Rams Top 10 Individual Single Seasons

[rams24/7]

Hey all, been lurking recently but haven't posted in a while. I'm making a video for my YouTube channel of the Rams Top 10 Individual Seasons. I think I've narrowed it down to a good top 11, but the difficult part is the ordering of the top 10.

There are a few things I'm considering:
1) Not including Deacon, Olsen, Youngblood etc. because sacks didn't become an official stat until 1982. They will get a nod at the beginning of my video as honorable mentions.
2) I'm trying to base my top 10 primarily off of the INDIVIDUAL'S season. I'm only considering how the team finished about 10%.

So without further ado here is my top 11 (in no particular order)! Please give me your top 10 and explain your rationale for why certain players are higher than others.

1. 2017 Aaron Donald 91 pressures / 11 sacks / 5 FF / DPOY (14 gm)

2. 2017 Todd Gurley 2,093 tot yds / 19 TDs / OPOY (15 gm)

3. 2013 Robert Quinn 19 sacks / 7 FF / 1st Team All Pro

4. 2006 Steven Jackson 2,334 tot yds / 16 TDs / 90 rec / Pro Bowl

5. 2003 Torry Holt 1,696 yds / 117 rec / 12 TDs / 1st Team All Pro

6. 2000 Marshall Faulk 26 TD / 2,189 tot yds / 5.4 ypc / 4th st 2k yr / MVP (14 gm)

7. 1999 Kurt Warner 41 TD / 4,353 yds / MVP / SB 34 MVP

8. 1995 Isaac Bruce 1,781 yds / 119 rec / 13 TD

9. 1984 Eric Dickerson 2,105 yds / 14 TD / 131 ypg / 1st Team All Pro

10. 1952 Night Train Lane 14 INT / 2 TD / 1 safety (12 game season)

11. 1951 Crazylegs Hirsch 1,495 yds / 22.7 ypc / 17 TD / 1st Team All Pro (12 gm) /

1951 NFL Champion


12. Honorable Mention: Deacon Jones/Merlin Olsen/Jack Youngblood

 

[André]

Very nicely done.

The only one that stands out to me as jarring is Dickerson that low.

That was genuinely a season for the ages. Still the record for a running back and still the standard of excellence.

I think Dickerson's year should be ahead of all the receivers, and likely Quinn and Jackson as well. Agree on Donald, Faulk and Warner ahead of him, but that's it. Gurley could go either way, but my tendency would still be to have that Dickerson year ahead. Just a phenomenal year that captured the attention of more than just Rams fans.

Either way, each of those individual seasons you listed were great ones; thanks for collecting them and looking forward to the video!

 

[rams24/7]

Very nicely done.

The only one that stands out to me as jarring is Dickerson that low.

That was genuinely a season for the ages. Still the record for a running back and still the standard of excellence.

I think Dickerson's year should be ahead of all the receivers, and likely Quinn and Jackson as well. Agree on Donald, Faulk and Warner ahead of him, but that's it. Gurley could go either way, but my tendency would still be to have that Dickerson year ahead. Just a phenomenal year that captured the attention of more than just Rams fans.

Either way, each of those individual seasons you listed were great ones; thanks for collecting them and looking forward to the video!

My list isn't in any particular order. I'm asking folks to give me their top 10 from this list.

 

[Karate61]

Taking a shot here:

1. 1999 Kurt Warner 41 TD / 4,353 yds / MVP / SB 34 MVP (Superbowl Winner and MVP - nothing tops that; and NFL MVP as well)

2. 1984 Eric Dickerson 2,105 yds / 14 TD / 131 ypg / 1st Team All Pro (30+ years unbroken record holder)

3. 1995 Isaac Bruce 1,781 yds / 119 rec / 13 TD (Accomplished with two run down QB's on a bad 7-9 team.)

