I'm not sure what to think. He actually got into games during Rodney's suspension. Quite a bit of time in one game (Cincinnati?). Looked active and around the ball. Possibly a little wild, which is obviously a killer in games that matter. Maybe he needed to "unlearn" some things from the U which set him back.
As for Baker, I don't see this as necessarily related to Meriweather. If you get it and show it in practice, you will get some time on the field. I see it as Baker earning time, not being a default guy with Meriweather not being ready.