USC gets backup RBs ready

COLUMBIA — As quarterback Chris Smelley watched reporters interview freshman running back Eric Baker, he wondered aloud why questioners were curious about the backups rather than starter Mike Davis.

Well, for one thing, this week's reserve is next week's starter.

Either Baker or sophomore Brian Maddox figures to step in next week against Alabama-Birmingham when Davis will be forced to sit for missing too many classes. For now, though, this week in practice and against Wofford is essentially an open audition for the No. 2 spot.

"I'm not sure who (running backs) coach (Robert) Gillespie wants to run in there second," USC coach Steve Spurrier said, "but we plan on getting both of them hopefully some carries this week."

Maddox got one carry for four yards — his only carry of the year — in the Georgia loss, but that was it. Baker, oddly enough, was in the game late when USC was running its two-minute offense to tie the score. He caught a pass on a wheel route for a key 16-yard gain. Baker, who enrolled in January, still hasn't had a carry this season.

Maddox said he's "right behind Mike" in terms of practice reps.

Spurrier has talked about the need to get more speed on the field at running back. Baker is probably the quickest of the backs.

"I'd say he's a little bit more shifty than I am," Maddox said. "but I still have speed and I'm a power back and get around the edge."

Something's got to give, whether it's Davis, Maddox or Baker. USC had just 18 rushing yards against Georgia.

Not as planned

Spurrier clarified a little more Wednesday, saying the play-calling plan with Steve Spurrier Jr. hasn't gone as envisioned. Spurrier said Tuesday he called "75 percent" of the plays during Saturday's Georgia game.

"I haven't given it over as much as I thought I was going to, to be honest with you," Spurrier said on the SEC's weekly teleconference. "If there was a sure cure that play-calling would fix, we would do whatever we could. But that's not been our problem.

"Hopefully I can sort of delegate it more as we go. Obviously, me calling them hasn't made any difference than if it was called from someone else. We've got a lot more problems than where the play came from."

The delegation concept has been nebulous, ever since Spurrier made the announcement in April.

McKinley not ready; Saunders OK

Spurrier said Wednesday night that reserve tight end Weslye Saunders practiced and should be OK for the Wofford game.

So that's one more potential pass-catcher. And that's good since USC will again be without senior playmaker Kenny McKinley. Spurrier wouldn't say whether he thought McKinley could be back for next week's UAB game. "I don't know. "We'll wait and see."

In McKinley's absence against Georgia, junior Moe Brown stepped forward with career highs in catches (seven) and yardage (130).

A royal blocker

Spurrier said Jarriel King probably should've played more Saturday against Georgia. It was senior Jamon Meredith's first game back from an eligibility suspension. This week, Meredith will move inside to left guard, and King, from North Charleston, will start at left tackle. Spurrier said he'd like to see him stick there the rest of the year.

"I think Jarriel gives us a tougher, bigger, stronger guy in the offensive line," Spurrier said. "He's better than most of our guys run-blocking. Let's put it that way."