4. 2000 Marshall Faulk 26 TD / 2,189 tot yds / 5.4 ypc / 4th st 2k yr / MVP (14 gm) (Accomplished on an offense that was a high flying passing machine, and NFL MVP season)

5. 2003 Torry Holt 1,696 yds / 117 rec / 12 TDs / 1st Team All Pro (At #5 just because couldn't justify placing ahead of Bruce and Faulk; tremendously good season for holt)

6. 2017 Todd Gurley 2,093 tot yds / 19 TDs / OPOY (15 gm). (New head coach and system, coming off slump from previous year, was also in running for NFL mvp)

7. 2017 Aaron Donald 91 pressures / 11 sacks / 5 FF / DPOY (14 gm) (11 sacks in 14 played games, most sacks had impact on the game, and that's a lot of sacks for a DT.)

8. 2006 Steven Jackson 2,334 tot yds / 16 TDs / 90 rec / Pro Bowl (8-8 team record, so yards didn't equal wins).

9. 1952 Night Train Lane 14 INT / 2 TD / 1 safety (12 game season) (Domination in an era of a run 1st league)

10. 1951 Crazylegs Hirsch 1,495 yds / 22.7 ypc / 17 TD / 1st Team All Pro (12 gm) /

11. 2013 Robert Quinn 19 sacks / 7 FF / 1stTeam All Pro (one-off season, nearly doubling any other season total, losing record for the season)

 

[Farr Be It]

Maybe for consideration- Monte Jackson 10 ints 3 tds... 1976

top 20 anyway.

 

[dieterbrock]

How about ED rookie season? Rookie rushing record, still in tact 2200 total yards, 20 td
His soph year is still one for the books. IMO that's hands down the best individual season

 

[rams24/7]

How about ED rookie season? Rookie rushing record, still in tact 2200 total yards, 20 td
His soph year is still one for the books. IMO that's hands down the best individual season

It would definitely make my #1 Rams rookie season, but I'm just trying to stick to one season per player (because I very well could have used multiple seasons from Marshall, Kurt, Torry, Isaac)

 

[Mojo Ram]

9. 1984 Eric Dickerson 2,105 yds / 14 TD / 131 ypg / 1st Team All Pro

#1

 

[Adi]

People underestimate the season todd has last year. It was truly an amazing season , probably a top 10 season for any running back

How did he not win MVP again ?

 

[thirteen28]

Dickerson's 1984 season has to be #1, or #2 at lowest on the list. Back then, Dickerson WAS the offense. At that particular point, Head Coach John Robinson had a Fisher-like imagination of offensive football (which is to say, almost none whatsoever). Defenses KNEW that Dickerson was going to get the ball and get it a lot, and sold out against the run on a weekly basis. And still, it didn't matter, Dickerson got his yards. It was just an overall incredible season, and one that no running back has had since then.

 

[snackdaddy]

In a time where 300 yard passing games were rare and 30 TD seasons were even more rare, and in a 14 game season, Roman Gabriel's 1969 MVP season was pretty impressive. 24 TD's led the league. His 7 INT's were the best TD to INT ratio. The top pass catcher in the league that season had 73 catches. It was not the passing league back then that it is today. Defenses ruled the day most times.

 

[rams24/7]

#1

I'll never argue with anyone who puts ED at #1. A season for the ages. Likely top 10 individual season in NFL history, let alone a top Rams season.

People underestimate the season todd has last year. It was truly an amazing season , probably a top 10 season for any running back

How did he not win MVP again ?

Yeah. Todd had an amazing year. He makes the back half of my top 10 only because there are so many great years from guys like ED, Ike, etc.

Dickerson's 1984 season has to be #1, or #2 at lowest on the list. Back then, Dickerson WAS the offense. At that particular point, Head Coach John Robinson had a Fisher-like imagination of offensive football (which is to say, almost none whatsoever). Defenses KNEW that Dickerson was going to get the ball and get it a lot, and sold out against the run on a weekly basis. And still, it didn't matter, Dickerson got his yards. It was just an overall incredible season, and one that no running back has had since then.

Yeah its certainly top 2 for me. You reach GOAT status when everyone and their mother knows you're getting the rock every game and you put up the most yards of all time in a season.

