Amazing O.J. Runs(49ers At Rams 1979)

Amazing O.J. Simpson runs are featured in this video. The 49ers and Rams battle it out in this 1979 game in stunning color and clarity.

[@jamespenny9482]

Lawrence McCutcheon, Cullen Bryant, and Wendall Tyler on the same team! Dang.

[@markgardner9460]

They were loaded. I liked Tyler the most of those guys, but he had big time fumbling issues.

[@jaunenito]

Rookie Elvis Peacock was awesome!

[@vs-yy5cx]

Elvis Peacock too

[@hardcorehouse]

I considered Cullen Bryant, best in the late 70s, but the coach favored Tyler, who kept hurting them with game killing fumbles

[@user-oq9mv8pc2g]

Yes Bryant. Also a kick return man. A kick return man that benches 600 lbs. Wow

[@iracer9395]

Whats most noticeable to me is that after the play everyone just goes back to the huddle instead of strutting around beating their chest and making a fool of themself. ❤

[@markgardner9460]

Excellent point! I can't stand that.

[@gsentinel4821]

Agreed

[@chrismachabee3128]

Those were the olden days

[@yaantsudnbesdai972]

One of the MANY things that I loathe about modern athletes and sports. It wasn't THAT LONG AGO that an interception by an NFL team wasn't MANDATORILY CELEBRATED by the entire defense going into the endzone. It gets stupider and more pathetic every year. Society de-evolves a degree or two more every year and thus so do all sports and athletes.

[@LembeckIsStaying]

Another thing about back then, grown men didn't complain like women. It's just a game, got a problem with it go out and stop guys from scoring.

[@Damone2020]

He was my favorite running back. He ran with such Grace and extremely fast😊👍

[@markgardner9460]

He was extremely fluid and not too many RB's were faster.

[@frankdenardo8684]

He was the best. R.I.P the juice

[@r.williamcomm7693]

Every time handing the ball to OJ was like a QB throwing the bomb. It just might be a TD. OJ’s 2,000 yards in a 14 game season was a true NFL lifetime achievement. Bill Walsh said OJ had nothing left in the tank his final season but he had the heart of a warrior. Whatever happened to him 15 years later isn’t for me to decide here. One thing for sure, between then & 2010 the NFL had some very hard hitters. They could break the will of tough men.

[@JamalMcCoy-tx2vz]

Tom Brady wouldn't stand a chance during this era...

[@r.williamcomm7693]

@@JamalMcCoy-tx2vz I could see Brady having his early career success. But the hits back definitely resulted in QBs being pretty banged up before year 10 & fragile by year 15. It’s hard to imagine Brady playing past 2014 if he was trading hits for completions like they used to.

[@JamalMcCoy-tx2vz]

@@r.williamcomm7693 yeah William you said it better than me but true nonetheless 😂

[@GardcoreLegend]

OJ showed some flashes of his old brilliance in this game, but his knees were toast and his age caught up to him in his two final seasons with the 49ers.

[@markgardner9460]

Yes, he was age 31 in '78 and only rushed for 4 TD's during his 2 years in San Fran.

[@williamjohnson4702]

funny and bill walsh kept montana on the bench after letting plunkett go to the raiders

[@williamjohnson4702]

funny and bill walsh kept montana on the bench after letting plunkett go to the raiders

[@chrisbrimhall1613]

He would be a star in today’s league…no question

[@markgardner9460]

With legalized holding and the lousy tackling in today's game, he's run for 2,000 yards almost every year, in my opinion.

[@Tuskegeeflyboi]

Smooth line by the announcer saying he ran into a team picture when being stopped on a run. Great color commentating!!

[@GrowthruGod]

Scully

[@Tuskegeeflyboi]

@@GrowthruGod Vince Skully right?

[@markgardner9460]

Yes, Vin Scully

[@edscottable]

Yeah I caught that

[@dongordo63]

OJ, Joe Montana, Pat Haden, and all the other great Ram players.....and Vinny doing the play-by-play. Hard to beat that!

[@markgardner9460]

I love Vinnie - baseball or football. It doesn't matter.

[@dongordo63]

@@markgardner9460 His descriptions of the play showed his knowledge of the game.....both in baseball and football. The man could read a phone book into a mic and make it sound interesting. Miss this guy!

[@markgardner9460]

In an otherwise dull baseball game, he could make it interesting by spinning the many stories that he accumulated during his broadcasting career.

