By Joe Torosian
“Offensive linemen are like salt. Nobody ever remembers the brand they buy.”—Blaine Nye
(This was from a “Fanview” I posted on my website in August of 2019.)
Every Los Angeles Rams fan knows about “The Fearsome Foursome.”
It came into being when the Rams acquired Rosey Grier from the New York Giants in 1963. For the next four seasons—Lamar Lundy, Grier, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones—they missed a combined three games. They were on the field every week, and the team went: 5-9, 5-7-2, 4-10, and finally 8-6 in George Allen’s first season in 1966. And that was pretty much it. A few spare parts were added. Roger Brown replaced Grier, and Coy Bacon stepped in for Lamar Lundy.
But by 1970, it was done.
Interestingly, no nickname was ever given to the Rams offensive line—a line that dominated for 24 seasons– including 16 playoff appearances and 11 division titles.
When Allen arrived in 1966, the Rams also drafted Tom Mack out of Michigan.
Mack was added to an offensive line that included center Ken Iman (140 consecutive starts from 1965-1974)…Tackle Charlie Cowan (1961-1975, 3 Pro Bowls)…Joe Scibelli (1961-1975, 1 Pro Bowl/1968, All-Pro/1973, Rams “OL of Year” 5-times, team captain 10-years)…and Mack who ended up in the Hall of Fame after playing in 184 games and starting 162.
Note: Tackle Joe Carollo was the fifth member of this unit and went to the Pro Bowl in 1968. He was replaced by Hall of Famer Bob Brown in 1969 & 1970.
And it goes from there. Iman was replaced by Rich Saul. Saul went to 6 Pro Bowls between 1975-1981 and was replaced by Doug Smith (1978-1991), who also went to six Pro Bowls.
After the 1978 season, Mack was replaced by Kent Hill (1979-1986), who went to five Pro Bowls. Hill was replaced by Tom Newberry (1986-1994), and Newberry was All-Pro twice.
Scibelli was replaced by Dennis Harrah (1975-1987), who went to six Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro once.
Cowan was replaced by Doug France (1975-1981), who was All-Pro three times. And from 1972 through 1979, John Williams was the right tackle. Williams played in 111 games, starting 94, including 86 in a row.
Bill Bain, Irv Pankey, Duval Love all started with distinction throughout the 1980s…And then this guy named Jackie Slater became a starter in 1979 and in 1995 concluded a Hall of Fame career.
Look at all of these 1,000-yard rushers, and you see only one Hall of Famer.
In 1966 running back Dick Bass had his best season (1,090 rushing yards). Willie Ellison rushed for 1,000 yards in 1971. Lawrence McCutcheon rushed for 1,000 yards four times in five seasons (1973-1974, 1976-1977). Wendell Tyler rand for 1,000-yards twice (1979-1981)…And then there was Eric Dickerson, who is in the Hall of Fame and still holds the NFL’s single-season rushing record.
Did you know Charles White led the NFL in rushing in 1987? He was followed by Greg Bell’s 1,000-yard seasons in 1988 and 1989.
Sixteen playoff appearances from 1966 to 1989. So what about those eight seasons when they didn’t make the playoffs?
First, cancel out the Tommy Prothro years of 1971 and 1972–he was a disaster. Cancel out the two strike years 1982 and 1987. The three times the Rams missed the playoffs under Allen, they went 8-6 (1966), 10-3-1 (1968), and 9-4-1 (1970).
In 1981 they were legitimately bad. Head Coach Ray Malavasi was burning out. The effect of Georgia Frontiere’s ownership was taking shape. Long-time GM Don Klosterman was being put out to pasture. Pat Haden, Dan Pastorini, Jeff Rutledge, and Jeff Kemp all played quarterback for that team.
That’s an amazing run. So if you’re a Rams fan, please, give “The Fearsome Foursome” its due. But there was nothing like the Rams offensive lines from 1966 through 1989. It’s a little late, but that unit deserves a tag. It deserves attention. It deserves to be honored.
Joe T. is the author of “Tangent Dreams: A High School Football Novel” … “Temple City & The Company of The Ages” … “The Dead Bug Tales” … “The Dark Norm” & “FaithViews for Storm Riders”…all five available through Amazon.com.
www.JoeTorosian.com
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Be sure to read:
The Saxon Top 25—Every Monday (College Bball)
The Urena Express—Every Wednesday (MLB)
