OFFICIAL Countdown to the start of the 2025 season

[RamFan503]

View attachment 71194

There’s the guy. Cheers Dave.

 

[JonRam99]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82. Had 10.0 sacks as a DT in 1980, and 22.0 from 79-81. 6'6, 255#, drafted 9th overall in '75 to replace Merlin. Wasn't too shabby, I think?
Quite a mug:

No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

 

[Merlin]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82. Had 10.0 sacks as a DT in 1980, and 22.0 from 79-81. 6'6, 255#, drafted 9th overall in '75 to replace Merlin. Wasn't too shabby, I think?
Quite a mug:
View attachment 71196
No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

That's a face only a mother could love.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82.
...
No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

Fanning was solid. Havenstein has been very good for a long time ... but, this guy!

Coy Bacon ... 26-year old rookie ... different time ... different game.

4-year starter for the Rams (1969-1972) credited with 40 sacks (14-game seasons)

Traded to the Chargers in the John Hadl deal.

Later player for the Bengals; and, at the age of 34, was credited with 21.5 sacks in 1976 (14-game season).

Finished-up in Washington; and, over a three-year-span at ages 36-38, was credited with 36 sacks.

Great pass rusher. Didn't always look to stop the run. Really cool name.

 

[David Ray]

Let's kick things off with #79, oldnotdead's favorite player, Rob Havenstein!!

View attachment 71195

And for the other side of the ball, I present RDE Coy Bacon crushing Tarkenton and eliminating the G men in the 1970 regular seson finale.

 

[David Ray]

Fanning was solid. Havenstein has been very good for a long time ... but, this guy!

View attachment 71197
Coy Bacon ... 26-year old rookie ... different time ... different game.

4-year starter for the Rams (1969-1972) credited with 40 sacks (14-game seasons)

Traded to the Chargers in the John Hadl deal.

Later player for the Bengals; and, at the age of 34, was credited with 21.5 sacks in 1976 (14-game season).

Finished-up in Washington; and, over a three-year-span at ages 36-38, was credited with 36 sacks.

Great pass rusher. Didn't always look to stop the run. Really cool name.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBh1bfjvghk

 

[David Ray]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82. Had 10.0 sacks as a DT in 1980, and 22.0 from 79-81. 6'6, 255#, drafted 9th overall in '75 to replace Merlin. Wasn't too shabby, I think?
Quite a mug:
View attachment 71196
No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

Drafted to replace Merlin but Cody Jones ended up the starter for a while. Still, though a solid contributor for several years and a better pass rusher than Cody, I believe.

 

[David Ray]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82. Had 10.0 sacks as a DT in 1980, and 22.0 from 79-81. 6'6, 255#, drafted 9th overall in '75 to replace Merlin. Wasn't too shabby, I think?
Quite a mug:
View attachment 71196
No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

He wore 76 until Coy Bacon was traded and was a starter while sporting that number from 1971-72.

 

[RamFan503]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82. Had 10.0 sacks as a DT in 1980, and 22.0 from 79-81. 6'6, 255#, drafted 9th overall in '75 to replace Merlin. Wasn't too shabby, I think?
Quite a mug:
View attachment 71196
No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

 

[Allen2McVay]

And for the other side of the ball, I present RDE Coy Bacon crushing Fran Tarkenton and eliminating the G men in the 1970 regular season finale.

31-3. Yankee Stadium. A Giants' win and they are in the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Roman Gabriel hits Pat Studstill for two TDs. Studstill was the Rams' punter and a back-up WR.

Game was blacked-out in NY, so I had to listen to it on the radio.

A Rams' win and a Niners' loss to the Raiders later that day, puts the Rams in the playoffs but the 49ers destroy an Oakland team that was resting its starters for the following week's playoff game.

 

[David Ray]

31-3. Yankee Stadium. A Giants' win and they are in the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Roman Gabriel hits Pat Studstill for two TDs. Studstill was the Rams' punter and a back-up WR.

Game was blacked-out in NY, so I had to listen to it on the radio.

