1992 Los Angeles Rams

The 1992 Los Angeles Rams had another difficult season in the NFL, finishing with a 5-11 record. It was another year of struggle for the team, which was coming off a disappointing 3-13 finish in 1991. The Rams’ performance in 1992 continued to reflect the instability and transition the franchise was undergoing during that period, both in terms of coaching and player personnel.

 

Here’s a deeper look into the 1992 Los Angeles Rams season:

Regular Season Record: 5-11

The Rams finished with a 5-11 record in 1992, improving slightly from the previous season but still finishing at the bottom of the NFC West division. The team continued to struggle to find consistency in both offense and defense. Despite some individual bright spots, the Rams were far from being competitive in a tough NFC West division during the 1992 season.

Coaching and Staff:

In 1992, John Robinson was in his second year as head coach of the Rams after returning for his second stint with the team. Robinson had previously led the Rams in the 1980s to a lot of success, but his return did not immediately lead to a turnaround in the franchise’s fortunes. The team’s struggles in 1992 signified that more changes would be needed for the Rams to become competitive again.

Offensive Struggles:

• Quarterback Play: The Rams’ quarterback situation was a key issue. Jim Everett continued to be the starter, but his inconsistency remained a problem. While he had his moments, Everett failed to consistently lead the offense and wasn’t able to elevate the play around him. The Rams’ offense was stagnant for most of the season, and Everett’s leadership was often questioned. He was benched later in the season, and backup Chris Miller saw some time under center, but neither quarterback was able to fully capture the momentum needed to drive the offense forward.

• Running Game: The running game also faced struggles, with Greg Bell once again being the feature back. While Bell was an effective runner at times, the Rams couldn’t establish a reliable offensive line to support him. The lack of a strong running game contributed to the offensive inefficiency.

• Wide Receivers: The Rams had a few talented players in the receiving corps. Flipper Anderson was a notable name, as he had the ability to make big plays, but again, the lack of consistent quarterback play and offensive line stability hindered the Rams’ passing attack. Anderson still provided some highlights with his speed and playmaking ability, but he wasn’t able to carry the offense alone.

Defensive Play:

The Rams’ defense was the brighter side of the team, though it still struggled at times. Key players such as Kevin Greene (linebacker), Leslie O’Neal (defensive end), and Todd Lyght (cornerback) were standouts, but the defense lacked overall cohesion and was not always able to prevent opposing teams from putting up big points. Greene, who was a dynamic and disruptive force as a linebacker, was one of the few standout players on the defensive side of the ball, earning Pro Bowl honors.

Team Weaknesses:

The Rams’ weaknesses in 1992 were largely due to their offensive ineffectiveness, quarterback instability, and an inability to build any real momentum throughout the season. Additionally, the team’s struggles with penalties and turnovers contributed to their overall difficulties.

Key Players:

• Jim Everett (QB): The team’s starting quarterback continued to struggle with consistency, leading to mixed results in the passing game. Everett was benched for parts of the season in favor of Chris Miller, but neither quarterback was able to provide the stability the team needed.

• Greg Bell (RB): Bell was the primary running back, though he faced his own challenges due to a lack of a solid offensive line and limited support from the passing game. He did provide some flashes of his former self but was unable to carry the team on his own.

• Kevin Greene (LB): A standout linebacker who had a dominant season, Greene was one of the few bright spots on the Rams’ defense. He continued to be one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL and earned Pro Bowl honors for his play.

• Flipper Anderson (WR): Anderson was a capable playmaker, showing his big-play ability. He was one of the few reliable weapons for the Rams, especially in the passing game.

Transition Year for the Rams:

The 1992 season marked another year of transition for the Rams. They were still in the midst of rebuilding, and the franchise was struggling to regain the success it had experienced in the 1980s. There was no immediate fix in sight, and the Rams continued to finish near the bottom of the NFC West division, indicating that the team was still far away from being a playoff contender.

Looking Ahead:

The Rams’ 1992 season set the stage for more changes in the future. In the coming years, the franchise would continue to look for stability at the quarterback position and make moves to improve the roster. Ultimately, the team would experience further struggles until they relocated to St. Louis in 1995, where they would eventually find success.

In summary, the 1992 Los Angeles Rams showed some improvements over the previous year, but they still finished with a disappointing 5-11 record. The team faced numerous challenges, including inconsistent quarterback play, a lack of offensive rhythm, and an inability to develop a strong defense. The season marked another rebuilding year, and while there were a few bright spots, the Rams were still far from competitive in the NFC West division.

