USC preparing Sanchez to start against Arizona
USC will start sophomore Mark Sanchez at quarterback against Arizona on Saturday barring a sudden improvement to starter John David Booty's broken finger.
"I would think (Sanchez starts)," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "If (John David Booty) is going to play Saturday, he'd have to do something (today) and really practice a lot on Thursday."
John David Booty threw about 50 passes before practice Tuesday and said he made progress from the previous day. He was able to grip a football but the release bothered him.
"It felt better than I expected, but my accuracy is not what I wanted right now," John David Booty said.
USC coach Pete Carroll said he is preparing for Sanchez to start but would not make an official decision until later in the week. However, he added it might be better for John David Booty to take a week off to let his finger recover.
"I'm thinking long term," Carroll said. "John might be able to play Saturday but what happens next week and the next week."
Carroll admitted he would feel some apprehension if Sanchez started.
"Sure. He hasn't had a chance to get out there," Carroll said.
Sarkisian said he understands John David Booty's dilemma.
"Any time you don't play to your standards, you want an opportunity to redeem yourself and now that he's injured, he's losing that opportunity," Sarkisian said.
John David Booty said he still believes he might be able to play.
"I'm doing everything I can," John David Booty said. "Some of the swelling's gone down in my finger. It's not quite as bad as it was."
Sanchez said he is ready although he threw an interception and fumbled a snap in practice.
"I feel pretty comfortable," he said. "It's just a different feeling. I don't like it or not like it. But every kid dreams of being a starting quarterback."
The savior? Tailback Stafon Johnson, the lone breakaway threat at the moment, said he feels like his bruised foot might improve enough to let him play against Arizona.
"It's feeling I like might make it," Johnson said. "It's about 75-85percent, but I want to be 90percent if I play."
Center Matt Spanos, who required stitches in his hand, will also start. But linebacker Thomas Williams limped noticeably Tuesday and did not practice. Clay Matthews will start if Williams is unable to play.
Tailback Joe McKnight left practice because he felt sick but said afterward he was OK.
Block that kick: David Buehler, who had an extra point blocked by Stanford, had twokicks blocked in practice Tuesday.
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