BY JIM THOMAS - Sunday, October 3, 2010 12:15 am
Kenneth Darby didn't have a touchdown dance — he says that's coming next time. But he did have a touchdown holler.
And it wasn't just a holler from the top of his lungs. This one came from the tip of his toes out through every pore in his body.
"I think that just showed a lot of frustration," Darby said. "When you have something built up you just holler. I felt like I had a lot built up in me, and that was just a relief."
The frustration of being one of the most prolific runners in the grand football history of the University of Alabama, yet being replaced in the backfield in the red zone as a junior and senior.
The frustration of falling just 241 yards short of Shaun Alexander's Alabama career rushing record of 3,565 yards. Were it not for an off year as a senior, when he finished with just 835 yards rushing, Darby would've gotten there.
The frustration of having his father — Steve Woods — diagnosed with cancer just before the start of that senior season in 2006, and dying near the end of the season. Mr. Woods died at age 59 in November.
The frustration of banging around the NFL for three-plus seasons, without much playing time and without a sniff of the end zone.
And we should add, the frustration of knowing that just about every fan and media member in town thinks the Rams can and should do better as the No. 2 running back behind Pro Bowler Steven Jackson.
Welcome to Kenneth Darby's world, and try to imagine the pure joy he felt midway through the second quarter last week against Washington when ...
On first-and-10 from the Washington 12, the Rams lined up in "trips left" with three wide receivers flanked to the left spreading out the Redskins' secondary. Darby took the handoff from Sam Bradford and started left, but as he cut back to his right a gaping hole opened. Center Jason Brown and right guard Adam Goldberg sealed off the left; right tackle Jason Smith and tight end Daniel Fells sealed the right.
As Darby cleared the line of scrimmage, he was staring eyeball to eyeball with Washington safety Kareem Moore who was waiting at the 5. Darby made a quick cut to his left, Moore lunged to make contact. Just to make sure he was clear Darby gave Moore a little stiff-arm. By the time the next Redskins defender arrived on the scene, Darby was crossing the goal line.
Holler time. But no touchdown dance. It was Darby's first NFL score and gave the Rams a 21-16 lead, a lead they would not relinquish in a 30-16 victory.
"Next time I get in the end zone, I've got something coming," Darby promised. "I already know what I'm going to do. It's going to be a surprise."
Then he dropped a hint. "It's got to do with a shark," he said. "In...
-10-03-2010, 01:24 AM
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