[@bansheesioux5569]

His last year in SF was Joe Montana's first year in SF

[@markgardner9460]

3rd round draft pick...what a steal.

[@youngblood4127]

@@markgardner9460 Does anyone know how much OJ weighed here in this video? He look significantly bigger.

[@hardcorehouse]

He was always around 210. I saw him in person. He wasn’t a small guy. He was about 62 with wide shoulders.

[@mysterion5136]

@hardcorehouse Yeah he was a smaller, but more talented Eddie George. Tall, fluid, with quick cuts.

[@hardcorehouse]

Because of the murders, he’s rarely talked about as a player; I remember him as the best halfback ever. Better than Sanders he still has the highest yards per game average in NFL history. If you were there, then you remember he was as ubiquitous as Jordan.

[@scotday]

OJ could really SLASH through the defence

[@unclebean9226]

Back then the Running Back was the game breaker every good team had a great Running Back!!!🏈

[@markgardner9460]

If a team didn't have one, forget about it - they weren't going very far.

[@thecantankerouscollector]

I can't believe the RAMS abandoned those awesome uniforms and helmet.☹

[@markgardner9460]

They totally blew it. In '73 when they changed uniforms, they instantly became my favorite.

[@kevincostello3856]

Dwayne Board was in Steeler Training camp in 79 and performed so well that Noll wanted to keep him on the team but Board got hurt and Steelers had to place him on the waiver wire, unfortunately for us the 49ers scooped him up and the rest is history.Dwayne Board would go on to a very solid career with 49ers. From what I understand the Steelers were sick at having to waive him, because he had an excellent camp with us.

[@markgardner9460]

It could not have worked out better for him. 3X Super Bowl champ

[@JohnWilliams-sq7cj]

Yup North Csrolina A&T State Aggie!

[@ciesaro]

This was Bill Walsh's first season as San Francisco's coach

[@markgardner9460]

That's right...the Paul Brown protege

[@brianstudnicky9970]

Still is,and ever shall be the juice

[@markgardner9460]

The Juice was unreal - able to cut on a dime at full speed and still be fluid.

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

I sure enjoyed that bull rush one arm sack by Jack Youngblood...By far that guy was the funnest Ram to watch after Deacon Jones! I read an article about Farnhoarst his wife said he'd be cranky all week before Sunday when they had to play the Rams ... 79 was one of If the not the best season for Jack felt so bad when he got hurt with that leg in the playoffs....he was obviously hobbled in the Superbowl against your Steelers...Had Jack been 100 percent I don't think Bradshaw would of enjoyed all that time in the pocket... maybe different outcome! I remember OJ in the snow at Buffalo and there'd be like 5-6 defenders all over him then 5-6 guys would peel off of him and he'd just squirt out and go.... Amazing really! Thanks for the upload 👍

[@markgardner9460]

Jack Youngblood used to give future Hall of Fame Tackle Ron Yary of the Vikings fits every time they faced off! Yary would get flagged for holding 2-3X every game. Tarkenton fired a football at Youngblood one game cuz he lost his composure due to Jack's continuous harrassment. Of course no penalty flag was thrown

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

@@markgardner9460 Youngblood, Slater and Yary were inducted into the same Hall of Fame class along with Marv Levy , Lynn Swann, Mike Munchak, and Nick Bunacotti ! Little old lady down my street sent My Son and I to Canton that year. . YUP ✌️

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

@@markgardner9460 I grew up watching The Fearsome foursome against the Vikings always a sore throat after those games.... screaming TACKLE HIM.... Tarkenton! No lie... literally jumping up and down screaming TACKLE HIM! Merlin Olsen lived across the street from my Jr. High school in Downey ✌️

[@loydkline]

@@markgardner9460 off Ed white guard

[@homoerectus744]

I remember jack youngblood during the San Fran-Cindy Super Bowl in’81-‘82, the announcers were amused that he was dressed long before his teammates, sitting in solitude waiting to play. I do believe he was hobbled at that time, also.

[@TheBlondygirl69]

Magical times in the NFL,miss the days so much.

[@greasyflight6609]

#36 RB Paul Hofer took over for OJ in 1980...he was really good but blew out his knee. Yes I miss the old days.

[@kevincostello3856]

Thank you, wonderfully put and couldn't agree more.

