If the emotional side of the Trojan football team was given a lift with Saturday’s win at Notre Dame, the team’s physical state has followed suit this week. Wednesday saw the remarkable improvement of two key offensive linemen and steady progress by one of the Trojan quarterbacks. Read on for details.

• Pete Carroll was “delighted” by the full practice participation of offensive linemen Sam Baker (hamstring) and Chilo Rachal (knee) on Wednesday, according to Mark Saxon of the Orange County Register. The All-American Baker, who missed the Notre Dame game and struggled through minimal reps on Tuesday saying he had trouble with everything in practice, received an anti-inflammatory shot on Tuesday night (following days of 6 a.m. rehab, lots of ice and laser treatments) and “just felt a lot better” on Wednesday. Rachal, who threw his helmet down in practice Tuesday out of frustration from his slow-to-heal leg, had fluid drained from his sprained knee and was able to take a good number of snaps against the scout team Wednesday, moving normally. Carroll now expects both of these team leaders to play against Oregon.
• OT Drew Radovich took Wednesday off to rest his back which has flared up but said he’d play Saturday. Butch Lewis (who impressed the coaches filling in for Radovich in most of the last two games) worked in Radovich’s spot Wednesday.
• According to Scott Wolf, barring a sudden change of heart by the Trojans’ coaching staff, Mark Sanchez will start against Oregon. John David Booty took snaps from center for the first time since the Stanford game on October 6 and is “ahead of schedule” according to Carroll, but he “doesn’t have a feel for the football right now…The ball might fly on him. If we were to play today, Mark would have started.” The coaches seem to be taking a long-term approach and would rather have a healthy Booty for the remainder of the season than risk his finger in a game that Sanchez can ably perform in after two solid starts.
• RB Joe McKnight struggled to stand up after being hit in the back during a tackle Wednesday in the same spot he was hit against Notre Dame. After sitting out the remainer of practice, the freshman told reporters, “I couldn’t move my right leg, but I’m all right now.” RB Stafon Johnson remains at 80 - 85% but will play Saturday.
• Freshman tailback Broderick Green, who in injured his right foot just before the season opener against Idaho, said he will redshirt this season after consulting with his family and coaches. Even though he says his foot feels 100%, the move will allow him to retain four full years of eligibility beginning next fall.
• David Buehler was 4 for 4 in field goals in practice, connecting from 20, 32, 42, and 47 according to Rivals.

USC’s Sanchez likely to start again at QB (LA Daily News)
USC’s ends have the means (Orange County Register)
Running game could be key against Oregon (Orange County Register)
Many Happy Returns on Offense at USC Practice (The Press-Enterprise)
Trojans to Dixon: Your best option is to duck (The Press-Enterprise)
Injury U. getting healthy (Rivals, $)
Booty improves, but Sanchez likely to start (LA Times)