Running back returns, has solid first scrimmage
Usually, rust is considered a corrosive force of nature, eating away at what once was.
In the case of Eric Baker, it is a figurative reminder of what the redshirt junior has endured, and a quickly disappearing one at that.
“I’m just trying to shake off the rust,” said Baker after rushing for 34 yards on seven carries in South Carolina’s first spring scrimmage on Saturday. “I’m taking it one day at a time.”
The day was a long time coming for Baker, who hadn’t played in some 15 months.
After a solid freshman season, the Jacksonville, Fla., native was in line to start at tailback in 2009. But, after suffering a hernia and undergoing a subsequent surgery, those plans changed as Kenny Miles, Jarvis Giles and Brian Maddox pushed past him.
Baker appeared in only eight games that year, mostly on special teams. He had only two rush attempts, both of which came against Florida Atlantic in the third game of the season. A lost season got worse when Baker tore his ACL during practice prior to the Papajohns.com Bowl.
Midway through February of 2010, days after star Byrnes High running back Marcus Lattimore signed with USC, Baker underwent another surgery, this time on his injured left knee. The ACL tear cost Baker the 2010 season, leaving him out of action as Lattimore and the Gamecocks ran all the way to Atlanta and the school’s first SEC Eastern Division championship.
Now, Baker is finally healthy and working to regain his form of two summers ago.
“I think I’m doing OK in all aspects,” Baker said. “But there’s always room for improvement and trying to get better every day.”
Running backs coach Jay Graham said he was pleased with Baker’s outing in the scrimmage. Graham too even used that symbolic word in saying so.
“I just wanted him to get some of that rust off,” he said. “He looked pretty good. He ran hard; he had good vision. I’m looking forward to this spring with him.”
Through the entire rehabilitation process with both injuries, Baker kept perspective. When asked if he ever thought the “football gods” were conspiring against him, he quickly dismissed such thoughts.
“It’s football; stuff happens,” Baker said. “Everything happens for a reason. I just had to get my knee back together.”
It’s back together now, and Baker may be on to something about a possible reason. In 2009, when both injuries occurred, Carolina’s rushing attack was anemic, scraping the bottom of the Southeastern Conference’s statistical standings.
Today, the Gamecocks pride themselves on their zone read attack, led by Lattimore. The All-American and Heisman candidate will not participate in many contact drills this spring in order to preserve his health. In the same vein, it would be ideal for the Carolina coaching staff to be able to spell Lattimore at times during the season and not have to rely on the sophomore for 40 carries a game.
With Maddox graduating and Giles having transferred, Miles and Baker now have to prove themselves worthy of gaining such carries and further strengthening the ground attack.
The running game isn’t the only area where Baker could find a role. USC is without an established passing threat out of the backfield due to the departure of fullback Patrick DiMarco, and Baker has also looked good in the passing game, snagging four balls for 17 yards in the scrimmage.
“He has good hands, strong hands, and he’ll snatch the ball,” Graham said. “We’re just getting better with his route running. He’s just getting used to seeing everything as he’s running his routes.”
Baker isn’t all the way back to full go yet. He’ll readily admit that, but he is getting there. The injuries are behind him. He now can focus on getting back to where he was before the hernia and knee injury.
“[The game] is moving so fast, and having not been in scrimmages or in game situations last year, it’ll affect you a little bit,” Graham said. “But he came out, and he’s picking it up really fast.”
Just as swiftly, the metaphoric rust is falling off as well; however, it isn’t revealing corrosion as it goes but rather potential after a long journey.