In a time where 300 yard passing games were rare and 30 TD seasons were even more rare, and in a 14 game season, Roman Gabriel's 1969 MVP season was pretty impressive. 24 TD's led the league. His 7 INT's were the best TD to INT ratio. The top pass catcher in the league that season had 73 catches. It was not the passing league back then that it is today. Defenses ruled the day most times.

I gave the 1969 year some consideration, but it didn't make my top 11 unfortunately. He was ahead of his time statistically for sure

 

[rams24/7]

Taking a shot here:

1. 1999 Kurt Warner 41 TD / 4,353 yds / MVP / SB 34 MVP (Superbowl Winner and MVP - nothing tops that; and NFL MVP as well)

2. 1984 Eric Dickerson 2,105 yds / 14 TD / 131 ypg / 1st Team All Pro (30+ years unbroken record holder)

3. 1995 Isaac Bruce 1,781 yds / 119 rec / 13 TD (Accomplished with two run down QB's on a bad 7-9 team.)

4. 2000 Marshall Faulk 26 TD / 2,189 tot yds / 5.4 ypc / 4th st 2k yr / MVP (14 gm) (Accomplished on an offense that was a high flying passing machine, and NFL MVP season)

5. 2003 Torry Holt 1,696 yds / 117 rec / 12 TDs / 1st Team All Pro (At #5 just because couldn't justify placing ahead of Bruce and Faulk; tremendously good season for holt)

6. 2017 Todd Gurley 2,093 tot yds / 19 TDs / OPOY (15 gm). (New head coach and system, coming off slump from previous year, was also in running for NFL mvp)

7. 2017 Aaron Donald 91 pressures / 11 sacks / 5 FF / DPOY (14 gm) (11 sacks in 14 played games, most sacks had impact on the game, and that's a lot of sacks for a DT.)

8. 2006 Steven Jackson 2,334 tot yds / 16 TDs / 90 rec / Pro Bowl (8-8 team record, so yards didn't equal wins).

9. 1952 Night Train Lane 14 INT / 2 TD / 1 safety (12 game season) (Domination in an era of a run 1st league)

10. 1951 Crazylegs Hirsch 1,495 yds / 22.7 ypc / 17 TD / 1st Team All Pro (12 gm) /

11. 2013 Robert Quinn 19 sacks / 7 FF / 1stTeam All Pro (one-off season, nearly doubling any other season total, losing record for the season)

I can agree with this. After some thinking my list looks like this:

1. Warner
2. ED
3. Crazylegs
4. Faulk
5. Ike
6. Donald
7. Night Train
8. Quinn
9. Gurley
10. Holt

 

[fanotodd]

Just throwing this out there re RBs and their incredible seasons.

I dig Gurley. If an opponent doesn't stop him, they really can't beat the Rams. He's the key... but do a discount double check at those other great seasons by our RBs and last year, IMO, only ranks 4th on the greatest seasons of a Ram RB--possibly 5th if you include ED's rookie season.

1) ED single season rushing record. Any questions?
2) Faulk 2000. He also became only the 2nd player to have over a 1000 yds both receiving and rushing in the same season. I can't remember which season that was, but if it was the year before, then THAT would be the season I'd pick for him.
3) The incredibly wasted talent of Stephan Jackson is a sad story, but let's not forget when he started out on a team that still had some talent around him. Go back and take a good look at those 2006 stats. Over 2300 yds and 90 receptions? Are you freaking kidding me?

Again, I love watching Gurley and maybe it's because it's so fresh in our minds, but his 2017 totals don't put last season ahead of the aforementioned.
Just my opinion.

 

[rams24/7]

Just throwing this out there re RBs and their incredible seasons.

I dig Gurley. If an opponent doesn't stop him, they really can't beat the Rams. He's the key... but do a discount double check at those other great seasons by our RBs and last year, IMO, only ranks 4th on the greatest seasons of a Ram RB--possibly 5th if you include ED's rookie season.

