By Rich Tandler
Since Ryan Torain came to the Redskins last year he had some good games. With the focus on Donovan McNabb in Week 4 in Philadelphia he set the tone by smashing over safety Quintin Mikell on the way to a touchdown. He posted 125 yards against the Bears, helping the Redskins hang on for a road win. Later last year he returned from a hamstring injury that cost him four games and rushed for 172 yards in a losing effort against the Bucs.
But in none of those games did he run with the fury that he did on Sunday against the Rams. Rich Campbell of the Washington Times calculated that Torain gained 105 yards after contact. And that wasn’t after just bumping off of would-be tacklers. There were some violent collisions mixed in there.
Torain also displayed a shiftiness, an elusiveness that he didn’t seem to have last year. Maybe it was because he was fresh and fired up after spending the first three regular season games and all but part of one preseason game on the bench. Or it’s possible that he is in better condition than he was last year and perhaps his legs are healthier.
It will be interesting to see if Torain maintains his violent style through the season. If he does he will be a force to be reckoned with, both literally and figurately.
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