LOS ANGELES -- Isaac Bruce's rookie season was their last one in Los Angeles. He was the 33rd overall pick in 1994, the year before the Los Angeles Rams left for St. Louis, where they played their next 21 seasons. Bruce spent his first 14 years with the Rams. And even though he played out his last two with the San Francisco 49ers, he was ultimately traded back to the Rams for the sole purpose of retiring with them. He makes his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but he remains an ardent fan of the team.

Isaac Bruce said the Rams wasted Todd Gurley's season in their first year back in Los Angeles. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

Their first season back in L.A., which finished with a 4-12 record and the NFL's worst offense, "was a missed opportunity," Bruce said.

"Especially with the newness of being back in L.A.," he added. "L.A. is a town where they’re going to follow winners. And if you’re winning, there is some legacy there from the fan base that was there 21, 22 seasons ago. They expect to win, and we didn't do that. The product that we put on the field -- I don’t think it was fair to the fans. The play-calling wasn’t that good. I think the offense was really not helping the defense. And I never like to separate a team, but we didn’t help the defense as much as we could."

The Rams finished last in the NFL in yards for the second straight year. Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, turned in one of the worst rookie seasons ever for a quarterback. Todd Gurley, the No. 10 overall pick in 2015, suffered one of the steepest second-year drop-offs a running back ever has. The offensive line continually struggled; the receiving corps remained uninspiring.

It all culminated with the firing of head coach Jeff Fisher, which was followed by the hiring of 31-year-old former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay.

"Just disappointed," said Bruce, one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will reveal its 2017 class on Saturday. "Just disappointed in the approach and just everything that transpired. ... I think it was a wasted season for one stud of a running back that we had. Hopefully with the hire of a new coach, a new attitude comes in, more creativity comes in the offense, and we'll be able to put points on the board. This division is really not solidified as far as who owns it. I think we can come right in and really put our foot down and really make our mark."