[@markgardner9460]

I remember Hofer - he was solid.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

Ó888😂​@@greasyflight6609

[@Claude-sq2fy]

Lmao you sound like archie bunker guy's like you HAD IT MADE

[@surfshack2]

Good game. Good runs and some nice passes from Haden and DeBerg.

[@jazzbassoonpaul]

Wild to see some of the 49ers who would later be on the Super Bowl winning team in 1981. Mike Schuman. Dwayne Board, Keith Fanhorst Wendell Tyler would join the 49ers for their second Super Bowl championship in 1984. I’m sure there’s a few others that I can’t name right now

[@Armis71]

Tyler had small hands and he carried the ball like a notebook. I have his autograph.

[@markgardner9460]

He coughed up the ball a lot...led the league in fumbles one year. He had great moves, slipped tackles and rarely did he receive a hard head-on hit. Thank you for your comments!

[@jamespenny9482]

@@markgardner9460 Exactly, elusive.

[@amusement420]

For my OJ Classic NFL Contribution, I uploaded clips of a retirement tribute vid in which Howard Cosell said “He Can Kill You...with a head fake. He can kill you with the swiftness of his legs. He also kills you with his variation of speed, perhaps this above all else, the ability within an instant to accelerate...” Bryant Gumbel waxes poetic. An OJ TV show fight. And of course OJ in his own words how football was his vehicle out of the ghetto and his need to be liked. I still have an OJ action figure that came with a bunch of accessories including an inflatable raft. I remember seeing him rush for 2,000 yrds on a black & white TV.

[@markgardner9460]

He was something else. He rushed for 250 yards in the first game of the '73 season, then ran for 419 yards in the last two games of the season to go over 2,000 yards - incredible! When he broke his own 250 yard rushing record with 273 in 1976, he followed that up with 203 rushing yards the following week.

[@amusement420]

@@markgardner9460 yes I'd say on the list of great players never to win a Super Bowl. To his credit he embraced Buffalo even though the Bills were never that good. He only played in one playoff game. And retired in his hometown of SF (regardless of what happened after that). I remember my Dad putting up an Xmas tree in our living room when I watched OJ eclipse 2k yards. It stands out in my mind like it was almost yesterday.

[@markgardner9460]

I remember that game vividly, too, as I was watching the snow fall in that game on my parents little black and white tv.

[@jamespenny9482]

Hmmm, just hit me; I wonder how much the hills of San Francisco where OJ grew up affected his speed and power? He certainly had a lot of both.

[@markgardner9460]

I've had similar thoughts about Larry Brown who grew up in The Hill District in Pittsburgh.

[@TrpleAgnt2011]

Enjoyed the video N the gab. And Elvis Peacock too!

[@markgardner9460]

I loved watching Peacock play at Oklahoma. It's too bad that he had so many injuries: On IR with a knee injury during the entire '78 season, on IR with a broken ankle from November 21st through the end of the '79 season, and on IR with another knee injury from December 3rd through the end of the '80 season.

[@siainvestigationsteam2713]

He really knife's through the defense.

[@kharris0465]

You have used up a lifetime of KZbin comment jokes. No more for you.

[@lorenzomartinez9737]

O.J. was a great Slashing runner!😂

[@mollkatless]

I appreciate your jabs at OJ, very cutting remarks!

[@jason-hy8ci]

They were Killer.☝️

[@Edwardcarchia]

@@jason-hy8ci He was on the greatest running backs of all time and one of the most successful mass murders of all time.

[@FredPena-rd5cf]

'...They hand the ball off to OJ... OJ goes right up the gut... ripping thru the line...stabbing thru the linebackers...he slashes thru the secondary...cutting down the sideline...He could get awaaaaaay with it!...'

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

It's always a pleasure to watch O.J. run with the football.

[@centralpete6044]

Poor Steve DeBerg…he was an ok quarterback who got chased out of SF by Montana, Denver by John Elway and then Tampa Bay by Vinnie Testaverde. Finally had his day in the sun with some good KC teams handing the ball off to Christian Okoye.

[@markgardner9460]

He was a 1977 10th round draft pick by the Cowboys and somehow generated a fine 17 year NFL career.

[@xdude2x]

The way he just slices through the defense was killer…………

[@larrygro]

OJ could really knife through the defenses.

[@henrybrowne7248]

Good to put up reminders. Whatever else he may have been, he was among the greatest runners in history . . . Very rare combination of skills. He was never on any of my teams, though.

