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Creating the All-Time Rams Roster: Safety
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2016/07/05/creating-the-all-time-rams-roster-safety/
By: Jake Ellenbogen | 2 hours ago
In this new series, we will break down our All-Time Rams roster position-by-position. We last covered the cornerbacks, and now it’s time to move on to the safeties. We’ll have two starters and three backups for this position.
Related:
Creating the All-Time Rams Roster: Cornerback
Starter: Nolan Cromwell
Nolan Cromwell was an All-American out of Kansas University. In 1997 he was drafted as the No. 32 overall selection. He played his entire 11-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.
Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest safety in Rams history. He racked up four Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro honors and a second-team All-Pro honor.
The former Jayhawk finished with 37 interceptions, four touchdowns and two forced fumbles. Cromwell also spent time as a coach with the Rams.
Starter: Eddie Meador
The seventh-round pick in 1959 out of Arkansas State started off his career at cornerback and received two second-team All-Pro honors. He was moved to safety in 1964 and that is when his career took off.
He was invited to six Pro Bowls, received three first-team All-Pro honors and another second-team All-Pro honor. Meador holds many records for the franchise, including most career interceptions (46), most career fumbles recovered (18), most career kicks blocked (10), most fumbles recovered in a season (four) and most kicks blocked in a season (four).
Meador had quite the career, as he had 46 interceptions, 22 fumble recoveries and five touchdowns in his 12 seasons with the Rams.
Backup: Aeneas Williams
The former six-time Pro Bowler left the Arizona Cardinals after 10 seasons as a cornerback. He came to the St. Louis Rams for four years and became a safety. While his time with the Rams was a little short, Aeneas Williams was a great talent for the franchise.
He went to two Pro Bowls with the Rams and received an All-Pro honor. Williams even played in a Super Bowl for the Rams against the New England Patriots, which unfortunately they lost.
The Hall of Famer finished his career with the Rams with 48 games started, 220 combined tackles, nine interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and three touchdowns.
Backup: Johnnie Johnson Jr.
Johnnie Johnson Jr. was drafted out of Texas No. 17 overall in the 1980 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1983. He started 107 games over his 10 years with the Rams.
Johnson Jr. totaled 22 fumble recoveries, 21 interceptions, four touchdowns and two forced fumbles. He also currently holds the record for longest interception return (99 yards) for the franchise, in which he set during his rookie year.
Backup: Dave Elmendorf
The former third-round pick out of Texas A&M put up some impressive years with the Los Angeles Rams. He never went to a Pro Bowl, but Elmendorf did start all 130 games he played with the Rams.
He racked up 27 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and two touchdowns.
Honorable Mention
Adam Archuleta
Archuleta came on to the Arizona State football squad as a walk-on. He later went on to become a first-round selection by the St. Louis Rams in 2001. A pretty incredible story overall.
Archuleta spent five seasons with the Rams and excelled in Lovie Smith’s defensive scheme. In his rookie year with the Rams, the team went to the Super Bowl, but unfortunately lost to the Patriots.
He started 69 games with the Rams and in those games the strong safety recorded 409 combined tackles, 21 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and a touchdown.
Michael Stewart
The 1987 eighth-round pick by the Rams out of Fresno State played seven seasons with the Rams. He originally was drafted to play baseball, but decided to pursue football instead.
Michael Stewart started 76 games with the Rams totaling 416 tackles, eight fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, five sacks, four forced fumbles, one touchdown and a safety.
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2016/07/05/creating-the-all-time-rams-roster-safety/
By: Jake Ellenbogen | 2 hours ago
In this new series, we will break down our All-Time Rams roster position-by-position. We last covered the cornerbacks, and now it’s time to move on to the safeties. We’ll have two starters and three backups for this position.
Related:
Creating the All-Time Rams Roster: Cornerback
Starter: Nolan Cromwell
Nolan Cromwell was an All-American out of Kansas University. In 1997 he was drafted as the No. 32 overall selection. He played his entire 11-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.
Cromwell started off as a key contributor at nickelback and on special teams. He went on to win the starting job at free safety in 1979, and would finish his career as arguably the greatest safety in Rams history. He racked up four Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro honors and a second-team All-Pro honor.
The former Jayhawk finished with 37 interceptions, four touchdowns and two forced fumbles. Cromwell also spent time as a coach with the Rams.
Starter: Eddie Meador
The seventh-round pick in 1959 out of Arkansas State started off his career at cornerback and received two second-team All-Pro honors. He was moved to safety in 1964 and that is when his career took off.
He was invited to six Pro Bowls, received three first-team All-Pro honors and another second-team All-Pro honor. Meador holds many records for the franchise, including most career interceptions (46), most career fumbles recovered (18), most career kicks blocked (10), most fumbles recovered in a season (four) and most kicks blocked in a season (four).
Meador had quite the career, as he had 46 interceptions, 22 fumble recoveries and five touchdowns in his 12 seasons with the Rams.
Backup: Aeneas Williams
The former six-time Pro Bowler left the Arizona Cardinals after 10 seasons as a cornerback. He came to the St. Louis Rams for four years and became a safety. While his time with the Rams was a little short, Aeneas Williams was a great talent for the franchise.
He went to two Pro Bowls with the Rams and received an All-Pro honor. Williams even played in a Super Bowl for the Rams against the New England Patriots, which unfortunately they lost.
The Hall of Famer finished his career with the Rams with 48 games started, 220 combined tackles, nine interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and three touchdowns.
Backup: Johnnie Johnson Jr.
Johnnie Johnson Jr. was drafted out of Texas No. 17 overall in the 1980 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1983. He started 107 games over his 10 years with the Rams.
Johnson Jr. totaled 22 fumble recoveries, 21 interceptions, four touchdowns and two forced fumbles. He also currently holds the record for longest interception return (99 yards) for the franchise, in which he set during his rookie year.
Backup: Dave Elmendorf
The former third-round pick out of Texas A&M put up some impressive years with the Los Angeles Rams. He never went to a Pro Bowl, but Elmendorf did start all 130 games he played with the Rams.
He racked up 27 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and two touchdowns.
Honorable Mention
Adam Archuleta
Archuleta came on to the Arizona State football squad as a walk-on. He later went on to become a first-round selection by the St. Louis Rams in 2001. A pretty incredible story overall.
Archuleta spent five seasons with the Rams and excelled in Lovie Smith’s defensive scheme. In his rookie year with the Rams, the team went to the Super Bowl, but unfortunately lost to the Patriots.
He started 69 games with the Rams and in those games the strong safety recorded 409 combined tackles, 21 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and a touchdown.
Michael Stewart
The 1987 eighth-round pick by the Rams out of Fresno State played seven seasons with the Rams. He originally was drafted to play baseball, but decided to pursue football instead.
Michael Stewart started 76 games with the Rams totaling 416 tackles, eight fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, five sacks, four forced fumbles, one touchdown and a safety.
