Running game keys unit's improvement
If South Carolina's quarterbacks continue to play as they did during USC's second spring scrimmage on Saturday, coach Steve Spurrier said the Gamecocks "probably will run the ball about 50 times a game" this coming season.
While unlikely Spurrier would opt for such a game plan, he can't be blamed for believing he has the backfield depth to do just that. With All-SEC tailback Marcus Lattimore playing sparingly, the two players behind him on the depth chart, redshirt juniors Kenny Miles and Eric Baker, had stellar days on the ground as the USC offense bounced back from a poor first scrimmage.
Miles led all rushers with 36 yards, while Baker continued his battle back from a torn ACL with 34 yards and two touchdowns.
"The offense did a lot better than last week," Spurrier said. "The defense wasn't quite as good as they've been."
Miles was USC's leading rusher in 2009 before finding himself in a reduced role last season due to the emergence of Lattimore. Baker was the projected starter heading into the 2009 season, but a summer hernia injury caused him to fall behind Miles and departed tailback Brian Maddox.
The hernia rendered Baker a role player on special teams until he suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice leading up to the Papajohns.com Bowl — an injury that ultimately cost Baker the 2010 season to rehabilitation.
Now, both are fighting for carries behind Lattimore. Baker said he feel he improves with each day now that he has gotten past the mental aspect of being hit near his surgically-repaired left knee. Miles said while he felt he had a good scrimmage Saturday, he isn't quite sure yet of what his role may be.
"I don't know," Miles said. "I'm not the coach. I just know when my number is called, I'm ready to get in there and make something happen."
Baker echoed that sentiment.
"Whenever my number is called, I'm going to try and make plays to be ready," he said.
Spurrier was not pleased with his four quarterbacks, who he said performed about the same and were too hesitant.
"We've got guys wide open, quarterback won't throw it, throws it late, throws it over his head," Spurrier said. "I don't know; we just can't quite get it taught up. Maybe if one of these quarterbacks will work all summer taking his steps and throwing it, maybe we will be able to throw the ball around a lot better, but we'll see how that works out."
Starter Stephen Garcia, participating in his first scrimmage since returning from suspension, completed five-of-13 passes from 51 yards and a touchdown. Garcia's understudy, Connor Shaw, struggled as well, completing just four of his 11 pass attempts for 47 yards, including the only interception of the scrimmage.
Redshirt sophomore Andrew Clifford threw for 83 yards in limited snaps, while freshman Dylan Thompson had his second straight solid weekend performance, going seven-of-12 for a scrimmage-leading 86 yards despite struggling with accuracy at times.
However, one of the late throws Spurrier lamented produced the biggest play of the spring to date.
With several receivers open, Clifford hesitated and double-clutched midway through the scrimmage. His indecisiveness came to the dismay of the USC coaches, who yelled from the sidelines for him to throw the ball.
Clifford finally did throw it, lofting a soft pass over the secondary and into the arms of receiver D.L. Moore for a 46-yard touchdown.
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Passing: Thompson 7/12, 86 yards; Clifford 5/7, 83 yards, TD; Garcia 5/13, 51 yards, TD; Shaw 4/11, 47 yards, INT
Rushing: Miles 4/36; E. Baker 10/34, 2 TD; Lattimore 4/28; Blue 6/24; Shaw 5/9; J. Baker 3/5; Garcia 1/5; Thompson 2/1; Hinch 1/0;
Receiving: Smith 4/58, TD; Moore 2/56, TD; Sanders 4/46; Scruggs 3/41; Barnes 1/18; Jones 2/16; Byrne 1/9; Sherman 1/7; Gresham 1/6; Coffee 1/5; Miles 1/5
Touchdown Plays
Baker 1 yard run
Moore 46 yard pass from Clifford
Smith 27 yard pass from Garcia
Baker 6 yard run