[@markgardner9460]

He had Eric Dickerson-type speed, but much better moves than him, in my opinion.

[@henrybrowne7248]

@@markgardner9460 I loved ED, being a Rams fan. Who were your best running backs?

[@markgardner9460]

Walter, O.J., and Billy Sims along with Barry Sanders.

[@kevincostello3856]

That great Ram O- line with Rich Saul, Dennis Harrah, Doug France and of course Jackie Slater whom played I think like 19 or 20 yrs in the NFL .

[@markgardner9460]

That line was big for back then. A bunch of road graters. Very good!

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

Slater blocked for 23 different RAM QBs half a dozen or more 1000 yard rushers ✌️

[@kevincostello3856]

@@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503 Oh Mr Slater was no joke out there. True Warrior. That helmet he wore later in his career barely fit his head. Just look at some pics from 92-95 . Imagine that man running blocking you

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

​@@kevincostello3856no joke but still a member of the ringless hoes

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

​@@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503Dan Marino is captain of the ringless hoes 😂😂

[@audio-video-stereo]

I grew up in the Bay Area and my high school marching band performed at candlestick this year. I noticed 2 things immediately while both the band and the players were on the field at the same time. One - artificial turf was really hard and would have been awful to do anything on, and OJ Simpson was a very big guy.

[@markgardner9460]

Yeah, O.J. must have taken up weightlifting a couple of years leading up to this because he seemed heavier to me, while still not sacrificing his agility. Thank you for your comments.

[@unclebean9226]

OJ. Joe Montana, and Tony Dungy we’re all teammates on the 49ers I never new that!!!

[@ramseymashy6609]

Yes, the OJ hit was unnecessary roughness

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you for your input.

[@michaelwilson2340]

Love the old footage of Steve Deberg. And no oversized backpack speaker for Steve in this game.

[@markgardner9460]

I have the entire footage of that game. Great story behind that "backpack".

[@Boomhower89]

I recall Wendell Tyler fumbling so much the coach made him sit by himself at the end of the bench. 😂🤣. Was basically placed in timeout

[@markgardner9460]

That's funny! I don't think that he ever learned his lesson though.

[@Daniel-wd4jg]

I saw WT in a liquor store in Foster City and he didn't fumble his bourbon.

[@Boomhower89]

@@markgardner9460 I believe it was Chuck Knox

[@unclebean9226]

@@Boomhower89I remember one time someone gave Wendell Tyler a football with a suitcase handle attached to the laces as a joke because he fumbled so much!!!🤣😂🤣

[@Jj-ty7qh]

This man is the true GOAT of the sport. Of that there is no doubt. RIP the GOAT

[@r.williamcomm7693]

Also they didn’t throw as much back then but when they did they were usually putting it down the field.

[@markgardner9460]

Nothing fun about watching a ton of short passes. I want to see the ball being thrown down the field! Like Babe Ruth striking out - great fun to watch. Even an incompletion can be exciting if a long bomb is thrown.

[@r.williamcomm7693]

@@markgardner9460 I missed your reply from one year ago lol. Agree with you 100%. The short passing game, especially with so many behind the line of scrimmage or just past it, is miserable. Same with a handoff out of shotgun on 3rd & less than one yard. Maybe it was due to more practice time before the 2011 CBA but IMHO today’s game is sloppier & there’s a lot of bad coaching & play calling. Analytics makes teams that use it conform to plays that have been used instead of designing new plays & it doesn’t consider momentum nor whether the opponent has some special players. It doesn’t consider good teams nor bad teams. I believe it’s a cop out for a HC who stares at a play sheet instead of watching the game & takes strategy based on how things are going out of consideration while allowing for assigning blame. It’s like this stuff about collaboration, which is just another way of saying that the top ppl who are supposed to have the expertise & getting paid the most, should have their decisions watered down by ppl who aren’t good enough yet to be HCs or coordinators. Finally, execs seem to want power despite teams structured like that not winning as many big games & championships. The 2023 Chiefs & 49ers are both structured with a strong head coach & GM selected by it working for the head coach. Not many GMs should ever be higher ranking than the HC.

[@brucebaron1212]

4:38 Al Rosen and Spec Richardson were both GM for the Giants but the team had much greater success under Rosen, winning two division titles and one NL pennant. So I wouldn’t doubt Al ended up with the Mudcat Grant and both Boog Powells (whatever happened to the colorful nicknames in baseball anyway)

[@markgardner9460]

I did not know that about Spec Richardson - thanks for bringing up. Yeah, nicknames.....where have they gone? Now players just add a "y" to the end of a guy's name.

