Sanchez is trying to stay positive

There is no starting job to be won, no chance to unseat a player regarded as a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.

Nevertheless, sophomore quarterback Mark Sanchez hopes to impress tonight at the Coliseum when the Trojans scrimmage for the first time. The scrimmage is closed to the public.

“That might be the closest to a real game situation that I get this year,” said Sanchez, who backs up senior John David Booty. “I have to make them real and portray to the coaches that I’m the guy that’s ready to step in and not some guy who’s just barely going to function.”

Sanchez performed well during Saturday’s afternoon practice after struggling the last few workouts.

Coach Pete Carroll counseled Sanchez on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

“I’m expecting him to play like a starter and expecting him to perform like a starter and make the decision a starter makes because he’s one snap away from having to run this program,” Carroll said.

Sanchez’s struggles were borne of frustration, Carroll said.

“He had a couple bonehead plays we would never expect our quarterbacks to make and they rarely do,” Carroll said. “I thought it was out of character for him. . . . It’s understandable. He’s a championship football player. He came here to play and he’s ready to play and sometimes it makes him [angry]. He wants to play.”

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian also has talked to Sanchez about not trying too hard.

“He’s an extremely talented kid and he makes a lot of plays but it’s that fine line between making that play and then making the decision not to make that throw and tucking the ball,” Sarkisian said. “He’ll be fine.”

Freshmen Joe McKnight, Ronald Johnson and Brandon Carswell are getting plenty of looks as potential punt-return specialists, but fifth-year senior Desmond Reed remains No. 1 at the spot.

“He’s still, by far, the best catcher,” Carroll said.

Reed averaged 5.4 yards a return last season, his longest a 43-yarder against Notre Dame.

“The main thing we want to do is take care of the football when they’re giving it to us,” Carroll said.

David Buehler kicked a 57-yard field goal during the morning practice and appears consistently comfortable from longer distances.

Buehler has been mostly solid throughout the first week of training camp, but Carroll said he was not opposed to splitting the kicking duties if one of the walk-ons competing for a spot is more accurate from shorter range.

Brad Smith made 11 of 12 field-goal tries last season at Davidson College. The NCAA allows graduated non-scholarship players a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility.

El Camino College transfer Joe Houston and Brook Van Muijen, who graduated from Monte Vista High in Danville, also are in the mix.

Nebraska transfer Jordan Congdon must be a redshirt this season.

Sophomore receiver Travon Patterson said he dislocated a bone in his right big toe when he stepped on the base of an end zone pylon while scoring a touchdown Friday. Patterson was on crutches for part of the day and is wearing a protective boot. He said he would be out about 10 days. . . . Receiver Jamere Holland said he suffered a concussion Thursday on a hit by safety Will Harris. Holland was held out of practice again but said he hoped to return Monday.

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gary.klein@latimes.com