Rich Saul
Encyclopedia
Rich Saul was a National Football League
offensive lineman from 1970 through 1981, all with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football
at Michigan State University
. His twin brother Ron Saul
, also played with the Spartans and in the NFL.
as the starting center (American football)
with the Rams in 1975. That year, the Rams beat the St. Louis Cardinals
in the divisional round of the 1975-76 NFL playoffs, rushing for 237 yards, as Saul with guards
Tom Mack
and Joe Scibelli
overwhelmed defensive tackles Charles Davis (defensive tackle) and Bob Rowe
as well as middle linebacker Greg Hartle. However, the team lost to the Dallas Cowboys
in the NFC championship game. In 1976, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round of the 1976-77 NFL playoffs, rushing for 120 yards, with Saul, Mack, and the new right guard
Dennis Harrah
in the middle of the offensive line. But they lost the NFC championship game to the Minnesota Vikings
, and, the following year, lost the divisional round of the 1977-78 NFL playoffs to the same team. They finally beat the Vikings in the 1978-79 NFL playoffs, as Saul, Mack, and Harrah demolished defensive tackles Doug Sutherland
and James White (American football)
as well as middle linebacker Jeff Siemon
for 200 yards rushing and 209 net passing yards. However, they lost again to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game. In the 1979-80 NFL playoffs, with Kent Hill
as the new left guard, the Rams defeated the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
to win the NFC title, rushing for 159 and 216 yards, respectively. But they had a more difficult time running against the Pittsburgh Steelers
, only 107 yards, losing Super Bowl XIV
. In the 1980-81 NFL playoffs, the Rams lost to the Cowboys again, this time in a wild card game. In Saul's final year, 1981, the Rams deteriorated to a won-lost record of 6-10, his final game being a 30-7 drubbing at the taped-up hands of the Washington Redskins
.
After backing up the rarely injured Iman for so long, Saul wound up with 6 Pro Bowl
appearances, while his mentor had none. In turn, Saul was replaced in 1982 by Doug Smith (offensive lineman).
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
offensive lineman from 1970 through 1981, all with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. His twin brother Ron Saul
Ron Saul
Ronald Reed Saul is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1970 NFL Draft.His twin brother Rich Saul, also...
, also played with the Spartans and in the NFL.
Center with the Los Angeles Rams
After patiently playing the role of reserve lineman from 1970 to 1974, Saul replaced Ken ImanKen Iman
Kenneth Charles Iman was a former center who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams from 1961 to 1975.-Playing center:...
as the starting center (American football)
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
with the Rams in 1975. That year, the Rams beat the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the divisional round of the 1975-76 NFL playoffs, rushing for 237 yards, as Saul with guards
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
Tom Mack
Tom Mack
Thomas Lee Mack is a former left guard for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, spending all 13-years with them from 1966 to 1978...
and Joe Scibelli
Joe Scibelli
Joseph Albert Scibelli is a former American football tackle and guard who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams....
overwhelmed defensive tackles Charles Davis (defensive tackle) and Bob Rowe
Bob Rowe
Robert J. “Bob” Rowe is a noted musical performer and recording artist. He is also well known as a crusader for residents of long term care facilities....
as well as middle linebacker Greg Hartle. However, the team lost to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the NFC championship game. In 1976, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round of the 1976-77 NFL playoffs, rushing for 120 yards, with Saul, Mack, and the new right guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
Dennis Harrah
Dennis Harrah
Dennis Wayne Harrah is a former NFL Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the University of Miami.- University of Miami :...
in the middle of the offensive line. But they lost the NFC championship game to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, and, the following year, lost the divisional round of the 1977-78 NFL playoffs to the same team. They finally beat the Vikings in the 1978-79 NFL playoffs, as Saul, Mack, and Harrah demolished defensive tackles Doug Sutherland
Doug Sutherland (American football)
Douglas A. Sutherland is a former American football defensive tackle in the NFL and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Superior. He was selected in the 1970 NFL Draft with the New Orleans Saints and then became a part of the famous Purple People Eaters for the Minnesota Vikings...
and James White (American football)
James White (American football)
James C. "Duck" White is a former National Football League defensive/nose tackle who played from 1976 to 1983 for the Minnesota Vikings...
as well as middle linebacker Jeff Siemon
Jeff Siemon
Jeffrey Glenn Siemon is a former professional American football player and an inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame....
for 200 yards rushing and 209 net passing yards. However, they lost again to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game. In the 1979-80 NFL playoffs, with Kent Hill
Kent Hill
Kent Angelo Hill is a former American football offensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to five Pro Bowls. He was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech....
as the new left guard, the Rams defeated the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
to win the NFC title, rushing for 159 and 216 yards, respectively. But they had a more difficult time running against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, only 107 yards, losing Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
. In the 1980-81 NFL playoffs, the Rams lost to the Cowboys again, this time in a wild card game. In Saul's final year, 1981, the Rams deteriorated to a won-lost record of 6-10, his final game being a 30-7 drubbing at the taped-up hands of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
After backing up the rarely injured Iman for so long, Saul wound up with 6 Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances, while his mentor had none. In turn, Saul was replaced in 1982 by Doug Smith (offensive lineman).