[@duncanidaho2097]

Wow the late great Vin Scully calling the game. The era of 250-290 pound linemen.

[@markgardner9460]

That's right, just a few years prior, it was common for OL & DL to weigh anywhere from 240 pounds - 250 pounds. There were even some 235 pound Centers such as Len Hauss and Mick Tinglehoff.

[@H0DLTHED0R]

Never seen a murderer run so fast 🏃‍♂️ 😮

[@USD_Bug]

Killing it.

[@tommythomason6187]

ANOTHER great Los Angeles Rams team, that ruled the Western Division (NFC) throughout the 1970s. This one was Super Bowl-bound, and though they couldn't withstand the Steelers, gave them a good run for the money, at least, in the first half of that game. Deberg was a fine quarterback who labored on mainly underperforming teams. When he had strong talent around him and good protection, he could make great things happen. O.J. Simpson, now using a wire/steel facemask, ditching the plastic two-bar type used by backs in the 1960s.

[@markgardner9460]

That was a fun Super Bowl to watch (Steelers/Rams) - plenty of excitement. Deberg played a long time and was a very serviceable QB. Good point about O.J. switching his facemask - I am surprised that he didn't do that a lot earlier in his career. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head that used that two-bar type as late as 1976 besides him. Can you think of anyone?

[@tommythomason6187]

@@markgardner9460 Harold Carmichael, with the Eagles, whom also switched, in 1979, to what was now, a standard wire, "cage," mask, mainly used by running backs and defensive backs.

[@TempeSoldier123]

He was at the end but you could tell he still had “it”. God Bless OJ and his family 🙏🏽.

[@markgardner9460]

He appeared to be bigger, so perhaps he was into weightlifting at this point of his career. Yeah, he still had that great agility.

[@michaelsimpson8010]

@@markgardner9460 O.J. was quoted as saying he lifted weights from early on in his career. The one exception was that he wouldn't workout his legs.

[@berndtherrenvolk1951]

So that’s how he got back to Rockingham so quickly.

[@nala3038]

Ikr

[@Claude-sq2fy]

Speed and quickness athleticism rhythm swagger athleticism just talented FEIRCE COMPETITOR and a student of the game

[@michaelc.4965]

He could cut and slash with the best of em! Usually got free too!

[@user-bn4wo3pu8s]

OJ was truly great. I had him ranked 2nd behind Jim Brown. I remember all those runs against my beloved Colts.

[@markgardner9460]

Nobody has had the combo of speed and moves since, in my opinion.

[@AlowisciousMahoney]

Barry Sanders was an elusive, quick change of direction type back. OJ was more of a slasher.

[@AdamSmith-km1fn]

I wish Peacock was available for super bowl XIV.

[@markgardner9460]

He weighed about 15 pounds more than Wendell Tyler, so he packed a bigger punch.

[@frankberry1855]

This was a young talented 49'ers team that wasn't very good at this point but it all came together two years later with Bill Walsh and Joe Montana and company they went from 2 and 14 to winning the Super Bowl only two years later!!!

[@markgardner9460]

It was a heck of a quick turnaround, especially considering the high draft picks they gave up to get O.J. and his ridiculously high value contract.

[@denisceballos9745]

49ers with a miserable season in ‘79 going 2-14, but they played the Rams tough in this 100 degree late summer game. OJ probably juiced up to play at his old haunt, the L.A. Coliseum.

[@markgardner9460]

Plus O.J. wanted desperately to play for the Rams, but the Bills wanted McCutcheon in trade and the Rams wouldn't go for that.

[@denisceballos9745]

@@markgardner9460 True. OJ by that time had one foot in the Hollywood door.

[@reubenblanco3021]

Game seemed more physical then because it was allowed.

[@reubenblanco3021]

No sea of red then in LA because the rams were the better team and still hadn’t left town.

[@stevereber]

Great idea for a Video!

[@markgardner9460]

As always, thanks Steve! New flavor to today's video to be released in 3 hours. I hope that you like it.

[@stevereber]

@@markgardner9460 I'll be awake look forward to it

[@frankwood7878]

OJ RAN LIKE A DEER 🦌

[@baianobebe5701]

Simpson ran like the cops were chasing him!

