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

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

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

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

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

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.