St. Louis Rams Chronicles: How History Dictates Coaching Changes and a Very Brief Interview with Gale Sayers

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Sep 23, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Jeff Fisher is heralded as the new savior of the St. Louis Rams Football team to many. Timeout. History says when a good coach takes over a deep, talented team and turns them into instant contenders, he’s there to stabilize all the tools in place and smile all the while as he guides them to the promise land. This is not the current case in St. Louis. While there is without question talent on this team, the Rams are faced with huge holes due mostly to injuries. As seen in the game against the Chicago Bears, a team with a large advantage in a core group can make for playing a exhausting game. Long, time consuming drives wore down the Rams defense as the game progressed after playing a strong first half. And Chicago’s defense pushed St. Louis’ offensive line around all game as well with no available answer to counter with.

In the history of the Rams since moving to St. Louis, including the Dick Vermiel’s years here as a Superbowl winning coach, no coach has come to this organization and turned it around in one season (Mike Martz inherited Vermiel’s 1999 Superbowl winning team). Coach Fisher has turned teams he’s coached around and returned them to the playoffs three times. So, far as the long-term is concerned, the Rams are set. So, how do I see things are as simple as this: Three games played, two played well, one not so much. Jeff Fisher gives faith to a huge, often disappointed, group of us waiting for something exciting like this and wanting to see more of it.

And don’t forget this, as well as forgive as he did, he once was defensive co-ordinator under John Robinson’s led Los Angeles Rams. That whole staff was let go after the 1991 season and Jeff Fisher wasn’t considered for the head coaching job. He then went to the hated San Francisco 49ers the next season and helped them return to prominence as defensive backs coach (1992-93) and went on face the Rams in a losing effort in the 1999 Superbowl as head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

St. Louis Rams Coaching Records*

Dick Vermeil

Team	Year	Regular season					Post-season
Team	Year	Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
STL	1997	5	11	0	.313	5th in NFC West	-	-	-	-
STL	1998	4	12	0	.250	5th in NFC West	-	-	-	-
STL	1999	13	3	0	.813	1st in NFC West	3	0	1.000	Super Bowl XXXIV Champions.
STL Total		22	26	0	.458		3	0	1.000

Scott Linehan

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
Team	Year	Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
STL	2006	8	8	0	.500	2nd in NFC West	-	-	-	-
STL	2007	3	13	0	.188	last in NFC West	-	-	-	-
STL	2008*	0	4	0	.000	last in NFC West (team finished 2-14)	-	-	-	-
STL Total		11	25	0	.306		-	-	-	-
Total^[19]		11	25	0	.306	-	-	-	-

*Fired four games into 2008 season

Steve Spagnuolo

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
Team	Year	Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
STL	2009	1	15	0	.067	4th in NFC West	–	–	–	–
STL	2010	7	9	0	.438	2nd in NFC West	–	–	–	–
STL	2011	2	14	0	.133	4th in NFC West	–	–	–	–
Total^[7]		10	38	0	.213		–	–	–

Jeff Fisher’s Career Record*

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
Team	Year	Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
HOU	1994	1	5	0	.167	4th in AFC Central	-	-	-	-
HOU	1995	7	9	0	.438	3rd in AFC Central	-	-	-	-
HOU	1996	8	8	0	.500	4th in AFC Central	-	-	-	-
TEN	1997	8	8	0	.500	3rd in AFC Central	-	-	-	-
TEN	1998	8	8	0	.500	2nd in AFC Central	-	-	-	-
TEN	1999	13	3	0	.813	2nd in AFC Central	3	1	.750	Lost to St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.
TEN	2000	13	3	0	.813	1st in AFC Central	0	1	.000	Lost to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Divisional Game.
TEN	2001	7	9	0	.438	4th in AFC Central	-	-	-	-
TEN	2002	11	5	0	.688	1st in AFC South	1	1	.500	Lost to Oakland Raiders in AFC Championship Game.
TEN	2003	12	4	0	.750	2nd in AFC South	1	1	.500	Lost to New England Patriots in AFC Divisional Game.
TEN	2004	5	11	0	.313	3rd in AFC South	-	-	-	-
TEN	2005	4	12	0	.250	3rd in AFC South	-	-	-	-
TEN	2006	8	8	0	.500	2nd in AFC South	-	-	-	-
TEN	2007	10	6	0	.625	3rd in AFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to San Diego Chargers in AFC Wild-Card Game.
TEN	2008	13	3	0	.813	1st in AFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to Baltimore Ravens in AFC Divisional Game.
TEN	2009	8	8	0	.500	3rd in AFC South	-	-	-	-
TEN	2010	6	10	0	.375	4th in AFC South	-	-	-	-
TEN Total		142	120	0	.542		5	6	.455
STL	2012	1	2	0	.333	NFC West	-	-	-	-
STL Total		1	2	0	.333		0	0	.000
Total^[7]		143	122	0	.539		5	6	.455

*According to Wikipedia

An Interview with Gale Sayers-

9/25/2012- Gale Sayers in Las Vegas for autogrpah signings

Well, sort of . I was in Las Vegas the last few days and found out that Hall of Fame and Chicago Bear’s great Gale Sayers was in town for autograph signings and asked him a few questions regarding the game Sunday against the Chicago Bears-

9/25/12- posing in front of signing poster

Question: Did you watch the game this past Sunday?

Sayers: Yes. It was terrible. Who did they play?

Reply: The St. Louis Rams.

Sayers: O.K.

Question: The Bears controlled the game throughout, Chicago has a pretty good defense, right?

Sayers: Nods yes.

And that was it as I was directed away from the signing area after shaking his hand.

I do want to put a shout-out to the few fellow St. Louis fans I saw in town who acknowledged the tough day the Rams had but still proudly displayed their colors.