A Rams' win and a Niners' loss to the Raiders later that day, puts the Rams in the playoffs but the 49ers destroy an Oakland team that was resting its starters for the following week's playoff game.

Studstill made two pro bowls as a Lions WR in 1965 & 66 and was All Pro in 1966 after catching 67 for 1266 including a 99 yarder. Pretty accomplished as a pass catcher and George Allen turned to him in desperation with Wendell Tucker having become a non-factor (injury related I believe but news was slim pickings back then regarding the RAMS for those of us in Georgia). Studstill was used as a WR a little bit at other times during his time with LA including a last minute drive against ATL at the Coliseum in 1970 when he and David Ray both had receptions as the RAMS avoided their first ever loss to the Falcons when Gabe hit Willie Ellison for the TD and the final 10-10 score.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Studstill made two pro bowls as a Lions WR in 1965 & 66 and was All Pro in 1966 after catching 67 for 1266 including a 99 yarder. Pretty accomplished as a pass catcher and George Allen turned to him in desperation with Wendell Tucker having become a non-factor (injury related I believe but news was slim pickings back then regarding the RAMS for those of us in Georgia). Studstill was used as a WR a little bit at other times during his time with LA including a last minute drive against ATL at the Coliseum in 1970 when he and David Ray both had receptions as the RAMS avoided their first ever loss to the Falcons when Gabe hit Willie Ellison for the TD and the final 10-10 score.

Absolutely. Studstill was a quality WR for sure but also looked like a punter.

Smaller rosters and less depth led to some odd line-ups due to injury. I believe earlier in the 1970 season back-up TE Pat Curran needed to start a game in the backfield because of injuries, and had over 20 carries.

 

[David Ray]

Absolutely. Studstill was a quality WR for sure but also looked like a punter.

Smaller rosters and less depth led to some odd line-ups due to injury. I believe earlier in the 1970 season back-up TE Pat Curran needed to start a game in the backfield because of injuries, and had over 20 carries.

Yes, 3rd string TE wearing 88 and getting handoffs from the setback position. Forty man rosters back then, so a place kicker would be a backup DE, having been a regular at the position earlier in his career, like Lou Michaels of the Colts, who was a RAM earlier in his career.

 

[RamFan503]

Fanning was solid. Havenstein has been very good for a long time ... but, this guy!

View attachment 71197
Coy Bacon ... 26-year old rookie ... different time ... different game.

4-year starter for the Rams (1969-1972) credited with 40 sacks (14-game seasons)

Traded to the Chargers in the John Hadl deal.

Later player for the Bengals; and, at the age of 34, was credited with 21.5 sacks in 1976 (14-game season).

Finished-up in Washington; and, over a three-year-span at ages 36-38, was credited with 36 sacks.

Great pass rusher. Didn't always look to stop the run. Really cool name.

Loved me some Coy Bacon.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Any of you old timers know anything about Mike Fanning? wore #79 from 1975 to 82. Had 10.0 sacks as a DT in 1980, and 22.0 from 79-81. 6'6, 255#, drafted 9th overall in '75 to replace Merlin. Wasn't too shabby, I think?
Quite a mug:
View attachment 71196
No one else wore #79 that I recall (or want to blank out from my memory *cough* *cough* *robinson* *cough*)

Did he play into his 50’s, or what?

 

[Allen2McVay]

Mike Fanning developed into a good interior pass-rusher. First of three 1st Round picks in 1975.

The others were OL Dennis Harrah and Doug France, with CB Monte Jackson selected high in the 2nd Round. Those later three were all Pro Bowl players in multiple years.

Don Klosterman and Steve Rosenbloom (plus others) could really draft.

 

[David Ray]

Mike Fanning developed into a good interior pass-rusher. First of three 1st Round picks in 1975.

The others were OL Dennis Harrah and Doug France, with CB Monte Jackson selected high in the 2nd Round. Those later three were all Pro Bowl players in multiple years.

Don Klosterman and Steve Rosenbloom (plus others) could really draft.

Rod Perry was picked in that 1975 draft, also. And ... Pat Haden.

 

[RamFan503]

And ... Pat Haden.