Relax Kelvin Anderson, wherever you are. Joffrey Reynolds can't even see you perched on the top rung of the Calgary Stampeders' all-time rushing list with 8,292 yards.
But like the saying goes, even the longest journey begins with one step and considering the Stamps offence is on crutches, last night's decent rushing effort was like planting a freight train in the backfield.
A late cut of the New York Giants, Reynolds has been in camp only two weeks but breathed life into the Stampeders comatose ground attack.
His 37 yards on eight carries in the first half alone offered glimmers of a promising rushing game even if the passing game remained embarrassingly inept before Mike Souza entered the contest.
"I felt pretty good but I still have a lot of learning to do to get cohesive with the offence," Reynolds said during a raucous post-game celebration in the Stamps locker-room.
By late in the third quarter, the Stamps' 52 yards rushing had inched past the passing 'attack' by a full yard, signaling starting quarterback Marcus Crandell's removal from the game.
With the Stamps entering last night dead last in almost all CFL rushing categories, any signs of life from Reynolds is a marked improvement, especially against the Lions, whose defensive unit is among the best against the run.
Reynolds showed plenty of pluck with 10- and 12-yard gains on first down in the second quarter, driving his legs to break free of a swarm of Lions tacklers.
"The offensive line did a good job getting people out of the way, so I could get going and as a running back, that's all you can ask -- get your hat on somebody so I can get something," Reynolds said. "They did a good job of that coming off the ball and giving me something to work with. "We got a little out of our rhythm in the second half but if we work more with our run-pass ratio, we'll get better."
In the third quarter, Reynolds earned a crucial first down on second and two at their own nine, grinding away six yards to move the chains.
The 24-year-old University of Houston product, who posted a 300-yard game two years ago in college, could eventually live up the glowing praise heaped on his shoulders this week by head coach Matt Dunigan.
Reynolds' debut was kick-started by the return of Taylor Robertson, back at right guard after missing three straight with an ankle injury.
Although Victor Ike won the starting tailback job out of training camp, his shortcomings were glossed over in the first six games of the season under former offensive co-ordinator John Jenkins.
But even after Dunigan started leaning on Ike more since taking control of the offence, the rookie produced just 245 yards in 12 games for a 3.4-yard average.
Ike's best outing was a 68-yard effort against Winnipeg in Calgary's second win of the season when the Stampeders rediscovered a balanced attack in a a 49-27 win.
Meanwhile, Reynolds' first game in Red and White didn't suggest he'll one day erase Anderson's all-time Stamps rushing mark, but it's a rare sign of improvement in the team's season of despair.
