A Hat Trick in the West - The 1975 Season | LA Rams Yearbook

[Music] the Rams began and ended the 1975 season against the Dallas Cowboys the opener in Dallas was a montage of jarring collision and rattling impact in the end the surprisingly strong Cowboys took victory 18 to 7 15 weeks later Rams fans sad and saddened silence as Dallas once again charged to victory [Music] [Applause] [Music] this time at stake was the NFC Championship and for the Rams who had met the Cowboys on their two hottest days of the year there would be no celebration [Applause] despite the seasons premature ending both the Los Angeles players and their great fans enjoyed the fruits of a sensational year shaking off the effects of their opening day loss the Rams stormed the city by the bay and shivered and shot the 49ers offense with help from players like number 32 Cullen Bryant Los Angeles Bonds I'd the end zone for 23 points while holding San Francisco to 14 the winning had begun and no one contributed more than the special teams and Tom Dempsey whose three field goals included a club record tying 51 yarder but the most inspirational play of the day was Bill Simpsons blocked punt which number 28 mati Jackson turned into a key Rams touchdown it was symbolic of the hell-bent for leather heads-up play of special team members like putter Dwayne Carroll who kickin coach ed Altman watched improve as the season progressed the bomb squad was a hurtling band of movers and shakers men like Mike Fanning Rick K Jim Youngblood al khali Steve priests Willie McGee Bob DeMarco and Dennis Hara were all dedicated to making the hat-trick in the West a reality sunshine and gentle breezes welcomed the Rams to their home opener at California lifestyle relaxed and at times a bit unconventional made gameday a spectacle in town were the Baltimore Colts the second of three playoff teams on the Los Angeles schedule the blue and gold defense which would finish the season as the second best in the NFC was mean and miserly on offense Laurence McCutcheon streaked across the sun-drenched field for two touchdowns and a 24 to 13 Los Angeles victory [Applause] [Music] throughout the year McCutcheon attacked like a horseman galloping on an all-out cavalry charge [Music] [Applause] [Applause] mccutchins 911 yards rushing fell just short of a third consecutive 1000 yard season and help keep the Rams hat-trick in the West always Within Reach in San Diego in week four the Chargers were fired up and breathing steam for most of the game the RAM offense was stymied but they finally put one payoff drive together quarterback James Harris score tied the game at 10 at the end of regulation time in sudden death Tom Dempsey watched anxiously as tight end Bob Klein rumbled downfield like a one-man barroom brawl and then victory boomed off Dempsey's right leg and the Rams records stood at 3 & 1 the win was costly however cornerback al Clark was lost for the season eventually five other regulars Bob Klein Jim Bertelsen Larry Brooks Charlie Stoops and Bill Nelson would also be lost nevertheless against the Falcons the spirit of the Rams took flight as the offense sauntered in for 22 points to Atlanta 7 Falcon quarterback Steve Bartkowski spent a day in hard times USA as a thundering rush and swarming secondary stole everything but his kneepads the secondary was led throughout the season by canny Dave Elmendorf number 42 a strong safety with a penchant for contact the deep defense was double danger because Elmendorf running mate bill simpson number 48 in only a second season led the team with six interceptions each of which made defensive backfield coach jim Wagstaff's life a little sunnier at left corner Eddie Macmillan made life a little rougher for would-be sweepers while at right cornerback first-year man Matty Jackson epitomized the talent and spirit of the young players who were called to fill in for injured veterans in the season sixth week the New Orleans Saints were in Los Angeles and found themselves on the downside of a 38 to 14 score the Los Angeles defense swarmed like honeybees and stung like scorpions against New Orleans the Rams defense aggressively sought out the ball this alert aggressiveness was a trait that brought a third straight division title ever closer throughout the year in most cases when they couldn't have the ball the defensive blasters had satisfaction instead [Music] on defense no one enjoyed detonating people more than coach Tom Kaplan's linebackers number 36 Ken Geddes credo was hard and clean and ultra mean Jack hacksaw Reynolds Boise Grimm belied the futility of going up the middle against number 64 for number 58 outside linebacker Isiah Robertson the high point of the season came in Philadelphia on a Monday night in week 7 [Music] Robertsons interception and touchdown run covered 76 yards and whatever signals defensive coordinator Raymond Ave see was calling that night they were just right when number 90 Larry Brooks forced Roman Gabriel to unload in panic and number 89 Fred Dreyer picked it off [Music] then the dam broke as James Harris connected with Jack snow to put the game out of the Eagles read Harris put the master strokes on a perfectly executed victory by hitting Harold Jackson for two touchdowns [Music] the final score of 42 to 3 gave the wind streaking Rams a 6 and 1 record and for the third year in a row it looked like the division crown was going to fit [Music] back home in Los Angeles and week 8 the Rams ran into problems despite John Capel Eddie's touchdown burst the 49ers eked out a last-minute 24:23 win it was the Rams first loss to San Francisco and their last 11 meetings the defeat was doubly jarring because injury was added to insult out for the season was number 90 defensive tackle Larry Brooks who had been having one of his best years the loss of Brooks was severe but replacing him was a young dynamo of destruction named Cody Jones number 76 in only his second year Jones seems destined to be a high flyer on the front wall Jones had expert tutoring from n Jack Youngblood number 85 winner of numerous awards and loved by the fans the all-pro was the Defensive Player of the Year in the NFC [Music] at the other end position was Fred dryer one of the most popular players off the field but one of the most unpopular for opposing offenses in movable in the middle was Merlin Olsen number 74 everybody's all-time mall everything