[@robertgray1214]

Dam OJ had moves

[@markgardner9460]

Fast and smooth - he could cut on a dime. He was one of a kind.

[@yaantsudnbesdai972]

I might best be able to describe (this may not be very accurate) "Orenthal James" running style as a cross between Earl Campbell (north-south tackle breaker with some moves) and Eric Dickerson (primarily north-south tackle breaker with great speed and power and hard to take down)...

[@moboutmen]

32 in a 49ers uniform was like seeing John Unitas in a Charger uniform.

[@markgardner9460]

It just doesn't seem right, does it?

[@jason-hy8ci]

Those were some Killer runs by O.J.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

That is really clever. Did you come up with that all by yourself?

[@crmille1]

Great call, He really "Slashed" through that d-line

[@nala3038]

@@Mr.56Goldtopprobably not

[@buicklincoln]

Poor DeBerg. If he stayed with the team a little longer, he would've experienced the start of the dynasty.

[@markgardner9460]

Drafted by the Cowboys in the 1977 10th round, he was waived just before the start of the season, so he missed being on a Super Bowl winning team during what would have been his rookie year.

[@barbaracaroll]

Boy that 49ers team was bad back then rare seeing oj play on San Francisco

[@markgardner9460]

Yeah, he only started 18 af the 32 games that he was with San Fran. Injuries.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

​@@markgardner9460he was already pretty much done when he went to San Francisco

[@markgardner9460]

@@user-cs6up8eq7s That is correct. His knees were getting creaky.

[@thegrandpencil4374]

So that's how he got away from the murder scene so quickly.

[@edwardbright9434]

could u imagine playing with Joe, Ric

[@WilliamCurry-bh3dk]

YES

[@jamesbowman8138]

7:47 #89 Fred Dryer hunter

[@Armis71]

I just realized some future Niners playing for the Rams in this game: Reynolds, Tyler and Young. Anyone else I may have missed?

[@markgardner9460]

I don't think so - I scoured the rosters and couldn't find anyone else

[@Wild_Western]

If not mistaken, the Rams' Head Coach was Ray Malavasi.

[@markgardner9460]

You are correct. He replaced George Allen after two pre-season games on August 14, 1978.

[@d-v-cez9152]

'79 Rams were one or two plays away from defeating the Steelers in the Super Bowl XIV in Pasadena's Rose Bowl stadium. Cromwell dropped an easy pick 6 and Ferragamo didn't see a WIDE open Billy Waddy streaking all alone to the end zone. Rams came up short but they played magnificently! 👍🏻

[@markgardner9460]

I agree. That was an exciting Super Bowl. Up to that time, I rate it as the 3rd best - maybe even the 2nd best.

[@arnietorres4870]

I have to agree with you guys one of the best Superbowls of all time even in defeat I was so proud of the Rams that day we had the Steelers on the ropes!!! I’m 58 years old so I am as old as the Super Bowl so Happy to see my beloved Rams finally win one in L.A. the one at the LOU was awesome also never jumped ship Ram Fan For Life!!!

[@elwin38]

Steve DeBerg was the starter in '79, rookie Joe Montana was the backup. This was also the late Dwight Clark's rookie year. Even though the 49ers were 2-14, they were much more competitive than 1978. That '78 49ers team was terrible! When Bill Walsh came in '79, he built mainly through the draft. I'm a Bronco fan but i saw what Walsh was doing out in SF and he built that team his way. By 1980, the offense(with Joe Montana) had arrived but they couldn't stop anybody from scoring. Then the 1981 draft came and the rest was history, the team of the 80's had arrived.

[@markgardner9460]

Great points. In that '81 draft, the Niners nabbed Ronnie Lott with their #1, DB Eric Wright with one of their #2's and DB Carlton Williamson with their #3. That definitely solidified their secondary.

[@ibbetn1]

They were the most entertaining 2-14 team I’ve ever seen.

[@elwin38]

@@ibbetn1 So true!! That's what drew my attention. I was 11 in '79 and I knew Bill Walsh was going to turn the 49ers around. The 49er front office and management was very patient with him.

[@JUBABU4]

Yes the Rough cLl on the Tackling was justified. Mr Simpson was football Royalty. Just like a call on Lebron, Tom Brady and MJ.

[@markgardner9460]

OK, thanks for your take - and thank you for watching!