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
WR			Flipper Anderson	15			5	03/07/1965	‘ “		UCLA
CB			Robert Bailey	16			2	09/03/1968	‘ “		Miami (FL)
DT			Marc Boutte	16			R	07/26/1969	‘ “		Louisiana State
P			Don Bracken	16			7	02/16/1962	‘ “		Michigan
C			Bern Brostek	16			3	09/11/1966	‘ “		Washington
C			Blair Bush	16			15	11/25/1956	‘ “		Washington
LB			Paul Butcher	1			6	11/08/1963	‘ “		Wayne State (MI)
TE			Pat Carter	16			5	08/01/1966	‘ “		Florida State
WR			Jeff Chadwick	14			10	12/16/1960	‘ “		Grand Valley State (MI)
WR			Aaron Cox	10			5	03/13/1965	‘ “		Arizona State
S			Chris Crooms	16			R	02/04/1969	‘ “		Texas A&M
RB			Robert Delpino	10			5	11/02/1965	‘ “		Missouri
WR			Henry Ellard	16			10	07/21/1961	‘ “		Fresno State
QB			Jim Everett	16			7	01/03/1963	‘ “		Purdue
RB			Cleveland Gary	16			4	05/04/1966	‘ “		Miami (FL)
DT			Sean Gilbert	16			R	04/10/1970	‘ “		Pittsburgh
LB		*	Kevin Greene	16			8	07/31/1962	‘ “		Auburn
WR			Emile Harry	4			6	04/05/1963	‘ “		Stanford
DE			Bill Hawkins	8			4	05/09/1966	‘ “		Miami (FL)
DT			Eric Hayes	1			3	11/12/1967	‘ “		Florida State
CB			Darryl Henley	16			4	10/30/1966	‘ “		UCLA
CB			Steve Israel	16			R	03/16/1969	‘ “		Pittsburgh
T			Robert Jenkins	9			6	12/30/1963	‘ “		UCLA
TE			Damone Johnson	4			7	03/02/1962	‘ “		Cal Poly – S.L.O.
LB			Larry Kelm	16			6	11/29/1964	‘ “		Texas A&M
WR			Todd Kinchen	14			R	01/07/1969	‘ “		Louisiana State
RB			David Lang	16			2	03/28/1967	‘ “		Northern Arizona
FB			Tim Lester	11			R	06/15/1968	‘ “		Eastern Kentucky
CB			Sammy Lilly	9			4	02/12/1965	‘ “		Georgia Tech
CB			Todd Lyght	12			2	02/09/1969	‘ “		Notre Dame
TE			Travis McNeal	12			4	01/10/1967	‘ “		Tennessee – Chattanooga
G			Joe Milinichik	16			6	03/30/1963	‘ “		North Carolina State
G			Tom Newberry	16			7	12/20/1962	‘ “		Wisconsin – La Crosse
S			Anthony Newman	16			5	11/21/1965	‘ “		Oregon
QB			Mike Pagel	16			11	09/13/1960	‘ “		Arizona State
G/T			Jeff Pahukoa	16			2	02/09/1969	‘ “		Washington
T			Gerald Perry	16			5	11/12/1964	‘ “		Southern
LB			Roman Phifer	16			2	03/05/1968	‘ “		UCLA
DT			Mike Piel	15			4	09/21/1965	‘ “		Illinois
DE			Warren Powers	7			4	02/04/1965	‘ “		Maryland
TE			Jim Price	15			2	10/02/1966	‘ “		Stanford
DE			Gerald Robinson	16			6	05/04/1963	‘ “		Auburn
DT			David Rocker	3			2	03/12/1969	‘ “		Auburn
DE			Jim Skow	4			7	06/29/1963	‘ “		Nebraska
T		*	Jackie Slater	16			17	05/27/1954	‘ “		Jackson State
LB			Scott Stephen	16			6	06/18/1964	‘ “		Arizona State
S			Michael Stewart	11			6	07/12/1965	‘ “		Fresno State
RB/WR			Troy Stradford	2			6	09/11/1964	‘ “		Boston College
LB			Fred Strickland	16			5	08/15/1966	‘ “		Purdue
S			Pat Terrell	15			3	03/18/1968	‘ “		Notre Dame
RB			Anthony Thompson	7			3	04/08/1967	‘ “		Indiana
WR/RB			Vernon Turner	12			3	01/06/1967	‘ “		Carson-Newman (TN)
LB			Leon White	13			7	10/04/1963	‘ “		Brigham Young
NT/DT/DE			Alvin Wright	1			7	02/05/1961	‘ “		Jacksonville State (AL)
DE			Robert Young	11			2	01/29/1969	‘ “		Mississippi State
K			Tony Zendejas	16			8	05/15/1960	‘ “		Nevada – Reno