Which year had best Rams O line ever? (from 1970 to now)

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SteveBrown

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I go with the 1979 or the 1980 Line. This line is compareable to the CHiefs 2003-2006 O line.

Ferragamo threw 30 TD's in 15 games in 1980. And, at that time the Rams had the most yards in NFL history a season rushing the ball---(16 games vs 14 games in pre 1977?)

Ferragamo had 'ok' WR's....Dennard was pretty good, but maybe a #3 on many teams. Ron Jessie was good but was injured and caught only 15 balls total in those two years. Billy Waddy was 'nothing', though a great athelete, hardly a football player. THE LINE made everything go!

LT-France- great talent with 2 pro bowls (reminds of Roaf)
LG- Kent Hill-5 pro bowls
C-Rich Saul-Many pro bowls
RG- Harrah-How many pro bowls
RT- Slater-HOF

The 1999-2001 lines were great pass blockers, but the interior was not capable of power blocking...and Marshall had 15 yards rushing in Super bowl 34....enough said.
 

mikeyboy

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I go with the 1979 or the 1980 Line. This line is compareable to the CHiefs 2003-2006 O line.

Ferragamo threw 30 TD's in 15 games in 1980. And, at that time the Rams had the most yards in NFL history a season rushing the ball---(16 games vs 14 games in pre 1977?)

Ferragamo had 'ok' WR's....Dennard was pretty good, but maybe a #3 on many teams. Ron Jessie was good but was injured and caught only 15 balls total in those two years. Billy Waddy was 'nothing', though a great athelete, hardly a football player. THE LINE made everything go!

LT-France- great talent with 2 pro bowls (reminds of Roaf)
LG- Kent Hill-5 pro bowls
C-Rich Saul-Many pro bowls
RG- Harrah-How many pro bowls
RT- Slater-HOF

The 1999-2001 lines were great pass blockers, but the interior was not capable of power blocking...and Marshall had 15 yards rushing in Super bowl 34....enough said.
 

FRO

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I was born in 87'. I won't be able to add much to this debate. The 99'-01' lines were probably the best I've seen us have.
 

SierraRam

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1980 is tough to beat but other notables include:

1975 Rams / 12-2 / 2300+ yards rushing / Tough, Veteran group under "Ground" Chuck Knox

LT Charlie Cowan
LG Tom Mack
C Rich Saul
RG Joe Scibelli
RT John Williams

(Rookies: Doug France, Dennis Harrah)
 

mr.stlouis

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If we can stay healthy, we are the best right now. Barksdale is really the only question in terms of skill. He played really well last year, though.
 

TheDYVKX

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Don't remember the 1980 line, I was like 4. So like FRO, the '99-'01 lines were probably the best I've seen from the Rams.

Now, on paper, our line has the potential to be legendary. Let's hope they live up to that potential.
 

den-the-coach

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SteveBrown is correct the 1979 offensive line that played in the Super Bowl against the Steel Curtain and had their defense concerned....That offensive line was truly special for the simple reason that Jackie Slater is the best Right Tackle to have ever played the game!
 

DR RAM

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It's gonna be 2014, and beyond.
 

HometownBoy

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The 1999-2001 lines were great pass blockers, but the interior was not capable of power blocking...and Marshall had 15 yards rushing in Super bowl 34....enough said.

He had 17, and also that painfully unfair to the O-line, he only ran 10 times.
 

SteveBrown

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  • #14
If we can stay healthy, we are the best right now. Barksdale is really the only question in terms of skill. He played really well last year, though.
I don't think Barksdale has any skill problems, I think he has a toughness problem. IF he played the way he did against Seattle in the first game in 2013, he is a pro bowler....he actually dominated Red Bryant in that game. He is like Jake Matthews in my opinion (soft)...Happy the Rams didn't get him...
 

thirteen28

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Don't forget some of the mid-80's OL's the Rams had under John Robinson. At least for run blocking, those lines were awesome.
 

den-the-coach

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Don't forget some of the mid-80's OL's the Rams had under John Robinson. At least for run blocking, those lines were awesome.

Yes they were any offensive line that included Jackie Slater was great, in fact, if den-the-coach played RG next to Jackie Slater, it would still be a pretty damn good offensive line. Slater was simply the best ever!
 

SteveBrown

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  • #17
Don't forget some of the mid-80's OL's the Rams had under John Robinson. At least for run blocking, those lines were awesome.
I agree.....83-84-85-86-88 They beat the Bears 4 out of 5....and Dickerson had big games in 83 and 84. Those years the Bears were playoff teams...
I saw the 84 Rams handle the Bears line in the Run game...David Hill was integral for the success and the Bears had no sacks against the Rams in that 1984 game....so, the Bears had 72 sacks in 15 games (for the sack record)