1) ED single season rushing record. Any questions?
2) Faulk 2000. He also became only the 2nd player to have over a 1000 yds both receiving and rushing in the same season. I can't remember which season that was, but if it was the year before, then THAT would be the season I'd pick for him.
3) The incredibly wasted talent of Stephan Jackson is a sad story, but let's not forget when he started out on a team that still had some talent around him. Go back and take a good look at those 2006 stats. Over 2300 yds and 90 receptions? Are you freaking kidding me?

Again, I love watching Gurley and maybe it's because it's so fresh in our minds, but his 2017 totals don't put last season ahead of the aforementioned.
Just my opinion.

I'm completely fine with putting Todd below ED & Marshall as I did in the list I posted just above your comment. I struggle placing SJ above Todd or even on the list (and I'm as huge an SJ fan as you'll meet).

The reality is SJ had an insane 3 game stretch to end the year where he compiled 545 total yards and 8 of his 16 TDs. It's as insane of a 3 game stretch as I've seen, but it occurred when the playoffs were out of reach.

Let's also not overlook Gurley's final 3 games of the regular season, where he played an integral role in punching our ticket to the postseason in 3-straight games vs teams battling for playoff position. Todd had 591 yards and 8 TDs in that stretch.

Let's also not overlook that SJ had significantly more touches (436) than Todd (343). And Todd was more efficient in his touches averaging 8.5 yards per touch to SJ's 6.7. Not trying to reduce SJ's career year, but trying to put in perspective how good Todd's was in comparison.

 

[Dirigo]

Another honorable mention might be Bucky Pope’s 31.4 pass receiving yards per catch average for the season back in 1964. He had 25 catches for 786 yards and 10 pass receiving touchdowns.

 

[nighttrain]

Another honorable mention might be Bucky Pope’s 31.4 pass receiving yards per catch average for the season back in 1964. He had 25 catches for 786 yards and 10 pass receiving touchdowns.

THE Catawba Claw

 

[bubbaramfan]

#1--- 1951 championship. #2-- 1999 Rams. "51 because it was The Rams first championship, '99 because they won a SB. That's what a team is trying to accomplish above all else. Sacks, QB rating, TD's, Yds gained is are all secondary if you don't win it all.

 

[Karate61]

I'm completely fine with putting Todd below ED & Marshall as I did in the list I posted just above your comment. I struggle placing SJ above Todd or even on the list (and I'm as huge an SJ fan as you'll meet).

The reality is SJ had an insane 3 game stretch to end the year where he compiled 545 total yards and 8 of his 16 TDs. It's as insane of a 3 game stretch as I've seen, but it occurred when the playoffs were out of reach.

Let's also not overlook Gurley's final 3 games of the regular season, where he played an integral role in punching our ticket to the postseason in 3-straight games vs teams battling for playoff position. Todd had 591 yards and 8 TDs in that stretch.

Let's also not overlook that SJ had significantly more touches (436) than Todd (343). And Todd was more efficient in his touches averaging 8.5 yards per touch to SJ's 6.7. Not trying to reduce SJ's career year, but trying to put in perspective how good Todd's was in comparison.

Based on that, I think you should move Gurley up on your list. Here's my counter to your last list:

1. Warner
2. ED
3. Faulk
4. Gurley
5. Ike
6. Donald
7. Night Train
8. Holt
9. Quinn
10. Jackson

Crazylegs to honorable mention.

 

[rams24/7]

Based on that, I think you should move Gurley up on your list. Here's my counter to your last list:

1. Warner
2. ED
3. Faulk
4. Gurley
5. Ike
6. Donald
7. Night Train
8. Holt
9. Quinn
10. Jackson

Crazylegs to honorable mention.

As great a year as Todd had, the guys I ranked ahead of him had record setting type years. Todd had an AMAZING 2017 and he was the engine that drove our offense, but I'd be hard pressed to rank his season about Ike who put up 1,781 yards, which would have broken the old NFL record, but Rice broke it the same year. And I'd put Donald's 91 pressures and 11 sacks above Todd as well as Night Train's STILL NFL record 14 picks in a 12 game season. That's what makes ordering the top 10 so hard. These are all historic single seasons in Rams history