[@elwin38]

The good ol days of NFL football. Pat Haden was a very good QB but by '79 started getting hurt and by the end of '79, Vince Ferragamo took over. The Rams defense got better late in the season and in the playoffs. I remember the playoff game against the Cowboys(Roger Staubach's last game) where Ferragamo threw that TD bomb to a guy named RT Smith in the end zone before the half and that tipped pass across the middle to Billy Waddy to win the game. As for Pat Haden, injuries took their toll and he retired after the 1981 season.

[@markgardner9460]

In the Cowboys/Rams 1978 playoff game, Pat Haden broke his thumb in two places after hitting Randy White's helmet after throwing his second interception to Charlie Waters. Haden threw three picks in that game.

[@elwin38]

@@markgardner9460 I remember/saw the 1978 NFC Championship. Didnt know Haden broke his thumb. What i do remember is the game was 0-0 at the half and the Cowboys scored 28 in the 2nd half to win 28-0. Hollywood Henderson postgame kept telling/repeating to Jackie Smith he was going to the Super bowl.🤣🤣 Both those championship games were routs(PIT beating HOU 34-5 in the AFC champ.).

[@erob1962]

The juice is loose baby !!

[@garyevans4524]

Still running to find Nicole’s killer

[@batmandeltaforce]

OJ knows who killed Nichole... OJ's son.

[@lloydkline]

Their a guy say he made the killing of Nicole Simpson, Ron Goldman it on internet

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

​@@batmandeltaforcewrong Glen Rogers

[@brianstudnicky9970]

Why say that here?this is about football

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

@@brianstudnicky9970 he never killed nobody anyway he hired someone to do it

[@randyhanson4973]

OJ kind of resembles Marcus Allen the way he glides, spins, and breaks tackles without being touched.

[@markgardner9460]

I've thought that, too, Randy. Incredible runners.

[@richardfromatlanta8551]

Man he was so good at playing football. Almost as good as killing people.

[@kevinbrooks1104]

As a halfback there was no one better. The only one that would have compared was Marcus but because of the vendetta with Davis he was held back which was sad.

[@markgardner9460]

Marcus had such a great nose for the end zone. I don't think there was any better in that regard.

[@edwardbright9434]

I forgot he play with 49's

[@user-su9sv8xv6f]

He was a great back who got ruined by cocaine used to control pain as well as recreation.

[@hardcorehouse]

He was good, nowhere near great. Constant fumbling problem, and not a huge difference maker. Their other backs were as good including cullen Bryant, but more reliable

[@user-su9sv8xv6f]

I beg to differ. He did break Jim Brown's record with over 2,000 yards. He could catch passes too. OJ was also a very good track athlete. OJ wasn't a monster at USC. He was gracious to opponents and treated his offensive lineman well as a pro. I believe that cocaine use messed up his brain big time and it's also possible that he was brain damaged from hits and concussions. Just a terrible tragedy that got innocent people abused and killed.

[@robertbrucefan2673]

How's OJ running these days?

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

Good video, so many names. Montana to Russ Francis?

[@markgardner9460]

Yeah, that Montana pass to Francis was to Phil Francis - Running Back #48

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

@@markgardner9460 Oh - thanks.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

RIP OJ

[@markgardner9460]

If I was a Head Coach and I had one game to win, I think I'd want him as my primary Running Back because he was such a game changer with his outstanding speed and cutting ability.

[@mrhmd8308]

Why was the number 32 synonymous with great running backs?

[@ciesaro]

Billy Vaseline Hands Waddy

[@markgardner9460]

Haden's stats would have looked a lot better without Waddy's drops, for sure

[@watchalay74]

Waddy caught the TD pass to win the playoff game at Dallas.

[@watchalay74]

He caught the one that mattered.

[@RickMichaels-if5eq]

I love that move O.J. Simpson made on June 17, 1993 in that White Ford Bronco where he shook the cops on the highway heading to the airport! He still had the Juice!🏈🥤🤣😏

[@nala3038]

1994

[@RickMichaels-if5eq]

Whoops.😅 I stand to be corrected.😏

[@RickMichaels-if5eq]

It still was a great play O.J. made in 1994!🛻🚓😏

[@BuccWylde]

Bryant, Tyler, McCutcheon, Peacock...Rams had their RB corps packed. Waddy and Dennard were decent recievers and they had a host of defensive studs. Not surprising they went to the Super Bowl that year. Coulda been Tampa Bay vs. the Steeler dynasty, but someone had to lose that ridiculously low scoring NFC championship game.

