Sept. 29, 1964 - A half-ton-plus defensive foursome and a quarterback with limited experience have shot the Los Angeles Rams to the top of the NFL heap.
After three games, the Rams, doormats of the league in recent years, lead the Western Division with two victories and a tie.
The transformation is the product of sweat, spirit, and Svare. Harland Svare, the earnest former Giant who coaches the Rams, has installed the old Giant defense with an added factor — speed.
“The Rams’ front four are better than the Giants were in their prime,” Svare said unhesitatingly after the Rams beat Minnesota, 22-13, Sunday. “They’re bigger, stronger, and faster.”
Svare thus agreed with Roosevelt Grier, the tackle, also a former Giant. Grier, who weighs a svelte 288 pounds — down from 310 — is the biggest of the new Fearsome Foursome. The others are Dave (Deacon) Jones, 260, and Lamar Lundy, 255, at ends, and Merlin Olsen, 276, at tackle.
Trying to pass over these rushers can force a quarterback into early retirement. Lundy is 6-7, the others 6-5.
Svare, dedicated and a stickler for detail, has the foursome drilling 15 minutes a day in “getting off” on the center’s snap. Jones, a near-10-second sprinter, is so adept he often appears ready to take a handoff from the opposing quarterback.
The quartet leads a defense that has held the opposition to 44 points, an average of just 14 a game, the best in the NFL.
There is also growing recognition for the arm and savvy of Bill Munson, the 23-year-old rookie quarterback.
Munson, who played only one year at the position at Utah State, was forced into action when Roman Gabriel was injured before the league opener against Pittsburgh.
The rookie proceeded to lead the Rams to a 26-24 victory and a 17-17 tie against Detroit the following week.
Against Minnesota, Munson completed nine of 18 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. He also directed a diversified running attack that rolled to 223 yards in 41 plays.
Now Gabriel is well, but he’ll have to wait for his break.
“It’s tough on Gabe,” Svare said, “but I’m not inclined to break up a winning team.”
On both offense and defense, the Rams have adopted Svare’s credo: “Play with reckless abandon.”
A major test comes next Sunday when the Rams face Baltimore, conqueror of the Chicago Bears by 52-0.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
留言