1997 St. Louis Rams season

1997 St. Louis Rams season
Owner	Georgia Frontiere
General manager	Dick Vermeil
Head coach	Dick Vermeil
Home field	Trans World Dome
Results
Record	5–11
Division place	5th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	DE Kevin Carter
Uniform

The 1997 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 60th year with the National Football League (NFL) and the third season in St. Louis. Still struggling to find answers, the Rams looked to improve on their 6–10 record from 1996 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1989, when the team was still based in Anaheim. The Rams started out the season mediocre, splitting their first four games. However, after beating the New York Giants at home, things began to unravel, as the Rams lost their next eight games before winning three of their last four to end the season 5–11. This was Dick Vermeil’s first season as head coach of the Rams. Despite the losing record, Vermeil had brought the Rams back to competitiveness. Of their 5-11 record, five of those losses were only by a touchdown or less.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1997 NFL draft

1997 St. Louis Rams draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	1	Orlando Pace * †	Offensive tackle	Ohio State
2	40	Dexter McCleon	Cornerback	Clemson
4	112	Ryan Tucker	Offensive tackle	TCU
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

1997 St. Louis Rams roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Tony Banks  9 Will Furrer 11 Mark Rypien Running backs (RB) 33 Derrick Harris 34 Craig Heyward FB 31 Amp Lee 44 Jerald Moore 28 David Thompson Wide receivers (WR) 80 Isaac Bruce 81 Keith Crawford 88 Eddie Kennison 16 Donald Sellers 83 Torrance Small 87 J. T. Thomas Tight ends (TE) 84 Ernie Conwell 89 Mitch Jacoby 86 Aaron Laing

Offensive linemen (OL) 77 Ethan Brooks T 65 Ernest Dye T 70 Wayne Gandy T 66 John Gerak G 60 Mike Gruttadauria C 73 Fred Miller T 76 Orlando Pace T 62 Vernice Smith C 50 Ryan Tucker C 72 Zach Wiegert G Defensive linemen (DL) 93 Kevin Carter DE 75 D'Marco Farr DT 79 Bill Johnson DT 98 Chris Maumalanga DT 91 Leslie O'Neal DE 92 Bryan Robinson DT 94 Jeff Robinson DE 96 Jay Williams DE

Linebackers (LB) 54 Troy Dumas OLB 57 Britt Hager MLB 52 Mike Jones OLB 55 Robert Jones MLB 59 Muadianvita Kazadi OLB 58 Roman Phifer OLB 53 Brett Wallerstedt MLB Defensive backs (DB) 20 Taje Allen CB 22 Billy Jenkins SS 41 Todd Lyght CB 35 Keith Lyle FS 24 Dexter McCleon CB 47 Ryan McNeil CB 42 Joe Rowe CB 37 Mike Scurlock FS 32 Toby Wright SS Special teams  2 Mike Horan P 14 Jeff Wilkins K

Practice squad 15 Donnell Baker WR 95 Shannon Brown DT 26 June Henley RB -- David Kempfert C 53 active, 6 inactive, 4 practice squad Reserve 56 Charlie Clemons LB (IR) 82 Malcolm Floyd WR (IR) 23 Gerald McBurrows S (IR) -- Billy Milner T (IR) 51 Lorenzo Styles LB (IR) 90 Jeff Zgonina DT (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 31	New Orleans Saints	W 38–24	1–0	Trans World Dome	64,575
2	September 7	San Francisco 49ers	L 12–15	1–1	Trans World Dome	64,630
3	September 14	at Denver Broncos	L 14–35	1–2	Mile High Stadium	74,338
4	September 21	New York Giants	W 13–3	2–2	Trans World Dome	64,642
5	September 28	at Oakland Raiders	L 17–35	2–3	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	42,506
6	Bye
7	October 12	at San Francisco 49ers	L 10–30	2–4	3Com Park	63,825
8	October 19	Seattle Seahawks	L 9–17	2–5	Trans World Dome	64,819
9	October 26	Kansas City Chiefs	L 20–28	2–6	Trans World Dome	64,864
10	November 2	at Atlanta Falcons	L 31–34	2–7	Georgia Dome	36,583
11	November 9	at Green Bay Packers	L 7–17	2–8	Lambeau Field	60,093
12	November 16	Atlanta Falcons	L 21–27	2–9	Trans World Dome	64,299
13	November 23	Carolina Panthers	L 10–16	2–10	Trans World Dome	64,609
14	November 30	at Washington Redskins	W 23–20	3–10	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium	74,772
15	December 7	at New Orleans Saints	W 34–27	4–10	Louisiana Superdome	54,803
16	December 14	Chicago Bears	L 10–13	4–11	Trans World Dome	66,030
17	December 20	at Carolina Panthers	W 30–18	5–11	Ericcson Stadium	58,101
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(1) San Francisco 49ers	13	3	0	.813	375	265	L1
Carolina Panthers	7	9	0	.438	265	314	L2
Atlanta Falcons	7	9	0	.438	320	361	L1
New Orleans Saints	6	10	0	.375	237	327	L1
St. Louis Rams	5	11	0	.313	299	359	W1

External links

• 1997 St. Louis Rams Rams at Pro-Football-Reference.com