McKinley's absence might pay dividends

COLUMBIA — Ideally, South Carolina wouldn't want to be without Kenny McKinley for one second.

But, in the real world, the Gamecocks were without the senior playmaking receiver for a month.

"We wish we had him for those two or three games," Steve Spurrier said this week.

But maybe — just maybe — losing McKinley was a good thing. Yes, McKinley missed the Vanderbilt (most of it) and Georgia losses.

But, as Spurrier said earlier this week, the teeth of USC's schedule is ahead. It begins this afternoon at Kentucky (12:30 p.m., WCSC-TV).

And, in the time that McKinley was out, South Carolina's young and unproven receivers — one, in particular — had a chance to show what they've got.

Take it from, well, McKinley. He had time to watch what the other receivers were doing while he was sidelined from Sept. 4 to Oct. 4 with a hamstring injury.

"They always had the talent. Now they have the game experience," McKinley said this week. "They got playing time. That's what you need as a young guy. You get out there on the field. When you play a lot, the game starts slowing down for you. You kind of come into your own. I feel like that's what happened with Jason, Moe and Joe."

Jason, Moe and Joe. Sounds like a folk rock band or something.

No, actually, it's redshirt freshman Jason Barnes, junior Moe Brown and sophomore Joe Hills.

Those are the players who were specifically asked to pick up the slack for McKinley. That trio, along with tight end Jared Cook, who leads the team with 22 receptions.

"I know a lot of guys are trying to verbally be a leader," center Garrett Anderson said, specifically referencing Brown. "On film and just being (on the practice field), you can see some effort level and things. You can definitely tell that guys have done more."

Brown had a career game against Georgia, with seven catches for 130 yards and USC's only score of the game.

Barnes had his big day last week against Ole Miss, with seven catches for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Spurrier laughed and shook his head when presented with the "with or without McKinley" idea.

He didn't go along with it, conceptually. He said he'd much rather have the All-SEC performer than be without him for the sake of others' gaining experience.

But now Spurrier has both for an offense that will be tested today against a tough Kentucky defense.

Barnes has especially caught Spurrier's eye. And the 6-4, 204-pound product of pass-happy Independence High in Charlotte has been impressive. Especially against Ole Miss.

"It looks like he has a chance to be a big-time receiver now," Spurrier said.

Take your pick of Barnes' highlights: The first touchdown catch, when he was banged hard by a Rebels defender and his helmet went flying; the one-handed, tip-toe catch that required a review and still defied logic (he called that one his fave); or the long-awaited fade route for a touchdown.

"He's had it in him. He just had to get that confidence and a little more playing time to prove it. He's really proving his skills," McKinley said. "I can't wait to see a couple of years from now — maybe next year after I'm gone — what he's going to do. He's a real ballplayer."

Barnes credited Brown, interestingly someone he's battling with for playing time, with helping him to learn and stay focused. It sure seems like a team effort right now for the unit, a bond forged particularly in McKinley's absence.

"Everything I do, it comes from Moe Brown," Barnes said. "It's all about your confidence. As soon as your confidence goes up, you can do anything."

Again, McKinley's a good example. He's now three receptions shy of Sterling Sharpe's all-time school receptions record. And the yardage record, which could be whittled to less than 200 yards after the weekend, is in sight.

"I'm coming back and those guys are playing good," McKinley said. "I feel like we're going to have a good offense now."

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the new South Carolina blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks.