keeping the Rams’ defense competitive.

  • LeRoy Irvin (CB):

    • LeRoy Irvin, a key member of the Rams’ secondary, was still one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. He was integral to the Rams’ defensive efforts, particularly against the pass.

Offensive Overview:

  • The Rams’ offense continued to revolve around Eric Dickerson, whose ability to dominate the ground game made him the focal point of their attack.
  • Vince Ferragamo was a game manager at best, often relying on short passes and handing off to Dickerson. The Rams struggled in the passing game, and Ferragamo’s inconsistency as a passer hindered the offense from reaching its full potential.
  • The offensive line played a key role in Dickerson’s success, as they continued to create large running lanes for him. However, with the passing game not fully clicking, the Rams were often too predictable and became easier to defend against, particularly in the postseason.

Defensive Overview:

  • The Rams’ defense was still solid, especially up front. The defensive line, anchored by Jack Youngblood, helped control the line of scrimmage. The Rams finished 5th in total defense during the regular season, and they were especially effective against the run.
  • However, the defense had its limitations, particularly in the secondary, where the Rams struggled to consistently stop big plays.
  • Against the Cowboys in the Wild Card Playoff, the Rams’ defense was unable to keep Dallas in check, as they were shut out in the playoff loss.

Season Overview:

  • The 1985 season was a competitive year for the Rams, as they finished with a respectable 10–6 record and made it to the playoffs for the third consecutive season. However, the team struggled with offensive balance. While Eric Dickerson remained the star of the team, the Rams’ passing attack was not potent enough to take full advantage of their offensive opportunities.
  • The Rams’ defensive unit was solid, but it wasn’t elite enough to completely mask the weaknesses on offense. In particular, the quarterback play was a problem in crucial games. The Wild Card loss to the Dallas Cowboys was especially frustrating, as the Rams were shut out in the postseason, indicating major offensive problems.

Post-1985:

  • After another early playoff exit in 1985, the Rams would continue to rely heavily on Eric Dickerson in the coming years, but the team’s lack of quarterback play would continue to hold them back from becoming true Super Bowl contenders.
  • The 1986 season would see some roster changes, but the Rams were still trying to figure out how to balance the offense and compete with the top teams in the NFC.

In summary, the 1985 Los Angeles Rams were a solid team that made the playoffs, but their offensive limitations and quarterback struggles ultimately led to another early playoff exit. While Eric Dickerson was still one of the best players in the league, the Rams needed more consistency and balance across the board if they hoped to take the next step.

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
G/T Bill Bain 15 10 08/09/1952 ‘ “ Southern California
TE/WR Mike Barber 5 10 06/04/1953 ‘ “ Louisiana State
G/T Russ Bolinger 6 9 09/10/1954 ‘ “ Long Beach State
LB Ed Brady 16 2 06/17/1962 ‘ “ Illinois
QB Dieter Brock 15 1 02/12/1951 ‘ “ Auburn
WR/DB Ron Brown 13 2 03/31/1961 ‘ “ Arizona State
RB Lynn Cain 7 7 10/16/1955 ‘ “ Southern California
LB Jim Collins 16 5 06/11/1958 ‘ “ Syracuse
DB Nolan Cromwell 16 9 01/30/1955 ‘ “ Kansas
DT Charles DeJurnett 15 9 06/17/1952 ‘ “ San Jose State
RB Eric Dickerson 14 3 09/02/1960 ‘ “ Southern Methodist
QB Steve Dils 15 7 12/08/1955 ‘ “ Stanford
DE/DT Reggie Doss 16 8 12/07/1956 ‘ “ Hampton (VA)
WR Bobby Duckworth 14 4 11/27/1958 ‘ “ Arkansas
LB Carl Ekern 16 9 05/27/1954 ‘ “ San Jose State
WR Henry Ellard 16 3 07/21/1961 ‘ “ Fresno State
DB Tim Fox 6 10 11/01/1953 ‘ “ Ohio State
DB Jerry Gray 16 R 12/16/1962 ‘ “ Texas
DB Gary Green 16 9 10/22/1955 ‘ “ Baylor
LB Kevin Greene 15 R 07/31/1962 ‘ “ Auburn
RB Mike Guman 8 6 04/21/1958 ‘ “ Penn State
G/C Dennis Harrah 10 11 03/09/1953 ‘ “ Miami (FL)
DB Eric Harris 9 6 08/11/1955 ‘ “ Memphis
DE Dennis Harrison 12 8 07/31/1956 ‘ “ Vanderbilt
P Dale Hatcher 16 R 04/05/1963 ‘ “ Clemson
TE David Hill 16 10 01/01/1954 ‘ “ Texas A&M – Kingsville
G/T Kent Hill 16 7 03/07/1957 ‘ “ Georgia Tech
TE Tony Hunter 16 3 05/22/1960 ‘ “ Notre Dame
DB LeRoy Irvin 16 6 09/15/1957 ‘ “ Kansas
LB Mark Jerue 16 3 01/15/1960 ‘ “ Washington
DE/DT Gary Jeter 16 9 01/24/1955 ‘ “ Southern California
DB Johnnie Johnson 16 6 10/08/1956 ‘ “ Texas
RB A. J. Jones 1 4 05/30/1959 ‘ “ Texas
QB Jeff Kemp 5 4 07/11/1959 ‘ “ Dartmouth
K Mike Lansford 16 4 07/20/1958 ‘ “ Washington
LB Jim Laughlin 10 6 07/05/1958 ‘ “ Ohio State
G Duval Love 6 R 06/24/1963 ‘ “ UCLA
TE James McDonald 9 3 03/29/1961 ‘ “ Southern California
NT/DE Greg Meisner 14 5 04/23/1959 ‘ “ Pittsburgh
NT/DE/DT Shawn Miller 16 2 03/14/1961 ‘ “ Utah State
S Vince Newsome 16 3 01/22/1961 ‘ “ Washington
LB Mel Owens 16 5 12/07/1958 ‘ “ Michigan
T Irv Pankey 16 5 02/15/1958 ‘ “ Penn State
RB Barry Redden 14 4 07/21/1960 ‘ “ Richmond
DE/DT Doug Reed 16 2 07/16/1960 ‘ “ San Diego State
DE Booker Reese 2 4 09/20/1959 ‘ “ Bethune-Cookman
T * Jackie Slater 16 10 05/27/1954 ‘ “ Jackson State
C/G Tony Slaton 13 1 04/12/1961 ‘ “ Southern California
C/G/T Doug Smith 13 8 11/25/1956 ‘ “ Bowling Green State
LB Norwood Vann 8 2 02/18/1962 ‘ “ East Carolina
RB Charles White 16 5 01/22/1958 ‘ “ Southern California
LB Mike Wilcher 16 3 03/20/1960 ‘ “ North Carolina
WR Mike Young 15 R 02/21/1962 ‘ “ UCLA

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