USC vs. STANFORD / NOTES : Palmer’s Practice Time Is Pleasing to Hackett

Freshman Carson Palmer, now the entrenched starter at quarterback, took all of the first-team snaps in practice this week and did nothing to make Coach Paul Hackett regret his decision to promote Palmer over former starter Mike Van Raaphorst.

“I just think that he’s a little sharper, the kind of balls he’s thrown and the kind of rhythm and the footwork,” Hackett said. “Best of all, I think, you get more comfortable with the signals, more comfortable with the wristbands we’re using now in practice.

“We’re getting where it’s smoother in terms of everything he’s doing. He’s sharp and crispness begins to surface, I think, with the more reps.”

Getting fewer snaps, Van Raaphorst appeared out of sync on his practice throws, triggering a quick chat with Hackett after one underthrown deep ball.

Palmer started wearing a wristband last weekend to help him sort the plays being called in from the sidelines, though he said he had to refer to it only about 10 times.

Palmer said his first full week as the No. 1 quarterback hasn’t been much different--though the responsibilities are.

“You still do the same things,” he said. “You may get a couple more reps, but other than that, you’re still doing the same thing. . . .

“It’s just feeling responsibility to be studying more, to know exactly what I’m doing in the game. I’m completely comfortable. I don’t know the whole playbook, but I know what plays we’re using in the game. We normally use like a tenth of the playbook in the game.”