The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Sports

It hasn't been the prettiest of seasons for USC football, but the Gamecocks are 4-2 this year and head to Lexington, Ky. this weekend looking for their fourth straight win. To keep the streak alive, as well as collect their second SEC victory, Carolina needs a strong performance out of the offense.

The USC offense had been sputtering to produce positive yardage this season until last week's strong showing against Ole Miss. Multiple areas of Carolina's offense that had been struggling early in the year improved a great deal in the 31-24 victory. The most important of which was the passing game that caught fire between sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley and a host of receivers. Smelley threw for 327 yards spread across 22 completions in the game, a vast improvement over any performance from a Carolina quarterback this season.

Spreading the offensive game around, there were a total of nine players to catch a pass from Smelley in the Ole Miss game. Leading the pack of receivers with seven receptions was redshirt freshman Jason Barnes. The 6-foot-4 target more than doubled his number of career catches in the game against the Rebels, having just five career catches before last Saturday's game. Barnes also became a target to hit in the red zone, collecting his first two touchdowns as a Gamecock on passes from 20 and six yards out.

Barnes's contribution in the redzone is crucial. The Gamecocks have had a difficult time punching the ball in the end zone once the field gets shorter. Turnovers, missed fieldgoals and the like have hurt USC near its end zone.

The receiver pointed to good preparation as an important factor in the passing game's breakout performance.

"We [the receivers] were all working hard that whole week in practice," Barnes said. "The coaches had a good set of plays in and we all knew what we had to do, and Chris [Smelley] made a lot of good decisions and reads."

Although the offense had a promising day on the field against Ole Miss, the team has been quick to turn their attention to the 4-1 Kentucky Wildcats.

"Ole Miss is past us. We don't even think about that anymore," Barnes said. "We got a good win, but we need to move on because each day is even more important than the next day. We have to win out if we want to do big things."

The Gamecocks will be granted no easy breaks by the Wildcats, a team with a defense that has held its opponents to an average of a minimal 7.2 points per game. Attempting to stifle Carolina's improving passing game will be junior cornerback Trevard Lindley. The defensive threat has 15 tackles on the season, but has been even more effective breaking up offensive plays before they reach the receivers hands. Lindley has brought in two interceptions this season, in addition to breaking up six passes.

A young player like Barnes will need another solid performance to play well against the talented corner. The Carolina receiver has the clear height advantage in the matchup, with a 4-inch gap over the 6-foot Lindley.

"I have a little bit more confidence going into this game. I am ready, and as long [as] coach thinks I'm ready than I know I am," Barnes said.

The Gamecocks enter their second game of a six game SEC stretch this weekend, and if USC wants to keep winning, they will need offensive playmakers like Barnes to step up each and every game.

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