[@markgardner9460]

I remember watching that NFC CG - the defense totally dominated - it was a total snoozer.

[@yunglion8676]

I never knew OJ was a Niner #BangBang

[@timr8971]

I love Vin Scully.

[@vs-yy5cx]

who is the color man on the broadcast? George Allen?

[@markgardner9460]

You are correct.

[@vs-yy5cx]

@@markgardner9460 I thought it might be Dick Vermeil for a minute, but he was head coach of eagles in 1979! And then it sort of randomly dawned on me he followed his old head coach from head coach in the nfl to broadcast booth color for cbs!

[@KOTJ412]

To think this was 2 yrs before their 1st SB win! Go Niners!🤙🏾

[@markgardner9460]

The Niners turned the corner very quickly - one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history!

[@nala3038]

@@markgardner9460 if Debartolo didn’t buy the Niners, they would have been bad for years.

[@jodypaluch3933]

OJ was really good! He looks better in a uniform as opposed to a white Bronco!

[@pauljames7438]

I.J. Still had some miles on him while with the 49ers.

[@Benzo1818]

If Rams would have had even decent QB play…their defense was so good through most of the 70’s…IMO they would have won a few of the NFC title games they were seemingly in about every season(vs Cowboys or Vikings)

[@markgardner9460]

James Harris was a Pro Bowl QB in '74, but he only started 9 games that year and QB play was very weak that year, overall. The Rams just couldn't find that one guy that was upper level talent to get them over the hump, like you alluded to.

[@michaelhemphill8575]

Damn Rip: unnecessary roughness.

[@kevinflaherty6028]

Playing at coliseum,i thought rams played in anaheim then?

[@markgardner9460]

1980 was their 1st year in Anaheim

[@kevinflaherty6028]

@@markgardner9460 ok thanks.

[@jason-hy8ci]

Yeah, it was a penalty. The Reciever was out of bounds AND/OR The Reciever was definitely on his way out of bounds. The hit wasn't necessary.

[@markgardner9460]

Thanks for your take!

[@alvinokirby6816]

OJ was innocent then

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

Still is he was found innocent in a court of law

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

This Rams team went to the Superbowl

[@markgardner9460]

and they gave the Steelers all they could take - it was a very exciting Super Bowl.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

@@markgardner9460 not really dude the Steelers won by 12

[@markgardner9460]

The game was far closer than that. Rams lead at halftime 13 to 10 and at the end of the 3rd quarter 19 to 17. There were 73 & 47 yard touchdown passes and a 24 yard touchdown pass by Rams RB Lawrence McCutcheon. It was, indeed, an exciting game.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

@@markgardner9460 I know all about the game dude and the Rams never had a chance in hell

[@markgardner9460]

If yer leading after three quarters, you obviously have a chance. Anyone will subscribe to that.

[@JeromyBranch]

You can see the beginnings of the great Joe Walsh offense in this game. Deberg was an awesome qb. There were. alot of naysayers when Walsh decided on Montana. Tampa and sf both benefited from that decision.

[@markgardner9460]

17 year career - not bad for a 10th round draft pick. His starting QB record with Tampa bay was 8 wins and 26 losses.

[@JeromyBranch]

@@markgardner9460 Cool. Tampa didn't win squat before Steve got there though lol. I remember the first team they beat, pretty sure it was Giants, fired their entire coaching staff after the game. Best thing they ever did, too.

[@markgardner9460]

@@JeromyBranch The Giants actually beat the Bucs 10 - 0 in '77 and they beat them twice in '78...not sure why they played them twice that year

[@JeromyBranch]

@@markgardner9460 oh ya you are correct of course. Tampa first win was against NO in 77. I think that's how NO ended up with Bum Phillips. Anyway very much enjoy your videos. My preference would be for slightly longer, but if it ain't broke lol.

[@markgardner9460]

@@JeromyBranch Thank you, Dave. I appreciate your comments and recommendations and am trying to make the videos longer...trying to hit the sweet spot! Thanks again.

[@Jo71603]

I think if he had played 3 more years he would have played in a Super Bowl.

[@markgardner9460]

His rookie year was 1969, so that would have been a really long time to have played for a Running Back. It's too bad that he didn't get to play on better teams.

[@billkristiecampbell21]

Definitely justified unnecessary roughness.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you for your take! I think that the majority of commenting viewers agree with your assessment.