Although Garrett Green would be the first quarterback off the bench if Mark Sanchez were to get hurt, that wouldn’t necessarily be the case if Sanchez suffered a long-term injury.

“If Mark got banged up and couldn’t go for a month or something like that, we’d look at the situation a little differently,” USC coach Pete Carroll said.

For the time being, Green would provide the most continuity as an in-game sub. Green surpassed Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain because of a superior knowledge of the offense. Green has an additional year’s worth of experience in the system, although he spent a lot of that time playing receiver and safety.

“It’s tough,” Green said. “The guys who are able to get in and play early, their freshman year, they’re few and far between.

“It took a while, and everything I’ve learned up until this point over the last two and a half years has helped me get to the point where I’m at now.”

Corp said he performed poorly during USC’s bye-week practices, and the coaches noticed.

“They’re holding true to their word: They’re going to put the best guy in at the time,” Corp said. “You just have to work that much harder.”

Related links:

• David Buehler takes a side in turf war
• Will Sammie Stroughter torment USC again?