in his 14th season he shone with the brilliance of a pacific sunset [Music] in Atlanta and week 9 the defense allowed only 7 points but the man of the hour was number 81 wide receiver Ron Jessie who's 10 catches riddled the Falcons for 16 points and win number 7 [Applause] [Music] throughout the year Ron Jessie burned people with his searing speed and pleased receiver coach Lehman Bennett with his soft hands and fluid grace while Jesse was streaking free offensive line coach Ray prohaszka's men were hammering away in the trench with fierce protectiveness at center of the veteran line was rich saw at the guards 15-year vet 10-year veteran Tom Mack at the tackles 15-year vets are Lee Cowan and 8-year vets on Williams in week 10 when the Chicago Bears came marching into the Coliseum they found the protectors at their best even after a time lapse of five seconds the passing pocket remained intact with that much time to launch the missiles are always deadly Lawrence McCutchen and John cappelletti sliced through corridors of manmade daylight to seal a 38 to 10 win which left offensive coordinator Ken Meyer feeling proud [Music] it rained in Detroit's Indoor Stadium the only thing Scout Jack Faulkner hadn't foreseen but while the roof leaked the Rams defense didn't because victory meant a division title it was that kind of a game and even the Los Angeles offense meted out a barrage of physical punishment especially pleasing two running back coach Elijah Pitts was Jim Bertelsen Saul around performance number 45 was the epitome of the complete ball player as he gouged out tough yardage on the ground and came right back as a receiver [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the irrepressible Bertelsen also contributed to the excellence of the special teams [Music] as if all this weren't enough on this play his alert blocking disrupted the safety blitz help put Harold Jackson in the endzone [Music] Jackson's second score assured a 22 nothing victory brought the Rams record to 9 and 2 but above all help clinch a third division title in a row the hat-trick was there didn't rain indoors but the tenacious Saints kept things interesting until this unusual play two plays the bounding ball was finally picked up by number 57 Jim Peterson urged along by number 49 rod Perry who delivered a cataclysmic crack back plot Peterson lumbered 67 yards to give the Rams an arrow 14 to 7 wins Rob Scribner replaced an ailing Jim Bertelsen and a 22 to 5 victory over the Packers in week 13 scriveners gutty play was matched by come through performances by youngsters Ron Jaworski Doug France and rod Phillips all of whom started for injured regulars when the fireworks and the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers hit town in the season's last week Terry Bradshaw discovered how Pittsburgh opponents usually feel as the Rams defensive line sacked quarterbacks all night long only Franco Harris proved effective but when he got his team in close the Rams shut them down the game was tense and hard-fought right to the end when with a score tied at three the rams engineered a picture-perfect 12 play drive while coach Knotts and Ron Jaworski the polish rifle decided on one crucial play the world's greatest fans 84,000 strong expected something unusual and they got it with a ten to three victory over the world champion Steelers a 12 into season and a third division title behind them the Rams were now confident that in the playoffs the Cardinals would be in trouble is there any questions I mean is there any question on who's gonna win would I be dressed like this if there was a doubt in my mind as to who's gonna win from the outset Los Angeles domination was apparent Laurence McCutcheon was in fluid drive all afternoon flowing to his greatest day as a Pro 202 yards I'm 37 carries capping a perfect opening drive the police rifle became the Polish Jeep and the Rams led 7 nothing by far the best was yet to come and this is the way I called it for kmpc radio back to throw is hard he's got five him in the pattern across [Applause] it's going to throw he looks he looks he throws over the middle [Applause] there's more to wait for two minutes [Applause] the best in the league and there's only about ten years experience between all of us before they knew what hit them the Cardinals trailed 21 nothing but for the Rams defense there would be no forgiving the hunted wore white the hunters were everywhere [Music] [Applause] when the defense was finished exploding hand grenades the offense brought on the bomb Ron Jaworski the starting quarterback for the Rams today as McCutcheon and Bryant's foot behind him Jesse left Jackson right torski a play-action fake to McCutchen he's going to throw along [Applause] but unfortunately for the Cardinals that wasn't all a Ron Jaworski pass to tight end Terry Nelson had the Rams knocking again and when you're hot you're hot Jaworski under Sanders fancy gets it to McCutchen he thought the Millers of Tani's at the 5 he's hit hard [Applause] those 23 Oh for the last three seasons the Rams have proved to be the best in the NFC West in 1975 they did it with a great offense and a defense that gave up the second lowest amount of points ever in a 14 game schedule and they did it with a coach whose record equals the best in the NFL 34 wins 8 losses over the last three years [Applause] [Music] in 1975 the Rams counted on many players young old starters and replacements the individual improvements and accomplishments for many but when the 1975 season is remembered it will be remembered for something the Los Angeles Rams accomplished as a team 1975 will stand as a symbol of a consistent winning attitude the year the Los Angeles Rams completed the hat-trick in the West [Music] you

Channel: Los Angeles Rams

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Keywords: nfl, football, rams, la rams, los angeles rams

Id: xF8V-BtuMEk

Length: 22min 15sec (1335 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 25 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/richardturtlegrande]

Love videos like this. I think its really cool they're bringing up the past like this. There's alot of history I don't know about as I'm a younger fan. I assume I'm not alone, so I hope they do this more

[u/[deleted]]

Bill Simpson #48 owns a trading card shop/ dog grooming company I took my dog to him for 15 years